THE Robins began a busy period including visits to the two strongest sides in the BSPA Premiership with a poor home performance against King’s Lynn Stars on Thursday, writes Phil Rice.

Only Jason Doyle won races for Swindon as he went through the card unbeaten to score 18 points including a heat one win which was only 0.72 seconds outside Leigh Adams' 2009 track record.

But his partner Bradley Wilson-Dean came off at the first bend in that race damaging his wrist and while he completed the meeting he pulled out of the following night’s racing.

The Stars soon took command and by heat nine led by 14 points which was quickly reduced by five as Doyle, on a tactical ride, and Wilson-Dean claimed a 7-2 over Troy Batchelor and reserve Kai Huckenbeck.

The latter claimed three heat wins and must be one of the strongest reserves in this year’s league.

Austrian Dany Gappmaier – a replacement for the axed Emil Grondal – made his debut and while he got 3+3 and had had no practise at Blunsdon, it’s difficult to see what difference he will make. At least he did overtake Lewis Rose so perhaps there is reason for optimism!

Some measure of respectability emerged as Doyle and Nick Morris took 5-1s in races 13 and 15 as the team closed the gap to go down 48-45. But this was a poor display and without Doyle, Morris and David Bellego, this is a struggling side.

As Doyle said to the crowd after the meeting, Swindon are clearly talking to other riders and changes cannot come soon enough.

Adam Ellis has so far been a huge disappointment and has yet to take the chequered flag in front this season. Surely the undoubtedly talented young Brit will be sacrificed soon.

I could see Richie Worrall or Aaron Summers, who did well for us in 2015, coming in. There are travel issues, however. They both ride for Glasgow and live in St Helens and Teesside respectively which means a lot of tiring miles to cover.

It is ironic that the side has done well on its travels but has failed to win at home this season.

Swindon manager Alun Rossiter said: “We’ve ridden our luck all year and got away with it, but our luck ran out tonight. We always leave it late and finish strongly, but this time it was way too late.

"We were out-gated all night. When we gated, we won races, but they were sharper than us and there are no excuses, they were the better side.

"The middle order is a serious worry for our team. I’ve already made one change and I won’t be frightened to make more if I have to.”

SWINDON 45: Jason Doyle 18, Nick Morris 10+2, David Bellego 7, Dany Gappmaier 3+3, Zach Wajtknecht 3+1, Adam Ellis 2, Bradley Wilson-Dean 2.

KING’S LYNN 48: Kai Huckenbeck 12+2, Troy Batchelor 12, Chris Holder 9, Robert Lambert 7+1, Lewis Rose 5+1, Nicklas Porsing 3, Josh Bailey 0.

The following night the side visited Belle Vue, minus the injured Wilson-Dean and with guest Max Williamson in for the committed Gappmaier.

The six-man Robins again met defeat but defied the odds on the road to earn a creditable match point in a 48-42 defeat.

The Robins had kept pace with their much-fancied hosts and had been ahead before back-to-back maximums for the Aces left them 10 points in arrears with five races to go.

Doyle and Morris stemmed the tide with an impressive 5-1 in heat 13. Doyle cleverly held off fellow Aussie Max Fricke, enabling Morris to cruise into second before resisting the tenacious charge of Craig Cook.

Bellego then claimed his second win of the night to ensure parity in the penultimate race before Doyle bagged his fourth victory to give Swindon a useful yield following the previous night’s home setback.

The feeling remains that we caught Belle Vue on a night when Justin Sedgmen and Craig Cook (on a new engine) were not at their best and so it is best not to get carried away.

“All things considered it was a good point, especially on the back of last night’s performance,” said Rossiter.

“We were a bit unlucky with a couple of 5-1s. There was a mistake with one of the mechanics in David's race which cost us a bit but we can't be too critical.

“I don’t think anybody gave us a chance coming here so it was a good return.”

BELLE VUE 48: Kenneth Bjerre 13, Steve Worrall 10+2, Dan Bewley 7+1, Max Fricke 7, Craig Cook 6, Justin Sedgmen 4+2, Jack Smith 1 SWINDON 42: Jason Doyle 14, David Bellego 9, Nick Morris 8+1, Zach Wajtknecht 5+2, Adam Ellis 3, Matt Williamson 3, Bradley Wilson-Dean R/R.