Robins swoop for Doyle (From Swindon Advertiser)

Robins swoop for Doyle

6:00am Thursday 15th December 2011 in Speedway By Andy Warren

SWINDON Robins have continued their team building for next season with the acquisition of Australian Jason Doyle from reigning Elite League champions Poole Pirates.

The 26-year-old played an important part as his parent club capped an impressive 2011 by adding the Knock-Out Cup to their league crown, and moves to Blunsdon on loan from Wimborne Road.

The New South Wales charger will slot into the Robins team on a 5.28 average, but will also double up with Somerset Rebels in the Premier League as the Oak Tree Arena side’s captain.

Doyle is entering his eighth season in British racing after previous spells at the Isle of Wight, Rye House and Newport, as well as Poole, and Robins manager Alun Rossiter was delighted to finally get his man after a number of previous attempts.

“I am a big fan of his, and I nearly managed to get him with me at Coventry and before that too, but that didn’t quite happen,” he said.

“Now that we have got this sorted I am hoping he will show his true potential, and I think he is capable of putting a good point on his average over the season.

“That is the sort of thing I am looking for, riders who can improve and riders who can ride our track, and I think Jason is both.

“I would have loved to have had him here full time, but I can understand why he wants to double up because of the lack of meetings.

“It looks like he is going to be basing himself in Swindon too, and it is always good to have riders here in the town.”

Doyle has struggled with a shoulder injury in recent seasons after suffering a number of dislocations, but Rossiter is convinced the problem has been solved following surgery in Germany.

“He has been a little bit blighted by injuries in recent years, but we have been assured that is all behind him now,” he said. “He has been to Germany to see a surgeon who works with all the top Motocross and Supercross riders, and although he said it was quite bad he has been told that it should be as good as new now.”

Doyle joins Troy Batchelor, Hans Andersen, Simon Stead and Peter Kildemand in the Robins side for next season, while work continues to fill the remaining spots.