Patchett urges thrashed Belle Vue to improve displays (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: Patchett urges thrashed Belle Vue to improve displays

5:50am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Speedway By Ned Payne

ROBINS co-owner Gary Patchett hopes Belle Vue quickly recover from their almighty thrashing by Swindon, as he believes the integrity of the Elite League is at stake.

The Abbey Stadium outfit annihilated their hosts 60-33 on Monday, not only Swindon’s biggest-ever away victory in the Elite League but also the heaviest defeat suffered by Belle Vue during their 24-year tenure at Kirkmanshulme Lane.

It was the eighth straight league loss that the Aces have suffered this season, leaving them rooted at the bottom of the standings, and while he was delighted to have secured four away points, Patchett urged Belle Vue to strengthen their performances for the good of the league.

“Belle Vue had not secured a point ahead of last night so other teams would have been expecting us to win,” he said.

“That said, someone is going to go there and lose - they are not going to go through the whole season without winning - and as soon as they buck the trend (of defeats) the better.

“Belle Vue have had nothing but bad luck this year but we need strong teams in the league and not whipping boys.”

Meanwhile, Alun Rossiter has revealed he was delighted to see his team get back to winning ways on the road at Belle Vue after two difficult defeats.

The Robins boss admitted emotionally-charged meetings at Lakeside and Eastbourne had affected his riders mentally, with both fixtures being used to pay tribute to former Blunsdon rider Lee Richardson, who died following a crash in Poland earlier this month.

And although ‘Rico’ is still very much in Rossiter’s thoughts, the boss was pleased his Blunsdon boys had managed to notch up a second away league victory.

“It was good to see a few of the boys back firing against Belle Vue and it was nice to see them gate,” he said.

“The Lee Richardson thing did affect us against Lakeside and Eastbourne, it was a major factor because the tributes were so heartfelt.

“Hopefully now we can move on. The main thing now is to get points on the table and the four points against Belle Vue are really useful - they will help give us a good run-up to the play-offs.”

Swindon are poised for an important few days next week, with a trip to Wolverhampton on Monday being followed up by a double-header against in-form Poole on Wednesday and Thursday.