ADAM Roynon hopes a rare injury-free winter will make all the difference as he looks to kick on with Workington Comets this season.

The Dalton racer has been dogged by bad luck throughout his career – breaking his back, puncturing lungs and fracturing his limbs at various times. But he enjoyed a first campaign without injury after returning to Comets last season.

That has meant a winter of progress rather than rehabilitation and the signs are promising for a return to the form that made Roynon a Workington fan-favourite in 2012.

He said: “It’s been a very different winter in that respect, but a good one because I’ve really been able to push forward with my fitness instead of getting to the point of just being able to ride the bike. If I can just push on from here and keep progressing that’s all I want.

“Everybody’s working well and we’ve got the local lads as well which brings in the family feel to the club. We want to push on and do something not just for ourselves but for the people supporting us.

“A major trophy is what we’re aiming for.”

The 28-year-old has made the step-up into the main body of the team after riding at reserve last season, and showed he can mix it with the best of them in the Cumberland Open Championship at Derwent Park. A steady meeting became a strong one for the South Cumbrian as he found the right setup for his fourth ride and duly had a fantastic battle with eventual runner-up Ben Barker to finish second before winning his last race.

“Yes I’d have loved to go out and win it, but realistically it was never going to happen,” he said.

“It was just a case of taking scalps of people who have already had meetings this year.”

Roynon added that he is “well on” with the line-up for his testimonial meeting at Derwent Park in September, but wants to focus on starting the season well before announcing riders.