Batchelor revels in Swindon success, targets GP return

TROY BATCHELOR put on a rider-of-the-night performance after scoring a 15-point maximum in the Swindon Robins 55-35 demolishment of the Belle Vue Aces last night. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker got the thoughts of Swindon’s Australian ace following the victory.

A difficult few weeks for the Swindon Robins has seen riders leave, new faces arrive, and unfortunately, some riders get injured as the Wiltshire side has attempted to find the winning formula this season. 

And when speaking following the winning result, Batchelor admitted it was great to have the team fully firing once again. 

“Obviously the teams been shaken up over the last few weeks and with Toby [Musielak] being injured a few times here and there,” said Batchelor.

“Things have been changing and we’ve had a break doing a meeting and then having a couple of weeks off.

“But we’re building momentum now after last week and today. It’s good to be riding.

“It feels like we haven’t really started the league so now I feel like we’re into it and everyone is having fun,” he said.

“Every win is great for the team especially when the in-form team at the top of the league come to you and you give them a good thrashing is always good for confidence and the fans.

“We’ll see what we can do next Thursday, I reckon we’ll sneak the win that’s my prediction,” added Batchelor.

Multiple track issues at the Abbey Stadium this season has seen many riders complain about the quality of the surface they’re racing on, but there were no qualms last night with Batchelor admitting he loved the shale circuit after racing to an unstoppable 15-point-maximum.

“I’ve said it so many times that when the track is good we get great racing,” stated Batchelor.

“That’s just another time that proves my point.

“I’m not saying I’m going to score a maximum every time the tracks good but the moves I can do on the track everyone would have seen last week and this week,” he added.

“If the tracks not what we want and it’s like a motocross track then we’re scared to go hard as your fighting the bike instead of fighting amongst each other.

“Tonight you could ride all over the track and it’s perfect,” said Batchelor.

Having not dropped a point over Swindon’s previous two meetings, Batchelor is arguably producing some of the best racing of his career at the moment as Swindon move up the standings in the Premiership table.

But when asked about his performances, the 31-year-old remained modest and highlighted how much work still needs to be done if he is to return to the Grand Prix stage in the coming years.

“It’s all going pretty well,” said Batchelor.

“Sweden has been ok, I had a bit of a bad meeting the other day.

“But yeh it’s been alright but I’m still a bit of a perfectionist,” he added.

“If it’s not like 13s or 14s, 15s then it’s not really good enough.

“I’ve been on the World stage and been in the top ten so I know what it takes to get up there and I know how good you have to be.

“If I want to get back up there then I know I need to start beating everybody all the time and then I’ll say ok let’s give it another go and get back into the GP series,” he said.

Recent impressive performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the Swindon fans with Batchelor firmly staking a claim as the best rider in Britain at the moment. 

However, the Swindon rider remained modest when speaking and highlighted how Jason Doyle is still number one at the club despite his recent struggles.

“You don’t need to be the man as we’ve got seven men and if everybody is going great then I’m happy,” explained Batchelor.

“I don’t need to be the out-and-out number one.

“I know Doyley has been World Champion and he’s still looking for that perfect form.

“When Doyley is off the pace its thirteen points, when he’s on it then he’s scoring fifteens,” he said.

"He’s a little bit off his usual pace at the moment but obviously you saw in Prague he’s getting better and he’s always good regardless.

“It is good to have that comparison with him and just see where we can go,” added Batchelor.