SWINDON Robins team boss Alun Rossiter believes the club have been robbed of their first world champion since Barry Briggs almost half a century ago after Jason Doyle was ruled out of the season-ending Australian Grand Prix this month.

Doyle’s world title hopes were dashed by the injuries he sustained during Saturday’s Torun Grand Prix in Poland, with the Australian rider revealing he would not be making the trip to Melbourne for the October 22 finale.

Lying only 11 points behind series leader Greg Hancock, of the USA, heading into the final round, Doyle suffered severe injuries following a crash in heat three at the weekend, denying him a golden opportunity to clinch a first world crown.

Doyle, who turns 31 tomorrow, confirmed that he had shattered his right elbow and dislocated his left shoulder in the incident, while also sustaining a punctured left lung as well as damaging his right lung.

Having won the three preceding rounds prior to Torun, Rossiter is convinced his skipper would have lifted the title in his homeland later this month.

“He has had a fantastic season and it has come to a sad and abrupt end,” said Rossiter.

“I definitely think he would have been world champion and it has put even more of a downer on the end of the season.

“Everything was there and set up for him to be world champion in my opinion.

“He doesn’t have a lot of luck in that respect. He has just won three Grands Prix on the bounce and it looked like an innocuous crash.’’ Confirming his withdrawal via Facebook, Doyle, who received hospital treatment for his injuries, said: “Sadly I have to withdraw from the Melbourne GP. I have punctured my left lung and badly traumatised my right lung.

“My right elbow is also shattered and I dislocated my left shoulder. I am unable to fly due to my lungs and have to wait for surgery on my elbow once my lungs are healed.

“I would like to again thank everyone for their kind messages. I will concentrate on my health and recovery to be ready for 2017.’’

Doyle suffered a similar fate in last year’s World Championship when a crash in Melbourne also cost him in his hunt for a world title but has already secured his place in the 2017 Grand Prix line-up.