UNSEASONAL spring weather over the Easter weekend wiped out all but two speedway fixtures across Great Britain, and Swindon Robins team manager Alun Rossiter admits it has done his men no favours.

The Robins saw the start to their SGB Premiership title defence delayed last Thursday after a downpour forced the club to postpone their scheduled league opener against Leicester Lions at the Abbey Stadium.

There was further frustration on Easter Monday when Rye House Rockets called off the first leg of the Knockout Cup clash set for that afternoon before another poor weather forecast forced the Robins to postpone the second leg – which was due to take place later that night – as well.

It means Rossiter’s men have competed in only two fixtures since the start of the season, an away loss to Belle Vue Aces in the first leg of the Charity Sheild on March 19 before triumphing in the second leg at home three days later.

While many of Swindon’s rivals, including Wolverhampton Wolves, Poole Pirates and King’s Lynn Stars are yet to take to the track, Rossiter says the situation is not ideal.

He added: “It’s not good for the boys.

“They want to earn a living and it’s tough for them.

“Meetings will come, though, they know that.”

It’s a situation the Team GB boss hopes to use to his advantage, though.

A series of postponements will inevitably lead to a backlog of fixtures during the summer months, and Rossiter believes regular riding will only benefit his team.

“The more you ride, the better you are,” he said.

“The boys all race in other leagues too. It would’ve been nicer to be racing now but it’s just not possible because of the weather.”

The Robins are next in action on Monday night when they travel to Monmore Green to face Wolverhampton in their first Premiership fixture of 2018.