HE MAY still only be a teenager but Zach Wajtknecht is aiming to show experience well beyond his years as he steps up to the SGB Premiership with the Swindon Robins.

The 18-year-old was announced as part of Alun Rossiter’s 2017 Robins team on Tuesday, with the youngster, who last term rode for the Somerset Rebels and Birmingham Brummies, who both won their respective divisions, arriving at the Abbey Stadium as a reserve.

Despite his tender years, Wajtknecht, who hails from Saltford, near Bristol, already has plenty of valuable miles on the clock, having won three World youth titles, two British grasstrack titles and the British Sand Ace Championship in May this year.

The Robins new boy, a Lakeside Hammers asset, is under no illusions as to the challenge awaiting him in British speedway’s top tier but feels ready to spread his wings in Swindon colours.

“It’ll be my first time in the Elite League (now the SGP Premiership). I started at Birmingham and I also rode for Somerset last season, which was a great experience” said Wajtknecht, who arrives on an average of 2.63.

“The Premier League is a tough league and it was a really good experience. I know that it’s going to be hard next year but I think the experience of being at Somerset will really help me.

“I’ll come in as one of the two-pointers and it’s great to know that there are other people out there of my ability that I’ll be able to race against.

“I’m looking forward to it. I live in Saltford, between Bristol and Bath, so it isn’t going to take me long to get to the track. Somerset is my local club but Swindon is also local-ish and that helps a lot because the travelling did get tiring last season.

“They’re a good promotion at Lakeside – you couldn’t ask for a better one – and I spoke to Jon (Cook, co-promoter) and he thought this would be a good move for me.

“I didn’t expect it to happen but after Rosco spoke to me and I thought about it, I decided that it was a great chance.

“I turn 19 next February and there a lot of riders who have done well at this age, so why can’t I? You’ve got to give it a try. I know that I’ve got to get myself going now but I’ve got a good mechanic in the pits, and that means that I can just concentrate on racing.

“Knowing that you’re stepping up makes you want to work even harder before the season starts.”