WITH the Swindon Robins lifting the SGP Premiership league championship, it’s time to turn your attention to who should win our Swindon Advertiser 2017 Robins Rider of the Year award.

It's been a remarkable campaign for Alun Rossiter’s side, who were written off as no-hopers at the start of the season back in April.

After a largely unspectacular start, losing their first two Premiership matches and then being beaten in four out of five fixtures in May, the Robins took flight, reeling off a club-record 16 straight wins to storm to the top of the table and earn top seeding for the end-of-season play-offs.

There, they saw off the challenge of old rivals Poole at the semi final stage before that never-to-be-forgotten final triumph over Wolverhampton Wolves, Swindon creating history as the first side to lift the trophy having lost the opening leg at home.

Skipper Jason Doyle stormed to the landslide victory in our poll last year, earning a whopping 89 per cent of the vote to claim the trophy.

To cast your vote to name the 2017 winner - and be in with a chance of winning a VIP experience for two at a Swindon Robins fixture in 2018 - simply nominate your chosen rider and complete the entry form printed in the editions of the Swindon Advertiser throughout the next couple of weeks and send it to the address specified on the form.

The closing date for entries is Friday, October 13.

THE CONTENDERS

(Eligible for riders who have competed in more than 10 meetings)

JASON DOYLE

Swindon Advertiser:

Unsurprisingly, the captain has led from the front throughout the summer, topping the Robins’ averages despite missing a number of meetings through injury. The Australian ace is also back in contention for a first world title after his injury heartbreak in 2016.

ADAM ELLIS

Swindon Advertiser:

IT WAS a slow start to the season for the former Poole Pirate, who also had his fair share of early injuries and mechanical gremlins, but he subsequently came good with a series of points-scoring performances and has proved a shrewd addition to the Swindon line-up.

TOBIASZ MUSIELAK

Swindon Advertiser:

After the ill-fated stints of Danish rider Emil Grondal and Austrian Dany Gappmaier, Alun Rossiter turned to Polish ace Musielak in mid-season and it proved to be an inspired capture. From 17 Swindon meetings, the 24-year-old averages above eight points and he wasted little time in moving up into the main body of the team to become another potent weapon.

DAVID BELLEGO

Swindon Advertiser:

ARGUABLY the signing of the season for Swindon, the Frenchman has been in brilliant form for most of the campaign, notwithstanding recent engine troubles. Third only to Doyle and Nick Morris in the averages, his consistency has been a huge factor in the Robins’ rise to the top.

NICK MORRIS

Swindon Advertiser:

THE Australian said before the action had even started this year that he needed a big campaign and he has delivered. With an average way above nine, he has proved a hugely influential heat leader and stepped up to the plate, especially when Doyle has been absent.

BRADLEY WILSON-DEAN

Swindon Advertiser:

AT TIMES frustrated by injury, the Kiwi has still punched above his weight on frequent occasions during the campaign. Dropped into a reserve berth, largely by the excellent of his teammates, he has proved valuable contributor in his own right.

ZACH WAJTKNECHT

Swindon Advertiser:

THE youngster was enjoying a strong first season in British speedway’s top flight with the Robins, consistently collecting a solid haul of points down at reserve, only to be stopped in his tracks midway through the year when he sustained a damaged spleen after a crash at Poole at the end of July, which rules him out of the rest of the season.