NEW reserve Stefan Nielsen is delighted to be getting a regular opportunity to impress Great Britain boss Alun Rossiter for new club Swindon Robins.

Nielsen’s signature was announced by the Robins on Saturday as he became the third name on their roster to be revealed after Charles Wright and Justin Sedgmen.

Having spent the past two seasons in the Elite League with Belle Vue, who he helped to reach the Grand Final at the expense of the Robins, Nielsen has good pedigree.

The 21-year-old has been riding alongside former Swindon favourite Steve Worrall at Kirkmanshulme Lane and will looking to emulate his success at Blunsdon next season.

The quirk of the fast track system is that the riders have little say over where they ride, but the Robins have been keen on Nielsen for a while and says the feeling is mutual.

“I’m pleased with how it has worked out,” he told the Advertiser.

“I’ve had two good years with Belle Vue and I really enjoyed my time there, riding in the Elite League.

“Now I’m signing for Swindon, where I hope I can step forward and push myself to do well.

“I quite enjoy the current Swindon track and they’ve got the new stadium being built, so it’s exciting things going on at Swindon and I’m looking forward to being part of it.

“I think I am going to provide that consistency the Robins didn’t always have at reserve last year.

“The Elite League has made me progress a lot. The fast track system has worked for me.

“I started off last season quite slowly but they seem to be improving the fast track year by year, with better riders coming in.

“It gets tougher and tougher, but as every year goes past, I learn more as well.

“I am up for the challenge. I don’t think it will be easy of course, but I love being faced with the task of improving and coming up against the top riders.

“It’s what I dreamed about as a kid.”

For a young British rider, now is an exciting time to be riding. The next edition of the World Cup will be in their home country for the first time in 10 years.

For Nielsen, who has a British mother and Danish father, he knows he now has a chance to impress the national boss on an almost weekly basis, with Robins boss Rossiter doubling up the jobs.

“I thought when I signed that riding for Swindon gives me a chance impress the national manager,” he added.

“I’ve still got a long way to go before I can get to that sort of level but there’s no reason why that if I impress for Swindon next year, I can’t make it happen.”