SWINDON Robins have been forced to rethink their 2016 team line-up after Australian rider Dakota North pulled out of his Abbey Stadium commitments for the coming season.

The 24 year old was set to resume his Swindon career this season, having helped Poole Pirates to a third successive Elite League title in 2015, following a successful 2014 campaign at Blunsdon.

However, the Victorian informed team boss Alun Rossiter this week that he felt he would be unable to commit to a season in Britain, with his father Rod still suffering from the effects of a crane accident last year.

North senior, himself a former speedway rider, suffered serious injuries in the quarry accident last September, prior to the first leg of Poole’s Elite League semi final against Coventry Bees, prompting his son to sit out the second meeting.

He subsequently required a 12-hour operation but is understood to still be struggling with the seriousness of his injuries, a situation which has led to North deciding to pull out of his Robins riding duties.

Swindon unveiled North as part of a quintet of Australian riders in their 2016 line-up late last year and expect to announce North’s replacement next week.

While disappointed to be losing the services of a proven performer for the upcoming summer, Rossiter insisted he fully endorsed the rider’s decision to stay behind in Australia.

“Dak’s father still has a lot of issues following on from the accident and it is felt that he is needed by his family back in Australia,’’ said the Robins chief.

“Dak feels he can’t leave him with the situation is as it is and I totally respect that. At the end of the day, the family comes first.

“He said that he didn’t want to be letting Swindon down, but we totally understand the decision that he has made.

“It’s disappointing for us but it has to be right for him and it wouldn’t be easy with that on his mind if he was the other side of the world.’’ North has been an integral part of British speedway since arriving to ride for the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in 2007.

He has also ridden for Newcastle Diamonds, winning Premier Trophy and play-off honours, as well as Peterborough Panthers, Somerset Rebels, Ipswich Witches, King’s Lynn Stars and Birmingham Brummies during his near-decade in this country.

Australian Grand Prix rider Jason Doyle will lead a team comprising of countrymen Josh Grajczonek, Nick Morris, Justin Sedgmen, plus Brits Stefan Nielsen and Charles Wright and the as-yet unnamed seventh rider into this year’s Elite League campaign, which gets under way with a trip to champions Poole on Good Friday.