SWINDON ROBINS begin their Sky Sports Elite League schedule on Thursday 3 April, when they welcome the world famous Belle Vue Aces to Blunsdon in an ELA fixture.
After enduring a very frustrating 2007 season in which the Aces were left marooned at the foot of the Elite League standings, the iconic Manchester club has taken to track in 2008 with a much more competitive side.
Crucially, the Belle Vue promotion was able to regain the services of Jason Crump, who is joined by Joe Screen and popular Robins’ asset Charlie Gjedde in the heat-leader department.
An entertaining-looking septet of riders is completed by the relatively inexperienced Polish pairing of Lukasz Jankowski and Michal Rajkowski, together with promising Swede Billy Forsberg and talented British youngster Steve Boxall.
Meanwhile, Adelaide-born Robert Ksiezak will combine his No. 8 role with a full-time berth at Glasgow in the Premier League.
For the Robins, team boss Alun Rossiter had considered making an alteration to the riding order of his septet, but, following Thursday’s narrow win over Poole in the Craven Shield, has decided to leave things unchanged.
There is one enforced amendment to the side, though, and this will see club No. 8 Cory Gathercole get his first action of the season for Swindon in place of unlucky collarbone-injury victim Theo Pijper.
Gathercole’s inclusion in the side turns the Robins into a mini-Australia, taking the team’s contingent from Down Under to four, with skipper Leigh Adams and the recently recruited duo of Troy Batchelor and Travis McGowan completing the quartet.
McGowan, in particular, is really looking forward to the Blunsdon encounter against Belle Vue, following his typically spirited showing in the victory against Poole, which saw him grab 9+1 points and scoop the Swindon Man of the Match Award
Looking ahead to the visit of the Aces, the Aussie said: “Jason [Crump] is special; you can’t take anything away from him, that’s for sure. He’s one of the top guys in the world and will be until he retires.
“I rode with Charlie [Gjedde] at Reading a couple of years ago, and he’s always a hard rider and a good rider as well.
“Every team in the Elite League has got their good riders, so they’re all equally hard. It’s just a case of turning up and taking it as another meeting; we’ve all got the same tools, it’s just a matter of us using ours better.”
VISITORS FACTFILE: ONE 51 BELLE VUE ACES
Steve BOXALL
DOB: 16 May 1987, Canterbury, Kent.
HIGHLY-rated British youngster, who sensibly made the move into the Elite League in 2008, following several impressive years in British speedway’s second tier. Undoubtedly, Boxall has the potential to elevate himself to second-string status with the Aces. Came through the ranks at Rye House and achieved plenty of success with the professionally run Hoddesdon-based outfit, including winning the Conference League Riders’ Championship in 2005. Boxall’s six-hour commute from his Kent base for home meetings in Manchester is testament to his commitment to Belle Vue.
Jason CRUMP
DOB: 6 August 1975, Bristol, Avon.
TWO-times World Champion, who made a surprise move back to Belle Vue after leaving the club on a full transfer to Poole in 2007. However, the reduction in the points-limit meant that the Dorset outfit couldn’t accommodate the Australian and the Aces acted quickly to regain his services. His intricate knowledge of the Kirkmanshulme Lane raceway means Crump will waste no time settling again at the Manchester venue. His presence provides Belle Vue with a sturdy foundation and the stability that they lacked in 2007.
Billy FORSBERG
DOB: 13 May 1988, Norrkoping, Sweden.
WONDERFUL Swedish prospect, who initially joined Belle Vue during the latter stages of 2007 after being recommended to the management by Joe Screen. Competed in eleven Elite League matches for the Manchester club and showed enough potential to earn a contract for 2008. Forsberg is a rider who represents the Aces’ policy of introducing a new generation of riders to the club and is hotly tipped to succeed on the international stage in the future. He is the grandson of former Birmingham favourite Dan Forsberg.
Charlie GJEDDE
DOB: 28 December 1979, Holstebro, Denmark.
NATURALLY, Swindon fans still have a soft spot for the popular Danish rider who was squeezed out of the Robins’ 2008 team-building plans by the reduced points-limit. Gjedde’s inclusion in the Belle Vue squad represents an intelligent move for both rider and club, after a string of impressive performances in 2007 at the Aces’ Kirky Lane circuit demonstrated a liking for the venue. Should benefit immensely from working alongside Jason Crump and will certainly be hoping to prove a point on his visits to Blunsdon this season.
Lukasz JANKOWSKI
DOB: 7 December 1982, Leszno, Poland
A RELATIVELY unknown Polish youngster, whose father, Roman, was a real icon of Polish speedway and excelled on the international stage. Rode just one meeting for the Aces in 2007, but is back with the team this season as a full club asset. Appeared briefly for King’s Lynn in 2002 and also rode in a solitary British League Cup meeting for Oxford at Swindon in 2003, although this is not counted in his career record because his inclusion in the side was later deemed ineligible.
Michal RAJKOWSKI
DOB: 17 December 1984, Rawicz, Poland.
POLISH youngster, who linked with the Aces after enjoying a very successful inaugural British season with Newport in the Premier League. Rajkowski’s scoring during the 2007 campaign was, at times, nothing short of phenomenal and the Aces’ management will be hoping he can build from that this term at the higher level of racing. The Pole loves to work the outside line and should therefore revel in the wide-open spaces of the Abbey Stadium raceway.
Joe SCREEN
DOB: 27 November 1972, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
FRESH from a productive spell riding in Australia, the popular British stalwart has once again slotted into the Belle Vue line-up. Screen enjoys legendary status with the club and assumes the captain’s role for a second successive term. Rates Blunsdon as one of his favourite tracks and is a proven performer at the Abbey. Not known for lightning starts, but renowned for his leg-trailing style and ability to conjure breathtaking passes.
SWINDON MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD
Thursday’s Swindon Man of the Match Award is kindly sponsored by long-term friends of the club, Mike and Julie Saunders.
Mike and Julie have travelled all over Europe to many different tracks and Speedway Grand Prix events, and have organised hundreds of coach trips through the years to destinations all over the world in a quest to see great speedway racing.
Mike has followed Swindon up and down the country and was instrumental in running the training track at Faringdon, which saw the beginnings of many riders who later went on to don the Robins and Sprockets race-jackets, including the likes of Gary and Mark Chessell, Justin Elkins and Steve Camden.
VIP PACKAGES
Swindon Speedway pride themselves in offering one of the best VIP packages in sport, where both the ardent fan and the complete newcomer can enjoy a superb evening of fast and furious entertainment, alongside exclusive pre-meeting pit-walks, and a table in the newly refurbished Legends’ Lounge.
Bookings for these packages have increased year-on-year and already a large number of companies have booked team nights out and meeting sponsorships for the 2008 season. Tickets are available by calling Commercial Manager Paul Oughton on 01305 755607 or via e-mail at: paul.oughton@swindon-speedway.co.uk
TEAMS FOR THURSDAY 3 APRIL, Parade 7.20 p.m.; Tapes-up 7.30 p.m.
ONE 51 BELLE VUE ACES (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Jason Crump (10.31); 2. Billy Forsberg (4.00); 3. Charlie Gjedde (7.13); 4. Lukasz Jankowski (4.00); 5. Joe Screen (Captain, 6.45); 6. Michal Rajkowski (3.10); 7. Steve Boxall (3.73). Team manager: Chris Morton.
Referee: C.A. Turnbull.
SWINDON ROBINS IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM PARTNERS PEBLEY BEACH HYUNDAI, REDCARE LOGISTICS AND A.C. NURDEN LTD.
SIXTY SUCCESSIVE SEASONS AND STILL GOING STRONG!
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BY ROBERT BAMFORD
SWINDON SPEEDWAY PRESS OFFICER
EMAIL: Rbamfordspeedway@aol.com
TEL: 01666 823469
OFFICIAL CLUB WEBSITE: www.swindon-speedway.co.uk
OFFICIAL CLUB HOTLINE: 09068 664682 (Premium rate applies)
