SWINDON Robins skipper Troy Batchelor has conceded that losing Peter Kildemand in the off-season will be a loss but he has backed the team’s new recruits to step up to the plate.

Former number one Kildemand topped the Robins’ averages alongside Batchelor last season but the Dane has opted not to ride in the UK in 2015.

Batchelor and fellow Australian Nick Morris are the only two riders from Swindon’s 2014 roster to return to the Abbey Stadium for the new Elite League season, which gets under way with a double header against champions Poole Pirates on Good Friday.

Polish rider Adrian Meidzinski has been selected by team boss Alun Rossiter to fill the number one void left by Kildemand’s departure.

Fellow Pole Grzegorz Zengota also arrives, as does Kyle Howarth from Coventry Bees, while the Robins’ reserves slots will be occupied by Lewis Rose and Charles Wright.

Batchelor admits he was sad to see Kildemand leave Blunsdon but reckons there is more than enough scope for a successful season.

“It’s a shame Pete couldn’t come back but he’s got other commitments,” said Batchelor. “He was always a bit of a fans’ favourite, I know I liked to watch him race.

“But that’s not to say he won’t be back, maybe even this season. You never know in speedway, one minute it’s one thing and the next it’s another.

“The team we have now looks strong. There’s not one rider there that can’t win races and I think every guy is capable of scoring maximums.

“The Polish guys can be hit and miss but Adrian and Zengi have been to England before and had a couple of years here, so it’s not like they are coming to places they don’t know.

"They know the tracks, they know what to do and know how England works, so you can expect a bit from them as well as Nick and Kyle.”