Batchelor goes from zero to hero (From Swindon Advertiser)

Batchelor goes from zero to hero

9:01am Friday 16th May 2008

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"IN speedway, you're only as good as your last race," admitted a grinning Troy Batchelor, just minutes after securing a full maximum for the Robins.

And that couldn't be more true for the Aussie rider, especially on the back of Monday night's defeat at Belle Vue.

Batchelor ended up with a £600 fine after gesturing at the referee, following what he felt was a harsh exclusion from heat nine in a fiery encounter.

But he turned from villain to hero in spectacular fashion last night with a 15-point full maximum to inspire the table-topping Robins to a 53-39 Elite League win over would-be challengers Lakeside Hammers.

Batchelor admitted: "It's been an up and down week, but it's now on the up. It was a great meeting and I felt really good.

"Belle Vue was a bit unlucky. I won the first race and then in the next one wasn't too bad. Then in the next I passed Gjedde and he stuck me in the fence. But I got excluded and ended up with a £600 fine for giving the ref some abuse as well.

"So it's fair to say it's been a funny week - very up and down - but we're past it now.

"In speedway you're only as good as your last race and it's all good from here."

For a team which promised so much and, on-paper, could threaten at the top of the Elite League, Lakeside were a massive disappointment.

Just two victories in the meeting was a poor return from a team tipped to challenge, but the Robins didn't care as they eased to the another victory with plenty to spare.

Swindon won the first seven heats but initially failed to turn that dominance into a big margin as they missed the chance to really pull away from Lakeside.

In that spell there was only one 5-1, in heat three courtesy of Mads Korneliussen and Travis McGowan, but apart from that it was a cluster of 3-3s with the odd 4-2 sprinkled in.

Lakeside finally got going at heat eight with a 5-1 of their own, Leigh Lanham and Joonas Kylmakorpi seeing off James Wright and Seb Alden, but the following race saw Korneliussen continue his fine form to complete a hat-trick of victories.

With Lakeside falling further behind as the meeting moved on, they put Joonas Kylmakorpi on a tactical ride in heat 14, but McGowan produced an impressive ride to hold him into second place as the points were shared 4-4.

A 5-1 in heat 15, with Batchelor taking the honours closely followed by Leigh Adams, put the icing on the cake for the impressive Robins as the Hammers limped home with more of a whimper than a bang.

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