A POSITIVE change in track conditions at the Abbey Stadium has left Swindon Robins heat leader Adam Ellis pleasantly surprised.

Alun Rossiter’s Robins have now raced twice on their new track, drawing to Poole last Thursday before recording their first home win of the season against Ipswich Witches in the Supporters’ Cup on Monday night.

The track’s new shape has won over fans, who have voiced their praise and approval of the new racing surface on social media.

Ellis in particular was sceptical about conditions following his first try-out of the new track.

Having fallen off on turn four, the 23-year-old described the surface as appalling.

But meetings against Poole and Ipswich have since delighted the Ringwood-based racer, who sung the praises of track man Ronnie Russell and his team to turn the conditions around.

He said: “When we practised on the track for the first time last Tuesday, I’m not going to lie, it was appalling.

“The track staff did incredibly well to turn it around in two days. Conditions were on the slick side against Poole (last Thursday), but it was good.

“We’re happy with the track.”

Several heats have already stood out this season on the new Abbey track.

Ellis teamed up with skipper Jason Doyle in heat 12 on Monday night to reverse a 5-1 against into a 5-1 for as the Robins defeated Ipswich 51-39 on Monday night.

Troy Batchelor has also been in the thick of the action – he shot from last to second before being denied on the run to the line in a heat 15 thriller against Poole’s Josh Grajczonek just four days earlier.

Ellis added: “We weren’t too sure what the surface would ride like for the opening night. Visually it looked great, though there were a few wavy bits in turns one and two.

“But it’s been a lot better than we thought it would be. Once we all had a couple of rides, we settled into it well and found some decent set-ups between the group of us.

“The track will only get better. The more time the track is down, the more it will settle.

“It’s only going to get better. We said it was slick last week, but the track staff didn’t have much choice.

“Hopefully we’ll see patches of more grip in the future – things are looking good.”

The Robins return to Supporters’ Cup action tomorrow night when travelling to face Ipswich Witches in the return fixture.

Rossiter’s troops will head east once again on Monday, April 29, to tackle King’s Lynn Stars in their penultimate Supporters’ Cup group stage fixture.