Batchelor closes in on Australian title (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: Batchelor closes in on Australian title

6:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport By Andy Warren

SWINDON target Troy Batchelor is on the verge of securing his first Australian Championship after winning yesterday’s second round in Undera.

Having won the opening meeting of the series on Saturday at Gillman, Batchelor beat Peterborough target Dakota North and Eastbourne’s Cameron Woodward in the A final in round two to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

The 25-year-old now only needs to make the B final in Saturday’s final round at Kurri Kurri to secure his maiden title, having come close on a number of previous occasions only to be pipped by current world champion Chris Holder.

Batchelor’s fellow 2012 Robin Jason Doyle came second in round one, but struggled in Undera and was well off the pace as he only scored six points.

The Robins duo went head to head in their first heats of the evening, with Batchelor coming off best with a win from the gate.

With starts key, Batchelor was beaten by Australia team manager Mark Lemon in heat eight, but found his gating gloves again in heat 11 as he out-trapped Sam Masters, Rohan Tungate and Justin Sedgmen.

The Adelaide man came second to Ty Proctor and Davey Watt in his final two rides, but his 12 points were enough to make it through to the four-man final.

Watt didn’t make it to the tapes after making it through the B final, but when the race did get underway Batchelor took the win despite being pushed by North for all four laps.

l Australian Championship standings: 1 Troy Batchelor 40, 2= Dakota North 32, Cameron Woodward 32, 4 Justin Sedgmen 28, 5 Davey Watt 27, 6 Rohan Tungate 26, 7 Jason Doyle 25, 8= Alex Davies 23, Mark Lemon 23, 10 Josh Grajczonek 22, 11= Micky Dyer 20, Sam Masters 20, 13 Tyron Proctor 16, 14 Adam Shields 9, 15 Kozza Smith 6, 16 Cameron Heeps 5.