'Batchelor is focussed': Rosco (From Swindon Advertiser)

'Batchelor is focussed': Rosco

9:09am Thursday 22nd May 2008 in Sport By Anthony Marshall

ALUN Rossiter believes the new, mature Troy Batchelor will put any thoughts of personal rivalry to one side tonight as the Robins aim for an Elite League victory over Poole.

Swindon and the Pirates go head-to-head tonight at the Abbey Stadium, with the Dorset visitors hoping that star rider Chris Holder can recover from the bad bruising which has kept him out of action so far this week.

If fit, all eyes at Blunsdon will no doubt be on the Down Under duel between Batchelor (above) and Holder, who battled it out for the Australian Championship over the winter, with Holder claiming the title.

And while it may be tempting for Batchelor to try and renew their rivalry as the teams lock horns tonight, Robins boss Rossiter believes his young star will be riding for the good of the team.

Rosco admitted: "Troy will be well up for this one because Chris Holder is in town.

"But he won't be out for revenge or anything like that. He'll be fully focussed on the job in hand and there will be no personal agendas.

"Troy has grown up so much since March and is a completely different rider now. He's a big part of what we're doing here.

"I'm not sure if Holder will be back for them (Poole). He's their key man though and it's a match they really need him for, so I'm sure they'll do everything they can to make sure he's fit."

Rossiter will be renewing some rivalries himself this evening, as he faces the team he rode for and captained for a number of years.

But he revealed he will have a smile on his face for most of the meeting, as he as Poole boss Neil Middleditch hurl some friendly abuse at each other.

"It's one of our stiffest challenges of the season so far," Rossiter said.

"Poole have been going very well, especially away from home, and we'll have to be right on it to get the victory.

"I always enjoy the meetings against them. It's always good fun in the pits with plenty of banter flying around between me and Middleditch.

"It's nice, hard banter and just makes the meeting that bit more fun."