DARCY Ward feels like Swindon is his second home in England.

Talking to the local press after touching down as a Swindon Robin at the Abbey on Thursday, the controversial, but brilliant, new number one is excited to get back into Elite League action.

Ward’s return to speedway in this country has been somewhat of a protracted affair, but was made official by Swindon earlier this week and he donned the Robins kevlars for the first time on Thursday as he warmed up for his return to racing at Leicester tonight.

The 23-year-old Queenslander is clearly still emotionally attached to his parent club Poole.

However, his close friendship with Robins number three Nick Morris and boss Alun Rossiter has created a bond between Ward and the Blunsdon club, so with the Pirates unwilling to offer him a return, the Abbey was a natural choice.

“I’m excited, it’s a new change, but it’s not too much of a change,” said Ward. “It’s only up the road from me and it feel like a second home.

“I’m good friends with Rosco, the two Aussie boys and I’m sure I’ll get along with the rest of the boys. So it’s pretty cool, yeah I’m excited.

“I’m excited to be here. It’s not my first club, but if I wasn’t at Poole this would definitely be next in line for sure – I always had a good time here, I had good meetings.

“I’m excited for 2015 it’s all about myself and getting myself back on the right road.

“Hopefully me being back in the team can bring the Robins up a bit and get them going. That’s my goal anyway.

“They started the season well and it’s sort of dried up a bit. I’d sort of like to bring a spark back.”

Leicester’s Beaumont Park, where Ward will make his comeback, is a track known to be preferred by strong gaters.

It is fair to say Ward would have preferred to end his 10-month break from competitive riding elsewhere.

“It kind of sucks, it’s not my favourite but we’ll go there as a team and we’ll go there to take points,” he added. “Leicester is not going to be the best for all of us, hopefully we can get a point out of it. I’m not a fan of the joint so I’m not looking forward to it.

“It’s not an ideal track for me, it’s the bit of a tricky one, but it is what it is.

“I’d like to think I’ve worked a lot on my gating, behind the scenes, and I’m looking forward to see where I’m at. I have no expectations.

“I’ve not had much time on the bike. Of course it’s going to be little bit rusty, no one will know until it comes to tapes up. I’m not that bothered (by the rustiness) to be honest, I’ll take my own time.”