Robins rider ratings v Belle Vue Aces

SWINDON ROBINS playoff hopes took a massive blow as the Belle Vue Aces secured a big 41-49 away win at the Abbey Stadium. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his Robins rider ratings following a disappointing night of racing.

PREMIERSHIP

SWINDON 41: Troy Batchelor 13, Tobiasz Musielak 10, Nick Morris 6, Adam Ellis 4+1, Zach Wajtknecht 4+1, David Bellego 4, Jack Smith 0

BELLE VUE 49: Brady Kurtz 11, Dan Bewley 9, Rohan Tungate 8+1, Max Fricke 7, Steve Worrall 6+3, Dimitri Berge 5+1, Theo Pijper 3+2
Premiership points: Swindon 0 Belle Vue 4

1: Troy Batchelor (9)

Started the night in perfect form with two heat wins and got the win when it mattered most in heat six to reduce the visitors lead. 

Put in for the tactical ride in heat seven but could only manage second. Scored thirteen points in total and seemed the only rider hungrier for success than the visitors.

2: David Bellego (4)

Out the back in his first heat after poor gating, but looked quick when chasing. Had a fantastic tussle with Fricke in his second heat but the Aussie got the better of him. 

Seemed to take a lap to get going in each heat on what was a difficult night for Bellego.

3: Adam Ellis (4)

A difficult start saw him out of control in his first heat as Ellis nearly went into air fence on the first bend. Chased Worrall for second in just his second heat before eventually conceding defeat. 

Produced arguably the race of the night in heat nine battling with Max Fricke for second but went wide in the first bend to lose second place and deny Swindon a maximum.

4: Tobiasz Musielak (8)

Chased Tungate hard in his first heat but could only manage second place. Last in his second heat and didn’t appear to have found his usual speed. 

Came on strong in the latter stages of the meeting to finish the evening with ten points, but lacked the support of his teammates in crucial races.

5: Nick Morris © (6)

Gated superbly in his first heat and there was no catching Morris from there. Partnered well with Batchelor in heat seven but couldn’t find the speed needed to pass Bewley. 

Delivered a perfect captains race in heat eleven to get a crucial victory and keep the scores close, but it was an inconsistent performance from the skipper.

6: Zach Wajtknecht (5)

Third in his first race and looked slow when trying to chase. Produced a brilliant race in heat eight to come from the back and almost claim second as he looked a man on a mission. 

Sadly couldn’t muster up his usual high flying point scoring but it can’t be easy having to score the points of two reserves.

7. Jack Smith (1)

Another poor performance from the Swindon reserve who just isn’t cut out for this league of racing. Can’t fault him for trying but trying doesn’t win heats