SWINDON Robins racer David Bellego missed out on qualification to next year’s Speedway Grand Prix series after finishing 11th in Saturday’s GP Challenge.

Frenchman Bellego, who has only recently returned to action following a hand injury, scored seven points from his five at Landshut in Germany to finish in the middle of the pack.

Poland’s Janusz Kolodziej topped the scoring charts with 12 points to book his place in next year’s world championship, with Dane Niels-Kristian Iversen and Sweden’s Antonio Lindback joining him in qualifying for the 2019 series.

Lindback had to come through a dramatic race-off to book his place, defeating Great Britain’s current SGP rider Craig Cook after the pair were tied on 10 points.

Event winner Kolodziej was last a full-time Grand Prix rider in 2011 and was thrilled to win back a place amongst the elite.

“At the moment, it’s like a dream for me. Every rider wants to ride in Speedway GP, but now I know I can race in it next year. This is very important for me,” said Kolodziej.

“Now I have to really think because I must change many things to produce good racing in the GP and be a good rider. But this is very good for me because maybe I will be a better rider.

“I look at when I rode in the GP and see what mistakes I made now. It’s easier for me because I know what I must change, I want to try it and now I can.”

Bellego will be back in Swindon colours this evening when they host Wolverhampton Wolves in the SGB Premiership.