SWINDON Robins strengthened their advantage at the top of the SGB Premiership table this evening after extending their perfect home record with a thumping win over King’s Lynn Stars.

Troy Batchelor claimed 12 points from five rides to lead Alun Rossiter’s troops to an eighth win from eight meetings at the Abbey Stadium, while Tobiasz Musielak was not far behind on 11.

While Swindon were at full strength for the meeting, the Stars were without three of their regular riders, as Ty Procter, Kasper Andersen and Michael Palm Toft all sat out, the former two with injury, as King’s Lynn were forced to field a pair of guests at reserves.

Although that somewhat lessened the threat Swindon faced, team manager Rossiter was pleased with how ruthlessly his side swept away the opposition.

“You can only beat what is in front of you but of course having no Ty Procter and no Michael Palm Toft made it a little bit easier for us,” said Rossiter.

“But that comes down to the planning we did before the season. We built a team a team that we would have every week and that is why we wanted a fixed race night because we would have riders available to ride for us.

“Like I said, you can only beat what is in front of you and we went out and did our jobs.

“We kept turning the screw and when you have a bit of a gap it makes it easier. It was a good solid team performance and I was pleased with all the boys.”

King’s Lynn took the honours in the opening race of the night, although they were perhaps somewhat fortunate as Niels-Kristian Iversen appeared to have jumped the start. It was allowed to stand, however, and the Dane romped clear, although Adam Ellis and Nick Morris earned the hosts a share of the points.

Zach Wajtknecht then got the better of a cracking duel with Kevin Doolan around lap one of the second race before the Stars man’s engine stuttered, dropping him from second to last as Jack Smith’s third place gave Swindon a heat advantage.

The Robins then struck their first maximum of the evening and it was as easy as you will see as Musielak and David Bellego nailed the start before romping clear.

Batchelor then made it three wins in a row for Swindon in the fourth contest, with his brave start paying off as he swept wide around Stars dangerman Robert Lambert to take a lead that he was never troubled for again, although the visitors did claim a share of the points.

A stunning pass from Musielak saw him grab victory on the final bend of heat five as Swindon kept up their winning streak. He and Iversen duelled around the first lap, with the Stars man edging clear, but Musielak never gave up and got reward at the death. Bellego bagged third as the hosts led 19-11 overall.

A good start from Ellis looked to have kept Lambert quiet again in the sixth race but the King’s Lynn captain was patient and eventually snuck by on lap two to claim just a second Stars win on the night, although Morris’ third place meant it was honours even.

The visitors made it two in a row in the next, doing so in style with a maximum. Lambert was sent out as tactical substitute, although Thomas Jorgensen was actually the Stars rider to triumph after Batchelor and Wajtknecht never featured following a slack start.

Swindon delivered the perfect response in race eight by taking a 5-1 of their own. Ellis and Wajtknecht streaked clear out of the gate and enjoyed a straightforward run to the flag.

Lambert produced an unstoppable ride in the ninth contest, although Musielak and Bellego comfortably shared the heat for Swindon, before the hosts began to close in on overall victory with a second 5-1 in three races as a one-two for Morris and Ellis moved them 36-24 to the good overall.

Batchelor turned in a classy ride out front to claim victory in race 11, but Wajtknecht took the plaudits after a gutsy move on Lewis Kerr on the opening lap secured him third place before Musielak claimed his third win from four rides after a super start to a share 12th contest.

Heat 13 looked to be the toughest of the night on paper as Batchelor and Morris took on Lambert and Iversen, but the Robins pair produced a perfect display of team riding to roar to a dominant maximum and wrap up the meeting win too with two races to spare.

Jorgensen provided the Stars with a rare cheer romped clear early on in race 14 to triumph. They had looked to be on for a 5-1, but Bellego chased Doolan hard all the way before getting past on the penultimate lap.

Although there was nothing to play for in the finale, Lambert and Batchelor still ensured there was plenty of entertainment for the crowds in an entertaining duel out front.

The Stars man got the better of it, but Swindon were much too good overall and strengthened their position at the top of the table.

SWINDON ROBINS 52 KING’S LYNN STARS 38

SWINDON: Nick Morris 7+3 (1’-1’-3-2’), Adam Ellis 9+1 (2-2-3-2’), Tobiasz Musielak 11 (3-3-2-3-0), David Bellego 6+2 (2’-1-1’-2), Troy Batchelor 12 (3-1-3-3-2), Zach Wajtknecht 6 (3-0-2-1-0), Jack Smith 1 (1-0-0)

KING’S LYNN: Niels-Kristian Iversen 8 (3-2-2-R-1), Lewis Kerr 0 (R-0-0-0), Ty Proctor R/R, Thomas Jorgensen 8 (1-3-1-3), Robert Lambert 14+1 (2-3-2’-3-1-3), Ben Morley (G) 3+1 (2-R-0-1’), Kevin Doolan (G) 5+1 (0-1’-0-1-0-2-1)