In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Let's Talk
Your Total Guide To sport
SPEEDWAY OPINION: Ryan Walker's analysis of the season so far
With the 2017 British Premiership Speedway season now roaring ahead at full throttle, Total Sport's Ryan Walker gives his analysis of the Swindon Robins' performances so far, and where we can expect them to finish come the end of the year.
Coming into the new season, Alun Rossiter’s Swindon side were titled the underdogs by many punters, fans, and rival riders alike, however their performances of late including the impressive 47-45 away win at the Poole Pirates, demonstrated that the Wiltshire side are certainly fast on the rise up the league table.
At the beginning of the season the main fear was that due to absurd rule changes regarding averages the side was looking too top-heavy with Grand Prix star and World number five Jason Doyle being named as the club's number one for the second successive season, although with the likes of David Bellego, Nick Morris, and Adam Ellis putting in big scores as well, the team are starting to prove doubters wrong.
Having rode fewer meetings than those around them, five in total and with eight points to their name, sitting sixth in the League, shows that although the Robins endured a slow start to the season, losing away to Leicester and home to the Belle Vue Aces, they have started to learn how to grind out results and put Ws on the board.
With an average squad age of just 22, it’s fair to say that the Blunsdon side are a team full of potential rather than immediate success, however under the stewardship of captain Doyle and his hands on approach to managing his co-riders both in and out of the pits it will be interesting to see how much this Swindon side can achieve this season.
Team manager Alun Rossiter insisted at the beginning of the season that the main aim is to make the playoffs and take things from there, and at the start of the year this looked like a tough ask for a team that lacked high quality experience at the top level of British Speedway.
But with meetings now coming thick and fast and the squad building in both confidence and track time it looks as if the Swindon Robins are becoming a side to be feared once again.
The absence of no home victory so far will frustrate the riders, but now unbeaten in their last three meetings will give them confidence of getting all three points and their first home win at the Abbey Stadium this season when they host the King’s Lynn Stars in next Thursday’s clash.
Weather in Swindon
Listings