DARRYL Ritchings is itching to help Swindon Sprockets get their National League Trophy campaign off to a flying start when he returns to ride for his hometown club tonight.

Purton’s Ritchings was signed as a Swindon asset the day before his 16th birthday in 2010 and handed a place on the Robins roster for the 2014 season, only to suffer a horror crash on his home debut at the Abbey Stadium.

The 23-year-old has only ridden sporadically for Swindon since then but when the club opted to enter a second side in this year’s National League Trophy, Ritchings was one of the first names on the team sheet.

Team manager Lee Kilby has also signed up current Robins reserve Zach Wajtknecht as well as Dan Greenwood, David Mason, David Wallinger, Taylor Hampshire and Layne Cupitt to race in the competition.

The Sprockets face home and away meetings against Isle of Wight Warriors and Plymouth Devils in their group, starting away at the former this evening, and Ritchings has set his sights on getting off to a flying start.

“I don’t really like to dwell on the past but it was amazing to ride for Swindon in the top league. It will be great to represent the club again and it’s always a special feeling for me to ride in a Swindon jacket,” said Ritchings.

“Lee has put together quite a young side but I don’t think that’s a problem, we have got quality right through the order and I think we can do well.

“After my accident, Lee did a bike ride to raise some funds for me and since then we have become quite good friends. We’ve always been in contact and when he asked me to be involved in this team I jumped at the chance.

“We want to hit the ground running and if we want to do well in this competition, it’s important that we get off to a good start against the Isle of Wight.”

Ritchings has plenty of past experience at the Andrew Younie Stadium, having been on the Warriors team in 2013, while the venue was also the first track he rode on when he made his comeback from injury back in September 2014.

“When I rode for Isle of Wight in 2013 I had an awesome year,” said Ritchings.

“I quite like that track and although I know some people are not really fans of it, I’ve always done well on it every time I have been there.

“I am looking forward to getting back there and hopefully helping Swindon get this competition off to a good start.”