EXPERIENCING the joy of that winning feeling with Swindon Robins has made Bradley Wilson-Dean’s recovery from injury much easier to bear.

A damaged wrist, as a result of a heavy fall, forced New Zealander Wilson-Dean to miss a clutch of Swindon’s fixtures at the back end of the regular season in the SGB Premiership as they finished top of the table, as well as the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Poole Pirates.

The 22-year-old was back in action on Monday night in the second leg of that showdown and displayed no ill-effects of the problem as he recorded an impressive 13+2 points haul from six rides to help Swindon secure a 97-82 aggregate victory and with it a place in the Grand Final next week.

Although Wilson-Dean admits he is not yet able to ride without any soreness flaring up, he admits it pales into insignificance in comparison to the elation of victory out on track.

“There is still a bit of pain in it. It has been strapped up by the physio but it is not 100 per cent,” said Wilson-Dean, who returned for the Robins on Monday having sat out their Premiership Knockout Cup semi-final second leg defeat at Belle Vue Aces the previous Friday.

“It’s getting there but you don’t really think about any pain that is there when you’re riding.

“It was nice to put in a good performance and play a big part for the team after not being able to ride on Friday.

“After the first three or four races I was starting to get tired but after the fifth and sixth ones, I was fine and good to go. Then, if I was needed to go out for heat 15 too, I was up for it.

“When you are out on the bike you are so focussed on winning, you don’t really think about anything else.”

Swindon will face the winners of the semi-final between Wolverhampton Wolves and Belle Vue Aces in the final, with the outcome set to be determined in Friday night’s second leg.