SWINDON blasted back to top form with an impressive 51-40 win over previously unbeaten Belle Vue at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

The M&S Van Rental Robins heeded the call of boss Alun Rossiter to make a sharper start to proceedings, and their eventual victory was a good deal more convincing than the final scoreline suggested.

Skipper Jason Doyle dropped his only point to opposite number Matej Zagar in Heat 15, and there were highly encouraging shows from Justin Sedgmen and Rohan Tungate after their struggles the previous week against Wolverhampton.

Zagar was eclipsed in the first race by Doyle and Sedgmen, and reserves Tungate and Stefan Nielsen also banked maximum points in Heat 2.

There was a potential setback in Heat 4 when Nielsen fell on the car park turn and was unavoidably collected by team-mate Josh Grajczonek, but both Robins riders avoided injury and Graczjonek duly won the re-run.

A further 5-1 in Heat 5 left the home side 22-8 up with the Aces looking far from their pre-meeting self-proclaimed status as title favourites.

A tactical ride for the visitors failed to produce the desired outcome as Zagar was a clear winner of Heat 6 but team-mate Craig Cook, the man handed the double-points responsibility, could only finish third.

The Robins gradually built an unassailable lead with a series of 4-2s, and just when Belle Vue looked set for a response Nick Morris superbly got the better of Zagar for second place on the line in Heat 10.

Swindon led 48-31 with two races to go, with the Aces taking mild consolation from a 5-1 in Heat 14 and then a 4-2 in the last race as Doyle finally lost his unbeaten tag.

Rossiter said: “It was the right response from the team. We had a few words before the meeting, nothing serious, but it seemed to work well.

“Getting a 5-1 in the first race put us on the front foot, and we knew they would come back at us but the boys dug in deep and it was a great performance.

“Even with Richie Worrall out, Belle Vue still got six paid seven from his rides which is probably what he would have done, so that made no difference. Overall, I’m delighted with that display.”

SWINDON 51: Jason Doyle 14, Justin Sedgmen 9+1, Rohan Tungate 9+1, Josh Grajczonek 9, Nick Morris 7, Stefan Nielsen 2+1, Charles Wright 1
BELLE VUE 40: Steve Worrall 10+2, Matej Zagar 10, Scott Nicholls 8, Max Fricke 6, Craig Cook 4, Joe Jacobs 2+2, Richie Worrall r/r
Elite League points: Swindon 3 Belle Vue 0