Swindon will be looking to bolster their top spot in the Sky Sports Elite League table when they entertain Wolverhampton in an Elite league B encounter at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday 26th June.
The meeting against Wolves will complete Swindon’s ‘flaming June’ in which they will have ridden eight meetings in a hectic twenty four day period.
The Robins approach the contest oozing with morale after their impressive six point win at Peterborough’s East of England on Monday night that saw them recapture top spot in the league table.
Ahead of the encounter Alun Rossiter has re-jigged the Swindon riding order with Travis McGowan moving to number five with Troy Batchelor’s rider replacement facility shuffled to four.
Whilst Wolverhampton has found form hard to come by this season, Rossiter won’t be taking anything for granted on Thursday.
“The Wolves have struggled in 2008 but that doesn’t mean they don't pose a threat. I’ll be looking for a thoroughly professional performance from our lads.
To win against Peterborough was absolutely fantastic and it really was a solid team performance. When you consider we were without Troy Batchelor and also Manuel Hauzinger wasn’t firing on all cylinders it makes the result even more impressive. It’s a good feeling to be back at top of the elite league and it is crucial we continue to build upon the building blocks we have laid so far this season.
Yet again, Mads Korneliussen was simply outstanding against Peterborough and was the highest scorer from either team. The progress he continues to make is very pleasing.
We must maintain our focus on Thursday against Wolves and not take our eye off the ball; it’s important we conclude June in style before we head into a two week break from Elite league action”
Visitor’s fact file – Wolverhampton Parrys International Wolves.
Thus far, Wolverhampton have endured a difficult 2008 season that has never gathered any sort of momentum. An uncharacteristically shaky home record and a lack of wins away from their Monmore Green circuit means the Midlands club find themselves languishing towards the rear of the Elite league table. The management have been reluctant to make changes to a team that is packed full of raw young talent and should begin to perform better towards the latter part of the season.
Ales DRYML
DOB: 19 October 1979, Pardubice, Czech Republic.
FORMER Czech international, who was the final piece of Wolverhampton’s 2008 team jigsaw.
His inclusion at Monmore Green surprised many within the sport, but the opportunity offers Dryml the chance to continue re-building his career after the sickening crash that nearly cost him his life at Oxford in 2006. Has struggled for consistency so far in 2008 as impressive scores have been contrasted by disappointing returns.
Kenneth HANSEN
DOB: 19 October 1987, Herlev, Denmark.
HANSEN started his British career with Workington in the Premier League last year, but an early-season injury saw his team place taken by Carl Stonehewer, when the Comets’ legend made a dramatic return to the sport. Wolverhampton subsequently moved quickly to snap up the youngster, who endured an injury-plagued 2007, but kept bouncing back to register some impressive hauls. Begun the season in a second-string capacity but now finds himself in the Wolverhampton reserve department after enduring a tough year so far.
Christian HEFENBROCK
DOB: 15 May 1985, Liebenthal, Germany.
TALENTED German youngster, who returned to the Wolverhampton side after spending a season away from the club riding for Lakeside and Peterborough, respectively. First joined the Wolves in 2006, endearing himself to the Monmore Green faithful with a scattering of solid scores and entertaining performances. Hefenbrock undoubtedly possesses plenty of potential but has struggled to achieve the results everyone in the sport knows he is capable of in 2008.
David HOWE
DOB: 1 March 1982, Leicester, Leicestershire.
THE British rider enjoyed a superb and resurgent 2007 with the Wolves, despite suffering two collarbone injuries. Indeed, Howe finished second in the British Championship, which provided the Leicester-born rider with a wild-card for the magnificent British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. A renowned track specialist at Wolverhampton’s intricate Monmore Green circuit, although he has never really excelled at the larger Blunsdon raceway.
Niels-Kristian IVERSEN
DOB: 20 June 1982, Esbjerg, Denmark.
DANISH Grand Prix rider, who moved to Wolverhampton in the winter after spending the previous two seasons with Peterborough. An extremely classy performer, who many within the sport predict will stamp his authority on international speedway in years to come. His leg-trailing style suits the wide-open spaces of Blunsdon and the Dane will, doubtless, be targeting a double-figure score tonight. Is a fully fledged Grand Prix rider this year for the second in his career and certainly hasn’t been outclassed on the World stage.
Nicolai KLINDT
DOB: 29 December 1988, Outrup, Denmark.
KLINDT was unveiled as a Wolverhampton signing during the latter part of the 2007 campaign in readiness for this term. The highly-rated Danish youngster had been linked with Poole and Peterborough, but, after spending a day with Wolves’ team manager Peter Adams, he agreed to join the Black Country side. Klindt is at the forefront of plenty of young Danish riders, who are expected to excel in years to come. However, like many of the youngsters in the Wolverhampton side, Klindt has struggled to generate any sort of consistency this season.
Fredrik LINDGREN
DOB: 15 September 1985, Orebro, Sweden.
ANOTHER Grand Prix rider who sports the Wolverhampton race-jacket in 2008 and Lindgren is arguably one of the most exciting youngsters currently performing in world speedway. The Swede, who skippers the Black Country side, spent the winter riding Down Under in Australia and has started his 2008 European season very well, indeed. A proven performer at Blunsdon, who certainly goes about his work with plenty of style and determination.
SWINDON MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD
Thursday’s Man of the Match Award is kindly sponsored by Swindon Speedway media Partners, Swindon Web. Created in 1997, Swindon Web is a community website featuring a vast selection of news from the Town. It provides a service to people within Swindon and the surrounding area and promotes a positive image of the town to outsiders.
In the past two seasons Swindon Web have absorbed themselves in all things Swindon Speedway and have given the club great publicity through their videos offering both up to date news as well as insight into the thoughts of the Riders and Management. Keep up to date at www.swindonweb.com
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 340803 or via e-mail at: paul.oughton@swindon-speedway.co.uk
TEAMS FOR THURSDAY 26TH JUNE, Parade 7.20 p.m.; Tapes-up 7.30 p.m.
SWINDON ROBINS
LEIGH ADAMS (C) 10.39, SEB ALDEN 4.76, MADS KORNELIUSSEN 8.00, TROY BATCHELOR 7.31 TRAVIS McGOWAN 4.70, MANUEL HAUZINGER (r) 3.29, JAMES WRIGHT (r) 4.67
Team Manager: Alun Rossiter
WOLVERHAMPTON PARRYS INTERNATIONAL WOLVES
FREDDIE LINDGREN (C) 7.59, ALES DRYML 4.00, NIELS IVERSEN 8.57, NICOLAI KLINDT 4.13, DAVID HOWE 7.41, CHRISTIAN HEFENBROCK (r) 3.00, KENNETH HANSEN (r) 3.00
Team manager: Peter Adams
Referee: C. TURNBULL
Chris Seaward
Swindon Speedway Press Officer
Phone: 07788991473
e-mail: chris@swindon-speedway.co.uk
Club website: www.swindon-speedway.co.uk
Club hotline: 09068 664682 (Premium rate applies)
