SEVEN world championships, two Australian titles and 22 years at the top of his professional game – not bad for a lad that grew up in Grange Park.

Three-times world speedway champion Jason Crump might not have learnt his speedway trade in Swindon, but that doesn’t mean the town did not inspire him to throw himself sideways for a living.

Spending his younger years at Oliver Tomkins Junior School, Crump used his move to Australia in the 80s as a springboard for international speedway success.

To say his hard work and determination to succeed paid off is quite the understatement.

Notable stints with Belle Vue Aces, Wroclaw, and Vetlanda concluded a near faultless domestic campaign, which was complemented by individual world championship titles in 2004, 2006 and 2009.

He remembers the roundabouts, the old-school Abbey Stadium track and the twisting cul-de-sacs that made Swindon feel like home.

And now, three decades later, Crump has another link to the town after taking Robins reserve Zach Wajtknecht under his wing.

Born in Bristol – just like his tutor – Wajtknecht has already spent invaluable time down under with the four-times Elite League Riders’ Champion as part of the No Limits scheme that aids young riders’ development.

And that development continued at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester on Tuesday, with Wajtknecht and Aces’ young hotshot Dan Bewley learning from one of the world’s best.

Crump said: “It’s great for those youngsters to come down under – they would’ve only been sitting in England unable to ride.

“One of my old sponsors, Ian (Sinderson) is behind the No Limits set-up – and he was introduced to speedway by myself.

“Many riders and teams have benefitted from his input – and continue to do so.”

Crump called on Wajtknect to look up to Robins skipper Jason Doyle, who two seasons ago landed his first world title after spending only two previous years in the Grand Prix field.

Doyle has admitted himself he was quite the party-animal before taking his racing to the next level by knuckling down.

And Crump echoed Jason’s own words of experience – taking yourself seriously and putting the effort in will allow a rider to go far.

He added: “That’s the best advice I can offer – you get nothing without putting the effort in.

“I see naturally talented riders come and go. I think I was a talented rider, but not an exceptionally natural rider.

“But I put a lot of effort into my career and got some good rewards from it.”