A BRILLIANT last-heat maximum saw Swindon Robins complete a stunning comeback victory at Leicester Lions tonight to continue their perfect start to the new SGB Premiership season.

Alun Rossiter’s troops found themselves 10 points adrift after six heats at Beaumont Park, with the Lions taking the chequered flag on each occasion.

However, Swindon gallantly fought back and the scores were all-square with two heats remaining.

A 4-2 success for Leicester in the penultimate contest appeared to hand them the initiative once more, but the Robins refused to roll over and Tobiasz Musielak led home Troy Batchelor in the deciding race to seal a sensational triumph for Swindon.

The victory was the Robins’ third from as many league meetings in 2018 and keeps the reigning champions at the top of the early-season table.

Batchelor was the key man for Swindon, with 15+2 points from six rides and was only beaten by one Lions rider all night, while Musielak also hit double figures with 12.

Australian Batchelor’s performance was all the more impressive considering the 30-year-old is currently suffering with an eye infection, which significantly hampered his vision.

Team manager Rossiter said: “It was a great performance, all the boys dug in deep.

“It was tough meeting. Leicester started really well and we knew we were up against it.

“No disrespect but we know how hard it is to pass on this track. There were a couple of passes on the first corner but gating is imperative here. They have got all these big wide open spaces, it is just a shame you can’t use it all.

“Troy has been fantastic at the start of this year. He has been very mature and very focussed. I am really happy with him, as I am with all of them.

“Troy has got a bad infection, his eye has nearly closed up. He was amazing all night and when you realise he couldn’t see that clearly, it just shows what a remarkable job he did.”

It was honours even in the first heat as Lions number one Kenneth Bjerre nailed the start, with Adam Ellis the only man to get near him. However, Nick Morris was able to squeeze out Kyle Newman to slot in behind for third and ensure the points were shared.

A pattern began to emerge as early as race two as again it was all about the start. Home man Todd Kurtz got the best one and was away and clear, but Swindon’s hopes of another shared heat went when Mitchell Davey allowed James Sarjeant to slip by for third.

That kicked off a run of three 4-2 victories in succession for Leicester, with Danny King and Hans Andersen taking the honours in the next two races respectively.

Batchelor and Musielak took gallant second places for Swindon on each occasion, with the former pulling off the first genuine pass of the night to power past Krystian Pieszczek after the hosts had looked on course for a maximum.

The Robins were grateful to a retirement for halting that sequence, although Leicester continued their winning run as Pieszczek flew out of the gate to triumph in race five. Sitting third, home captain King’s bike packed up, promoting Zach Wajtknecht in behind Morris to ensure the points were shared as the hosts led 18-12.

Fortune did not smile on Swindon for long, though, as the Lions landed a first 5-1 of the night in the very next race. Newman went wide out of the gate to shoot out in front, and although Musielak chased Bjerre hard for second, the Pole was comfortably fended off.

The Robins needed a response and they got the perfect one in heat seven after finally getting the job done off the line. Again it was the wide outside line that paid dividends, with Ellis the one to make it as Batchelor slotted in behind for a crucial 5-1.

That kicked off a good run for the Robins as it started a sequence of four victories in a row. Batchelor triumphed in the next, which was a shared heat, before another Swindon maximum in heat nine got them right back in it.

Morris was sent out as a tactical substitute and it paid off a treat. Musielak romped clear as Morris and King duelled for second around the first two bends, but the Robins skipper was able to get the job done.

Batchelor made it four straight Swindon wins in a shared 10th race as they trailed just 31-29 overall but the Lions were able to stop the rot in the next.

Andersen was just about able to fend off Morris around lap one to sneak clear before disaster struck Swindon’s hopes off a shared heat as Musielak retired when lying third to promote Sarjeant as Leicester took a 4-2.

Batchelor continued his untouchable run of form with a dominant win – his third – in race 12. However, the story was all about Wajtnecht behind as after charging hard, he got by Kurtz on the very last bend to steal third and give the visitors a heat advantage.

Swindon then hauled themselves level overall in an unbelievable heat 13. Musielak spotted a gap to dive between the Lions pair on the first lap before Morris pulled off exactly the same move on lap two. The Aussie then got out of shape to allow Andersen by but a Swindon 4-2 meant it was back to all-square overall.

A brave effort from Ellis was in vain in the penultimate race as he chased Pieszczek hard for four solid laps but the Lions man was able to hang on for the win, with Kurtz’ third place handing the hosts a two-point cushion going into the finale.

However, the Robins rallied themselves for one final attack and a perfect performance from Musielak and Batchelor saw them lock out the top two places in a stunning 5-1 win to put Swindon ahead overall for the only time on the night.

LEICESTER LIONS 44: Kenneth Bjerre 6+2 (3-2’-1’-0-0), Kyle Newman 7 (0-3-2-2), Danny King 6 (3-R-1-2), Krystian Pieszczek 7 (1-3-0-3), Hans Andersen 10 (3-1-3-2-1), James Sarjeant 2 (1-R-1), Todd Kurtz 6+1 (3-1-1’-F-1)

SWINDON ROBINS 46: Nick Morris 8+2 (1’-2-2’-2-1), David Bellego R/R, Troy Batchelor 15+2 (2-2’-3-3-3-2’), Adam Ellis 7 (2-0-3-0-2), Tobiasz Musielak 12 (2-1-3-R-3-3), Zach Wajtknecht 4+1 (2-1’-0-1-0), Mitchell Davey 0 (0-0-0).