Swindon Speedway boss Alun Rossiter admits he looks back at the 2016 season with a feeling of frustration. The M&S Van Rental Robins narrowly missed out on the Elite League play-offs on points difference, bringing to an end a run of four straight top four finishes. Rossiter believes a number of home defeats made all the difference – most notably a narrow loss against basement club Leicester at the Abbey back in June.
After having chance to reflect on their mixed campaign, the experienced team boss has been left wondering what could have been. ”Obviously we’re disappointed we didn’t make the play-offs, but we were right in the mix throughout so it wasn’t a disastrous season,”
Rossiter said. ”The home losses were very costly, and the Leicester meeting was probably the stand-out. ”In hindsight, Nick (Morris) and Sedgy both struggled. They both tried to go full-time in the Elite League and ride elsewhere which unfortunately didn’t quite work out for them.
“Rohan (Tungate) got going halfway through the year, and if he’d hit that form slightly earlier in the year it might have been a different story.
“Jason Doyle was Jason Doyle. He’s a superb captain and a tremendous rider who did an outstanding job for us throughout.
“Charles (Wright) had a bit of an up and down year. It probably wasn’t his best year in terms of consistency but he still had some great performances.
“Unfortunately when we lost Stefan (Nielsen) we were never able to replace him, and he wasn’t quite the same when he came back from injury.
“All in all it was quite frustrating, because the aim is always to make the play-offs and this year we didn’t achieve that which is bitterly disappointing.”
With the 2016 Elite League campaign now over, attentions will turn towards the all-important AGM over the winter. Rossiter has revealed he is hoping a closer look at the Fast Track reserve scheme will be high on the agenda.
He stated: “We keep trying different things, and I think if we’re honest we’re not 100% sure where we’re going which is a bit frustrating.
“The disparity in the Fast Track reserves is the big thing for me, because meetings are being won and lost by the strength some teams have at reserve.
“It’s done a good job, and I’m not criticising it, but I feel there is too much of a gap now between these riders and the next lot going through.
“I don’t believe we should lower the product any more than it is at the moment because we should be looking at making the league stronger in my opinion.”
