Will the Robins be Victorious once again?

The Swindon Robins lifted the British Speedway Premier League title for the first time over five months ago now, however with past successes counting for very little in motorsport, the Robins come into the new season tasked with the challenge of retaining their champions status. But will they rise to the challenge or burn out at the finishing line?

Last year saw former Captain and World number one Jason Doyle set the League alight scoring maximums on a regular basis and carrying his Swindon side through difficult phases at the start of the season. But with his transfer to the Somerset Rebels confirmed by manager Alun Rossiter over the Winter period, the onus will now be on the remaining riders to lead a second successive title charge.

Nick Morris’s promotion to Captain comes as no surprise to the Swindon faithful and if he can build on previous seasons form then the 24-year-old will make an adequate replacement for Doyle. The re-signing of Adam Ellis, David Bellego, Tobias Musielak, and Zach Wajtknecht also presents a key stance in Rossiter’s team building plans as he looks to keep the core of last season’s team secure.

Musielak is perhaps the most important signature within the squad though, who after coming in halfway through the 2017 season was the key in turning around an otherwise disappointing season and if he maintains his ferocious and hard riding on-track style which enabled him to beat most opponents last year, then the Polish born rider looks set establish himself as one of the sports most promising up and coming talents.

The return of former skipper Troy Batchelor is an intriguing choice by Swindon management as well, and after a difficult spell at the King’s Lynn Stars last year which saw his season ended early after a falling out with club directors, the former Grand Prix rider will be eager to put past problems behind him and re-create the form that saw him ride to the elite level of World Speedway.

Underdogs at the start of last season made the Wiltshire clubs trophy triumph a feat few could of expected, however one year later a role reversal has seen many tipping the club for a second year of success. The Swindon Robins will take to the shale once again at the End of March hungry as ever to lift the League trophy, but fierce competition from other sides makes it set to be a close race to finish line.