ALUN Rossiter has tipped Peter Kildemand to challenge for the number one spot at Swindon after yesterday making the Dane his first signing of the winter.

The Odense-born rider began 2012 at reserve but quickly established himself as a heat leader in a Robins team that eventually went on to win the Elite League.

And Blunsdon boss Rossiter believes the 23-year-old could be the leading rider in next term’s side, labelling his man ‘a worldwide star’.

“Early on this year he was pushing for the number one slot and I was thinking we were going to have him, Hans (Andersen) and Troy (Batchelor) on eight-point averages,” said Rossiter.

“I think he will be pushing the boys for the number one slot again next season, he’s learned a lot in his first full Elite League season and he’s in an environment he’s happy with.

“He did quite a lot of heat 15s last year and nine times out of 10 he pulled it out of the bag for me.

“He’s become a big favourite at Swindon and not only that, he’s become a worldwide star - everyone loves to watch Peter Kildemand ride with the style that he has.

“When you have people like Carl Fogarty (four-time World Superbike Championship winner) tweeting about how good he is to watch, it’s great.

“To be fair he’s been brilliant to deal with every since I brought him to Coventry. I made it my priority to bring him in when I came back to Swindon and he hasn’t failed to deliver.

“He’s excited everybody and the beauty is he’s our asset.”

Rossiter is keen to keep Kildemand together with Andersen and Batchelor but given that the latter two riders are owned by Peterborough, he admits he is playing the waiting game.

The trio could theoretically be put together given that only Andersen and Batchelor were in the top-20 Elite League riders in 2012, while Kildemand was just outside that mark.

“We’d like to keep the same top three as last year so we’re looking at Troy and Hans, but our hands are tied with Peterborough,” said Rossiter.

“Until we know what they are doing, we won’t know what we are doing, but I don’t think it will be too long.

“There’s always going to be one good rider who is outside the top-20 bracket, which is a bonus for us.

“It gives us a great chance to bring the top three back and that would give us stability if we can do it.”

Meanwhile, Rossiter and fellow promoter Gary Patchett, Kildemand, Batchelor, Andersen and Simon Stead will be present at a question and answer session at the Moonrakers pub tonight (7pm).