SWINDON Robins skipper Troy Batchelor is hoping for a strong showing in Latvia tonight in a bid to get his Grand Prix season on the right track.

Australian ace Batchelor has so far endured a tough campaign and has picked up just 17 points from the four meetings so far.

Batchelor’s 2015 has been blighted by injuries, with the most recent coming in the last GP meet in Cardiff a fortnight ago, where a fall curtailed his evening’s work.

The 27-year-old was back on the bike for the Robins in the 50-42 success over Elite League champions Poole Pirates on Monday night.

Although he admits he is still not at 100 per cent, Batchelor is keen to kick-start his year in Daugavpils with a hefty haul of points.

Speaking to Speedway GP’s official website, Batchelor said: “It just didn’t start great this year, but I need to get everything together and get back on a roll.

“Chris Holder and I were in the same position before Cardiff and he shot himself up to sixth position with one good meeting. Anything can happen, but it is time to get it done really.

“We have three GPs in the next month, so it’s a big month. At the end of those three GPs, I would like to be in a good position.

“It’s annoying to be riding injured and I don’t want to be going through that all year. I’m getting a bit of work on the body before (Daugavpils) and hopefully I’ll be good for that.

“Around Cardiff time, I felt like I was getting back to myself. I scored 13 in Poland and I had 13 at Swindon. That GP wasn’t overly great, but I won a race and had some speed. Everything was moving in the right direction, but then I got hurt again.

“I must have just landed awkwardly. It was an awkward crash all-round. I couldn’t lift the arm up on the Sunday after Cardiff, but in a week or so it got a lot better. Hopefully this week it’ll get back to normal.”

Batchelor will be joined on the startline in Latvia by former Swindon number one Peter Kildemand, with the Dane fresh from his third-placed finish at the British GP last time out.

Great Britain captain Tai Woffinden leads the overall standings on 55 points, 12 clear of Denmark’s Nicki Pedersen. Reigning champion Greg Hancock is third.