SWINDON Robins star reserve Zach Wajtknecht stormed to his maiden British Masters Grasstrack Championship in Cheshire on Sunday.

The talented 20-year-old made up for a sluggish start to win the one-off Grand Final from the gate and register his name on the prestigious trophy after missing the competition in the last three years because of injury.

Wajtknecht rode the bumpy Gawsworth track best, beating the likes of James Shanes and former Speedway Grand Prix racer Chris Harris to the chequered flag.

“It’s the one that every rider wants to win in England,” said Wajtknecht.

“Unfortunately, the last few years I’ve missed out through injury - but it’s a big one to win and I enjoyed the final.

“It’s the equivalent to the British Final in speedway.

“I didn’t make a good start to the event. I had a fourth then ran a second before a couple of wins got me on track.

“The final is a clean slate – it’s all or nothing. I made a good start in the final and went from there.”

Wajtknecht is now keen to translate his form on the grass to the shale ahead of Robins’ latest SGB Premiership match against Belle Vue at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

Despite both formats taking place on an oval circuit over four laps, he explained racing on grass can be compared to road racing.

Increased levels of grip mean riders often do not need to continue sliding on straights while locking up the bike kills momentum.

He said: “As it was grasstrack the track was very bumpy and rough.

“It was a good track to race on, though a lot of the time I was going into the corner not knowing where I was going to come out.

“I feel more comfortable on a grass bike than a speedway bike, that’s something I’ve got to work on.

“To do both formats is good for me. There are more nobbles on the tyres and the wheel sticks out a little more.

“We have suspension on the back too which we can adjust to find a little more speed.

“There’s an element of road racing to it. You’re not turning all the time, though you do slide it around the bends.”

Wajtknecht’s win marks the start of a busy week for the Bristol-based racer, who will compete at the Abbey on Thursday before driving to Denmark to compete in the World U21 Team Cup Final.