WHILE a maiden win of the 2017 Grand Prix would not be turned down by Swindon Robins skipper Jason Doyle, he is happy to keep collecting good points hauls at the moment.

The 31-year-old sits second in the overall standings behind Freddie Lindgren, who has had a fine start to both the Grand Prix series and the domestic campaign with Wolverhampton Wolves.

However, with the Swede picking up a knee injury in his side’s win over Swindon at Monmore Green on Monday, Doyle could have the chance to overhaul the 31-year-old in the world rankings but is focused on his personal performance.

“There are times when you are not going to be scoring the points you think you are in this year’s competition,” he said ahead of tonight’s meeting in Latvia.

“I’m just trying to get as many points as possible and hopefully be up there in the end.

“It’s always nice to win a Grand Prix but like last year, I won four and didn’t win the world title.

“You have to be there at the very end and that is the way we’re looking at it.

“It’s just about trying to get as many points as possible and if we do have a bad meeting, there is still a lot of race meetings to go to, to catch up.

“I think I was 10 or 12 points behind Greg last year and caught right up to him.

“It’s anyone’s Grand Prix at the moment and we have just got to concentrate on our own racing and try to stay safe.”

Doyle, who is only in his third year in the Grand Prix, picked up four wins in last season’s campaign but with the addition of Emil Syfutdinov, Martin Vaculik and Patryk Dudek to the roster this term, he admits that he will have to be at his best to pick up that first victory this weekend.

“It’s definitely stepped up a level,” he added.

“For the first time, there is no easy race. The last couple of years in the Grand Prix, I have known that I can go out there and beat certain riders easily.

“This year, it’s not the case. It all comes down to good gate pick and who is on form.

“There are not any easy races. With Emil, Martin and Patryk all coming in, they are professional speedway riders who have ridden in Grand Prix many times.”