Pelaw Main’s Rohan Tungate is confident of a big year heading into the new UK Premier League speedway season.
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Tungate, who has a busy schedule of commitments in the UK and Poland, has responded to a late call from Swindon Robins to replace fellow Aussie Dakota North, who has returned to Australia to help his father and is unlikely to return to racing in the UK, according to team manager Alun Rossiter.
Tungate, 26, told the Swindon Advertiser that praise from speedway legend Jason Crump, who was inducted int the Australian Motor Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, has given him the confidence he needs heading into the new season.
Triple world champion Crump tipped Tungate to surprise a few people this season.
“It made me feel pretty good to hear Jason Crump’s comments about me,” said Tungate.
“It was good for him to say something like that, you don’t always get that sort of thing.
“I raced with him a fair bit in Australia and had some good races and a lot of times I finished over the line before him which feels pretty good because I know how good of a rider he is.
“It made me feel good to go and beat somebody like that and then to get his compliments is nice.
“I think it makes your job easier a little bit if someone has that confidence in you.”
Tungate finished fourth in the Australian speedway title after an electrifying start winning the first round at his home track at Kurri Kurri.
“I am feeling good and I am ready for a big season,” he added.
“I tried a few things with my bike in Australia and brought them back here, so I am hoping to be better.
“I have just trained harder and harder since the Australian Championships - that is all you can do.
“It was frustrating but that has gone now and you have got to concentrate on something new.
“I am pretty confident that I was riding well in Australia and that I can continue on that path. I know what I can do and I have just got to put it on the track.”
