Swindon 56 Belle Vue 39 

Stead shines as Robins crush the Aces 

It was certainly a night for milestones at the Abbey, as the Robins credited their 2009 account with another 3 Elite League points courtesy of a comfortable success over bottom-of-the-table Belle Vue.

Indeed, Swindon Speedway celebrated its 60th birthday, whilst team manager Alun Rossiter reached the ripe old age of 44. And, on track, Leigh Adams made his 500th appearance for the club and topped it off with a paid maximum – his 114th in the Robins’ colours (52 full and 62 paid).

Slovenian ace Matej Zagar also went through the card unbeaten to register his first home maximum for Swindon and his third overall (1 full and 2 paid) since linking with the side towards the end of May.

Finally, as far as the stat-fest is concerned, the meeting was the 1,658th to be staged at Blunsdon by Swindon Speedway since the track opened way back on 23 July 1949.

A heavy shower thirty minutes prior to the scheduled start time left the Abbey Stadium surface very wet indeed. However, remedial work was immediately undertaken and the meeting delayed until 8.30pm as the hard working track staff prepared the Blunsdon race strip for action.

Three successive points shares got proceeding underway before Swindon forged ahead with a quartet of heat advantages in the middle sector.

Belle Vue nominated James Wright and Morten Risager for tactical rides in heats eight and fourteen but Swindon were able to limit the effectiveness of both moves. Further Robins’ heat advantages in the closing heats saw Alun Rossiter’s side eventually notch a seventeen point margin of victory.

Swindon’s scoring was led by paid maximums from both Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar whilst Simon Stead deservedly scooped the Man of the Match award after amassing fourteen.

Jurica Pavlic, despite starting the meeting slowly, collected a classy victory in his final ride whilst Ryan Fisher yet again excelled from the reserve berth by acquiring paid ten.

Belle Vue’s score chart was headed by impressive Danish youngster Patrick Hougaard whilst former Robins’ rider James Wright contributed an impressive paid ten point haul.

SWINDON
Leigh Adams (C) 3 2* 3 3 2* - - 13 (2)
Travis McGowan 0 3 1* 0 - - - 4 (1)
Simon Stead 3 3 3 2 3 - - 14
Jurica Pavlic 0 1 F 3 - - - 4
Matej Zagar 2* 3 3 2* - - - 10 (2)
Paul Hurry 0 1 1 - - - - 2
Ryan Fisher 3 3 2 1* 0 - - 9 (1)
Team manager: Alun Rossiter
BELLE VUE