SWINDON target Troy Batchelor is drawing on past experience to ensure he doesn’t get carried away despite leading the Australian Championship going into tomorrow’s second round.

The 25-year-old’s Elite League future remains undecided due to the ongoing dispute between the Robins and parent club Peterborough, but he put that firmly behind him on Saturday as he fought off competition from former Robins teammate Jason Doyle to take top spot at Gillman.

Batchelor now leads Doyle by two points going into round two in Undera, Melbourne, but past experience means he is not getting carried away by the prospect of his first national crown.

“Last time I competed in the Aussie title I won the first two rounds but then lost it to Chris Holder, and I have been in this position before and last time it didn’t end up too well,” he said.

“But I have a calmer head on my shoulders now and I think I have all the tools and ingredients that I need to win it, but I just need to score points in every race and be consistent, because that wins titles.

“It was nice to get off to a good start, although Doyley out-scored me in the heat races which meant I had to go off gate two in the final, and we had a tough first corner.

“He messed me and himself up and I ended up last and he was in second, but I managed to go from the back to the front and got there in the end.

“I had a lot of speed and felt good on the bike which was great, but round one is over now and I need to focus on round two.

“I have to be focused and keep doing what I am doing because it seems to be working.”

Neither Holder or Darcy Ward are competing in this year’s championship, but their absence doesn’t take anything away from the competition and Batchelor still believes he is leading a strong field.

“It has been 10 years since my last Australian Championship which was when I was 15 racing on the smaller bikes, and it has been a long time coming,” he said.

“I have had a few seconds and it would mean a lot because I would always be in the record books, but there is a long way to go yet.

“Chris and Darcy are not there but there is still a very strong field there and Doyley is looking fast.

“You can only race who is there at the time, and I am sure Chris will be back next year and we can fight it out then.”

Round two begins at around 8am UK time.