After a seven day break from action the Robins entertain Poole in Thursday's top of the table Elite League encounter at the Abbey Stadium
SWINDON ROBINS vs POOLE PIRATES
Thursday 22nd May - Parade 7.20pm - Tapes up 7.30pm
Both teams have made solid starts to their 2008 campaign by collecting two away victories apiece and also boast unbeaten home records. The Robins sit directly above Poole in the league table and the visitors are highly tipped for success this year.
Swindon field an unchanged line up whilst Poole are sweating on the fitness of their brilliant young Australian Chris Holder who is currently sidelined with severe bruising sustained in Poland on Sunday.
Indeed, Poole's 2008 campaign has been wrought with injury problems and consequently the Pirates arrive at Blunsdon tracking a much changed line up to the one that last raced at Swindon.
Despite these early season alterations Poole have enjoyed a very solid start to their league campaign by winning seven of their eleven fixtures. An unbeaten home record, along with wins at Eastbourne and Peterborough has seen the Pirates points tally surge in recent weeks.
Danish international Bjarne Pedersen and Polish youngster Zibi Suchecki are currently sidelined with injury whilst Karol Zabik has temporarily departed the club. Grand Prix rider Krzysztof Kasprzak has been drafted in as a replacement for Pedersen at number one, Magnus Zetterstrom replaces Karol Zabik at four whilst Daniel Davidsson assumes the reserve berth previously occupied by Suchecki.
Meanwhile, current Australian national Champion Chris Holder has made a superb start to his debut Elite league campaign as has compatriot Davey Watt.
Elsewhere, Adam Skornicki's form has been simply outstanding whilst the eye catching performances of Freddie Eriksson has come as a surprise to many within the sport.
Poole's last visit to Blunsdon on March 27th ended in success for the Robins with Leigh Adams and Travis McGowan collecting a 4-2 race advantage in a tense last heat decider.
VISITORS FACTFILE: POOLE PIRATES
Daniel DAVIDSSON
DOB: 17TH March, 1983
The Swedish rider re-joins Poole as a replacement for broken leg victim Zibi Suchecki who faces a hefty spell on the sidelines. Davidsson is renowned for his lightening fast gating ability but has struggled to find any sort of consistency during his previous spells in Britain. However his existing knowledge of Elite league circuits should assist him this time round and enhance his scoring potential.
Freddie ERIKSSON
DOB: 23 April 1981, Stockholm, Sweden.
The capture of Eriksson's signature was a surprising aspect of Poole's winter squad-building process. The experienced Swede began the 2007 season with Oxford, but found himself without a British team after the regrettable demise of the Cowley-based outfit. Thus far, Eriksson has enjoyed a fantastic 2008 season and has proved to be a match winner on numerous occasions.
Chris HOLDER
DOB: 24 September 1987, Appin, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
THE twenty-year-old Aussie has achieved a breathtaking amount during his short career and is rightly regarded by many as the hottest prospect in world speedway right now. Romped to victory in the five-found Australian Championship and has begun his inaugural Elite campaign very well. Shares a fierce rivalry with Troy Batchelor and the two compatriots will certainly be eager to inflict defeat on one another at the Abbey.
Krzysztof KASPRZAK
DOB: 18TH July 1984
An injury to Poole captain Bjarne Pedersen led to Leszno-born Krzysztof
Kasprzak returning to Dorset, albeit as a stop-gap replacement. The 2005 World U21 champion was first brought to England in 2003 making his Poole debut against Coventry but he was soon to become a popular rider amongst the Dorset faithful. Kasprzak won the U21 in 2005 and is now a permanent Grand Prix rider as well as being part of the Polish national squad. A super fast, always spectacular rider who has shown scintillating speed on previous trips to Blunsdon.
Adam SKORNICKI
DOB: 22 October 1976, Wolsztyn, Poland.
ENTERTAINING Polish rider, who made a surprising move to the South Coast club after a steady 2007 campaign with Belle Vue. The experienced Skornicki has made a scintillating start to the 2008 campaign, contributing an array of double-point scores and, in so doing, has silenced those who questioned his
position in the Pirates line-up. Well known for his flamboyant doughnut’
celebration and is a proven performer at the Abbey.
Davey WATT
DOB: 6 January 1978, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
THE Australian returns to Wimborne Road after spending 2007 on loan at Eastbourne, where he enjoyed a fantastic season. The Queenslander has begun to show the form in the past two years that many in the sport predicted long ago. Watt is popular with Robins fans after his heroic guest performance in the Play-Off semi-final last September, when he deputized for the injured Leigh Adams. Will undoubtedly be a major danger man on Thursday and certainly knows the fastest route around Blunsdon.
Magnus ZETTERSTROM
DOB: 9TH December 1971.
The affectionately nick named 'Zorro' was called up by the Pirates in May 2008 to replace the out of form and injury plagued Karol Zabik. It had appeared as if the curtain had fallen on Zetterstrom’s British league career after a ban towards the end of the 2007 season left the experienced Swede out in the cold.
After a successful Elite league career Zetterstrom has spent his last three campaigns with Somerset in the Premier league where he was a heavy hitter.
SWINDON MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD
Thursday's Swindon man of the match is kindly sponsored by Shaw Under 10 B football team who play in North Wilts league. As well as sponsoring the Man of the Match, the boys from Shaw will also be looking forward to having their end of season presentations on the centre green before the meeting.
The team will be playing their second season of football in 2008/9 which will be their first year of playing competitive 11 a side action. The manager of the side is Swindon Town Legend, Don Rogers, whose goal scoring exploits for STFC helped the club win the League title against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in 1969. Don is backed by his Assistant Manager Andy Ratcliffe and the coach Kevin Williams, both of whom will be in attendance.
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 22TH MAY, Parade 7.20 p.m.; Tapes-up 7.30 p.m.
SWINDON ROBINS (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Leigh Adams (Captain, 10.67); 2. James Wright (5.08); 3.Mads Korneliussen (8.43); 4. Travis McGowan (4.62); 5. Troy Batchelor (7.11) 6. Theo Pijper (3.70); 7. Seb Alden (3.84). Team manager: Alun Rossiter.
POOLE PIRATES (Green sheet averages shown in brackets)
1. Krzysztof Kasprzak (8.68) 2.Freddie Eriksson (6.40) 3.Chris Holder (8.14)4. MAGNUS ZETTERSTROM (5.18) 5. Davey Watt (7.86) 6. Daniel Davidsson (3.38) 7. Adam Skornicki (Captain 4.89) Team managers: Neil Middleditch
Referee: J.McGregor
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 CHRIS SEAWARD
SWINDON SPEEDWAY PRESS OFFICER
EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.SEAWARD@VIRGIN.NET
TEL: 07788991473
OFFICIAL CLUB WEBSITE: www.swindon-speedway.co.uk
OFFICIAL CLUB HOTLINE: 09068 664682 (Premium rate applies)
