NEW recruit Dan Greenwood is hoping to get more time on the Blunsdon track after being thrown in at the deep end last week.

The 20-year-old has been drafted into the Robins side as a replacement for Darryl Ritchings, who remains in hospital after suffering head injuries in a crash against Coventry Bees earlier this month.

And he made his home Robins debut last Thursday against Belle Vue, having not spent any time on the Robins’ track, as he took the tapes in heat two but it didn’t go as well as he would have liked.

“Heat two was my first time on the track, so it was always going to be difficult,” Greenwood said.

“I felt on the pace, but then I went down which knocked my confidence for heat four because of crash - I was a bit hesitant.

“Then in heat nine I was back on it. We made a few changes before heat nine, that is why it went better.

“Rosco (team manager Alun Rossiter) wanted to a get a good win under the belt so Stevie (Worrall) took my last ride (in heat 12) which was fair enough. A win for the team is more important.”

Now with his home debut out of the way, Greenwood is hoping to get more time on the Swindon track prior to Good Friday’s double-header with Poole Pirates.

“I have had a word with Rosco and he is going to try and sort me out a day on the track this week,” Greenwood said.

“Hopefully we can get it sorted and then I can come down for the day, get some laps in and set up for the track.

“I found track conditions (last Thursday) really tough, it is not something I’m used to riding.

“I have only done the National League and I’ve only had one guest booking in the Premier so I was chucked in at the deep end.

“The comparison in tracks is massive, from riding slick tracks in the National League, to a well-prepared gritty surface like this.”

Even though Greenwood came back stronger in heat nine to claim a third place, the youngster was less than happy with his performance and he is determined to improve for Robins.

“I think in heat four I was a bit of the pace, but that was due to the crash that I had in my previous race (heat two),” added Greenwood.

“I still was pretty disappointed with heat nine, I want to be winning races and not finishing third.”