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Justin Sedgmen confident league success awaits Swindon Robins
With a new look, Australian dominated Swindon Robins team fully focused on Speedway Elite League glory in 2016, Total Sport's Ryan Walker got new number two Justin Sedgmen’s thoughts on the season ahead.
Last riding for an Elite League team on a full-time basis in 2012, Sedgmen admits that he is delighted to be back at the Swindon Robins for what promises to be an exciting 2016 campaign.
“It’s a big year for me and a big year for the team.” Sedgmen began.
“It’s good to come back to Swindon and I’ve always wanted to come back here.
“Hopefully I can keep riding the way I have been riding and have a successful season," he added.
Over the winter break many riders take a well-deserved break, but for Swindon’s number two it was one full of riding as Sedgmen finished sixth overall in the Australian championships. And the 24-year-old says the constant riding has prepared him well for the new season ahead.
“I was really busy over the winter," Sedgmen said.
“I did all the Australian championships and Australian meetings with February being the only month when I didn’t do a lot.
“I’ve been on the bike a lot which has been a good thing as I have been able to get ready for the new season and hopefully I can kick off with a bang and finish with an even bigger one," he added.
Along with Robins manager Alun Rossiter, pundits and fans alike have tipped Sedgmen to be a dark horse in this year's Speedway Elite League, but Sedgmen insists he is just focused on riding well.
“I don’t really look at what people are saying to be honest," Sedgmen explained.
“I just want to do as well as I can do and I can tell you now that I'll be giving Swindon fans 110 percent every time I ride.
“It’s nice to have the backing from the management but I don’t look at that as pressure, it just gives me more confidence," he added.
With so many similarly talented teams contesting for the title in this year’s Speedway Elite League, many would assume that nerves would play a big part at the start of the season. But Sedgmen says he his confident of a great year.
“I haven’t really looked at any other teams in the league to be honest," Sedgmen said.
“I believe that we will win. There is no thinking that we might win because I know that we have the team that will win the league.
“We’ve put together the best team, the team that will gel the best and I really do believe that we will be champions," he expressed.
In comparison to his teammates, Sedgmen also insists that the positive team spirit in the pits will be the key to success this year.
“Definitely team spirit is a massive factor in being successful,” Sedgmen insisted.
“If you’ve got a team that no one really wants to ride for then it’s not going to work.
“That isn’t the case here though, we all get along great. Five of us are Aussies and then you’ve got the two British lads so it’s definitely a good feeling," Sedgmen added.
The Swindon Robins begin their Elite League campaign on Friday, March 25, when they travel to Poole to face last season's Elite League winners Poole Pirates.
The Swindon Robins begin their Elite League campaign on Friday, March 25, when they travel to Poole to face last season's Elite League winners Poole Pirates.
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