SWINDON Robins new-boy Justin Sedgmen warmed up for the upcoming Australian Championships with a podium finish in the Jason Crump Invitational.

The Mildura-born racer put in an excellent Boxing Day display at Kurri Kurri as he steps up his preparations to bid for the national title in the New Year.

Sedgmen, 23, was in action in wet conditions against a strong field featuring triple World Champion Crump – and although he was beaten to the top prize by Rohan Tungate it was nonetheless a strong showing.

And Sedgmen, who will return to the Robins next season after leaving the club in 2011, was pleased with his final performance of the year.

“The track staff did extremely well to get this meeting going," he said.

"They deserve a lot of credit for putting together a safe track that we could have a crack on.

“I’m happy with how I went. I felt really quick again and it was good to finish ahead of some good guys.

“This was the strongest field I’ve raced against this Australian season and it was the perfect way to prepare for the Australian Championship.”