‘Now you’d better believe us!’ (From Swindon Advertiser)

‘Now you’d better believe us!’

8:30am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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"THERE ain't no stopping us now," beamed a delighted James Wright after Swindon sauntered to a 19-point win over Eastbourne Eagles in last night's televised top-of-the-table clash.

The Stockport-born rider contributed paid 10 to the cause as Alun Rossiter's Robins showed the watching speedway world that their flying start to the season is certainly no fluke.

Aussie Troy Batchelor scooped the man-of-the-match award for another swashbuckling display, but it was Wright's improved gating and command of the best racing line that will have given Rossiter most satisfaction.

That was most evident in heat 10, when Wright expertly held off the challenge of former Blunsdon darling Lee Richardson to secure a maximum behind birthday boy Leigh Adams.

After a surprisingly comfortable 56-37 triumph, Wright is now targeting a third successive away win when Swindon travel to a wounded Eastbourne on Saturday.

He said: "Their heads are down, and we are buzzing, so we will be going there for the win.

"We're doing better than we expected at this stage.

"We all thought it would take time to gel, but it's happening much sooner.

"We've got to keep it going now we're at the top. We don't want to lose our concentration."

Wright revealed he had spent plenty of time in the workshop this week in a bid to get the most out of his engines, and it was obviously time well spent.

A heat victory and two paid seconds proved he is definitely getting to grips with the rigours of Elite League riding.

"I know I can ride the track, it's all about making the starts.

"Once I'm out in front I'm fast enough to stay there," he said.

"I changed a few things on the bike this week, gave it a good going over and a service, "It's all about having confidence with the bike. Once I have got that, I will be flying."

A sombre moment preceded the action at the Abbey, as the crowd observed an minute's silence in memory of Tim Stone, the former Newport Speedway promoter who died at the weekend.

But it was soon down to business for Swindon, as Adams showed no hangover from his disappointing Grand Prix weekend with an opening heat win.

Reserves Seb Alden and Cory Gathercole cruised to a 5-1 in heat two, and Aussies Travis McGowan and Troy Batchelor followed it up with another maximum in three as Richardson was forced to retire.

It was desperate measures for Eastbourne as early as heat five, as they sent out Nicholls in the black and white helmet for a tactical ride.

The ploy worked as the Suffolk-born star exploded out of gate three to take the chequered flag, an erratic Lewis Bridger collecting third for 7-2 to the visitors.

Wright tasted victory in a re-run heat six before Korneliussen produced the ride of the night in seven, the Dane thrilling the crowds as the stormed from third to first in the space of two laps.

And it was all but over as a contest after heat eight, Alden and Wright chalking up Robins' fourth maximum of the night.

The remaining heats saw a procession for the hosts, although the game Nicholls did claim wins over Korneliussen in heat 11 and Adams in heat 13.

But the Swindon skipper gained a measure of revenge as he powered to victory in the meeting finale, Batchelor coming home second for yet another Robins maximum.

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