THE Swindon Robins speedway team for 2011 has been finalised this week with Tomasz Chrzanowski , Josh Grajczonek and Cory Gathercole coming in to complete the line-up.

What boss Ronnie Russell does not yet know for certain is which team he might be meeting in the opening league fixture of the season next month or indeed whether last year’s champions Coventry Bees will be allowed back to defend their title.

A bitter schism in the sport remains after both Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers walked out of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association AGM last year after a disagreement over rule changes, prompting their expulsion from the Elite League.

It would appear unthinkable that the champions would not be involved, but despite protracted negotiations the matter has yet to be resolved. Nor has the league fixture programme been ratified.

With several other Elite League teams having been announced, Swindon fans have been clamouring to know the final line-up in the first post-Leigh Adams season.

They should be happy with the news.

The Robins have brought in Josh Grajczonek from Premier League outfit Glasgow Tigers, while they welcome back to the fold Tomasz Chrzanowski, who helped Swindon into the play-offs in 2007 and has remained a club asset though riding abroad ever since.

Chrzanowski, better known to fans as ‘TC’ or ‘Top Cat’, proved an instant hit with the Blunsdon faithful. That’s perhaps not surprising since on no fewer than 13 occasions, he racked up scores of paid ten or better, albeit mostly from the reserve berth He begins the new campaign off an average of 6.12 compared to his last Swindon ranking of 6.35.

“TC was very popular with Swindon fans on his last stint here and has remained one of the best riders in the Polish First Division for Grudziadz,” said Russell. “Against riders of the calibre of Lee Richardson and Scott Nicholls, he had almost a nine-point average.

“He is very keen to be back and very excited.”

Chrzanowski’s last spell at Swindon did end in controversy, however, when he (and fellow Poles Damian Balinski and Seb Ulamek) were criticised by Alun Rossiter for what the then-manager felt were below-par displays in the humiliating Play-Off Final defeat by Coventry. Grajczonek, an Australian despite his name, had a very successful 2010 season with Glasgow in the Premier League, rising to a rating of 7.10. He begins his term as Swindon’s ‘doubling-up’ rider alongside the returning Cory Gathercole on a mark of 3.85.

“Josh remains with the Tigers for a fourth season and was very keen to double up with Swindon,” said Russell. “He also rode at No.8 for Belle Vue last season so he already has experience of some Elite League tracks.

“Cory flew back into the country this week after a very good winter in Australia and I am convinced he is going to have his best ever season for us in 2011.”

The confirmed trio join the previously announced sextet: five-time British champion Scott Nicholls, GB international and Robins captain Simon Stead, the explosive young Polish duo of Grzegorz ‘Zengi’ Zengota and Maciek’Magic’ Janowski, Russell’s tip to become the next Leigh Adams, Justin Sedgmen, as well as Californian No.8 Kenny Ingalls.

“I think we have the perfect balance of experience allied to young talented aggression,” said Russell. “I’m confident this team will live up to expectations.”