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Stefan Nielsen on Robins form and the search for confidence
It's been a mixed start to the season for Swindon Robins, but after a recent home victory over strong opposition Belle Vue, the tides may be starting to turn. Total Sport caught up with Stefan Nielsen to pick his brains on the Robins' approach this year.
A slow start to the season for Nielsen so far has saw him struggle to consistently score points that match his undoubted ability and, when judging himself, Nielsen was honest about his performances.
“It’s been a slow start for me I must say but then it was the same for me last season as well,” Nielsen began.
“I don’t know why but it seems I always take a bit longer to get back into the swing of things.
“I don’t have an answer why, maybe it’s a bit of a mental thing," he added.
When out on track Nielsen has been unpredictable at times with speed, something which he agreed with and honestly admits isn’t down to mechanical problems but is his own fault.
“No I’ve not had any machinery problems,” Nielsen admitted.
“I wish that was the case so that I had something to blame.
“It’s all been down to me so far and I’ve just been struggling a bit with confidence early on I think.
“Even though I’ve not been scoring many points at the moment, I’ve been feeling good on the bike and just need to start making some more starts out the gates," he stated.
A team full of five Australians leading the line and two Brits in reserve shows manager Alun Rossiter’s focus on creating a strong team bond. And Nielsen says that he has had no problems with fitting in.
“The team is feeling good and it’s been gelling quite well,” Nielsen insisted.
“Obviously we’ve had a couple of bad results so it’s not been that easy to keep spirits up at times but everyone seems to be getting on really well.
“The Aussie boys in the team all get on really well which is great and they’ve really been trying to get myself and Charles into the mix which is really good," he said.
Doubling up and riding in more than one league has become the norm for most riders nowadays including Stefan Nielsen, but he implies that he has no problems with the system and isn’t worried about issues such as fatigue come the latter stages of the season.
“I doubled up last year so I’m used to it and I’m feeling more prepared than ever," said Nielsen.
“I’ve got the right equipment underneath me and now it’s just about working out some old habits which I seem to have picked up again.
“Things like confidence, attitude and strength are stuff that I need to sort out.
“But bikes and everything are feeling great so it’s up to me," he added.
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