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Swindon Speedway
Swindon Speedway known as Swindon Robins
Abbey Stadium, Lady Lane, Blunsdon, Swindon, Wiltshire,
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Shanes axed from Robins as Perks fills points void
JAMES SHANES has become the first victim of the season at the Swindon Robins after being cut from the team by manager Alun Rossiter with fellow Brit Ellis Perks being drafted in as the clubs reserve replacement. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his analysis on the decision.
A difficult start to his debut season at the Abbey Stadium has seen James Shanes become the first casualty of the current campaign with team manager Alun Rossiter deeming the 22-year-old surplus to requirements. Having missed just one meeting for the Robins so far this season, Shanes has struggled for form having accrued a total of just 12 points from seven meetings.
Drafted in to provide back-up to hotshot reserve Zach Wajtknecht, Shanes has found getting to grips with Swindon’s smaller and more technical track difficult with opponents reserve riders often proving too much for the Swindon Speedway rider.
The decision to announce Ellis Perks as Shanes’ replacement comes as a surprise ahead of Monday’s bank holiday clash against the Poole Pirates with the British-born racer yet to ride in the Premiership this season.
Speaking on the decision, Alun Rossiter said:
“Ellis is doing well at Leicester and the big thing is that he’s popping out of the starts there, which is something we’ve been lacking at reserve.
“He has good equipment and whilst we have to emphasise it’s not going to be easy for anyone in that position with the way our team is made up, I feel he should be able to pick up some points for us.
“I’ve spoken to Stewart Dickinson, his boss at Leicester, who is a man I very much respect and have often gone to regarding riders at that level, and he’s been very positive about how Ellis is riding.
“I’d like to thank James for his efforts. This league is very hard, and it wasn’t doing his confidence any good to be finding things as tough as he was.
“I felt we had to make a move, I’ve explained the situation to James and we wish him well for the rest of the season with Birmingham.”
The club also confirmed that Polish rider Tobiasz Musielak would return to the side for Swindon’s upcoming meeting after returning to fitness following injury.
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