This season's record-breaking Swindon Robins team will have to be broken up.

The team's success in winning the KO Trophy and the Young Shied, as well as finishing runners up in the Premier League means that their averages total is too high for next season.

The successful summer halted a 33-year club wait for silverware and a team trophy.

But despite their double-trophy-winning season, the team have ridden together for the last time. This is a normal practice in speedway at the end of a season.

The seven riders who started the 2000 season for the Robins had a combined starting average of 43.74, just below the 45-point limit, but ended the season on 50.40.

The most pressing problem for promoter Pete Toogood is to find another number one rider as Frank Smart is suspended until mid-July after failing a drugs test.

The Robins will have to field a rider with a starting average of less than four. Last year, 17-year-old Mark Steel fitted into the category but an excellent season saw him finish on 5.33. Skipper Neil Collins was the only rider not to boost his average.

Toogood plans to start looking for new riders next week after talking to members of the Robins management team.

He said:" We haven't begun talking about next year yet but I am due to link up with Mick (Bell) and Jed (Stone) next week.

"We will begin team planning next week for the 2001 season but we cannot make any formal plans until after the AGM in Coventry at the end of the month.

"Hopefully then it will be full steam ahead."

All of the 2000 Robins team have expressed a desire to return to Blunsdon next year but Toogood declined to give any indication of who might miss out.

However, two riders seem certain to be offered new deals.

He said: "It would be fair to say that both Paul Fry and Mark Steel should be back.

"They both had an exceptional 2000 season at Swindon and are firm favourites with the fans.

"I expect them to be the first signings for the 2001 season."