SPEEDWAY: Pavlic capture has Rossiter cro-ing

11:57am Saturday 19th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

ROBINS manager Alun Rossiter believes the influence of skipper Leigh Adams on new signing Jurica Pavlic could turn the teenager into "one of the best."

Swindon have become the envy of speedway sides up and down the country by capturing the 19-year-old Croatian, who will get his first taste of British racing later this month.

There is no doubting the Pavlic's pedigree and potential - his father, Zvonko, was a three-time Yugoslavian champion, and Pavlic Jnr was the European Junior champion in 2006 and the European Individual champion in 2007.

While it may be a gamble to sign on a rookie with no racing experience over here, some glowing reports from within the speedway world - including Robins skipper Leigh Adams - persuaded Rossiter to make his move.

And although Rossiter admits Pavlic is far from the finished article, but he knows just how good the youngster could be.

"Jurica is exceptionally highly rated and he comes highly recommended to us from a number of people - he could be one of the best.

"I've spoken to Leigh about him and he said his gating could be better but that he's only young and is a real talent.

"Hopefully, riding with Leigh both in Leszno and over here can only help him and he will improve no-end and the plan is that he's still part of the team next season.

"We've been tracking him for a while, but he's done his schooling now, which is why he didn't come out here at the start of the season.

"He's got great pedigree and it's an exciting move for the club. We've got to get a work permit done but I don't think they take too long.

"In fact, we're trying to get it done as soon as possible and have been told that it can get processed quicker if you hand deliver it.

"So we'll be driving up to Sheffield in the next few days to deliver it personally and get it rubber stamped."

Rosco also paid tribute to Swindon's co-promoters Gary Patchett and Terry Russell, hailing the duo's work in revitalising the club since their arrival.

He said: "It shows the commitment that Gary and Terry are putting in to the club when we can sign riders like this.

"The club is on the way up, there's a huge amount of potential here and that's down to the way Gary and Terry are running it.

"We're a big club, one that's going forward and we look after our riders.

"We've definitely got a very bright future, even more so with some of the signings we're making."