TROY Batchelor says he cannot wait to get back racing in Swindon Robins colours after his return to the club for the 2018 season was confirmed today.

Batchelor has a long association with the Robins, having first signed on at the Abbey Stadium back in 2008 before going on to captain the club during the latter stages of his second stint at Blunsdon between 2012 and 2015.

The 30-year-old becomes the sixth name on Swindon team manager Alun Rossiter’s roster for next season, alongside Nick Morris, Tobiasz Musielak, David Bellego, Adam Ellis and Zach Wajtknecht, although he is the first new face recruited by the SGB Premiership champions over the winter.

After a couple of years away from the Robins at Premiership rivals King’s Lynn Stars, although his 2017 season was cut short after he was released by the Norfolk club in controversial circumstances, Batchelor did not need to think twice about returning to the Abbey next year.

“It was an easy decision and it is nice to be back. It’s a good club, I have been there before and know what it is all about there,” said Batchelor.

“It is quite a successful club with how they did this year, but I also won a championship in 2012 when I was last there a couple of years ago too.

“It is a nice place to be and I wouldn’t come back if I didn’t enjoy it there.

“I did a couple of guest meetings at Swindon last season and I did some for the team in away meetings too.

“It was good to be back riding that track, it looked in really good shape, and guesting with the guys was really fun. I know most of the team anyway as it’s a small world in speedway.

“We all got on really well and we should have a good team next year, I am really excited about it. It’s going to be fun and I can’t wait for it to start.”

Batchelor admits the prospect of joining up with the Premiership champions is an exciting one and the fact the club have been able to retain most of that title-winning team, with the notable exception of reigning world champion Jason Doyle, means there is obvious potential for more success.

“You don’t see teams stay together this way too often with rule changes and people’s averages either increasing or decreasing. It is hard to fit everyone in according to the rules,” said Batchelor.

“It is nice that they have been able to get as many people back as possible, especially as the fact they were successful means they had a good team. For the fans, it is good to have some of their favourites back.

“They probably wouldn’t have wanted to change anybody and it is a shame they couldn’t keep both Jason and Nick after the rules changed but that’s just the way things are.

“We have still got a lot of good riders and I am sure we can do well.”