Batchelor: "I've proved the critics wrong" (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: Batchelor: "I've proved the critics wrong"

6:00am Friday 29th June 2012 in Speedway By Ned Payne

Action from last night's meeting at Blunsdon

SWINDON’S Troy Batchelor believes he has answered his critics after continuing his explosive return to form in the 60-33 demolition of Wolverhampton last night.

The Aussie racked up 14 points at the Abbey Stadium as the Robins ruthlessly took apart Peter Adams’ depleted visiting outfit in their first home meeting for more than a month.

It was the second British meeting in a row that Batchelor had hit double figures and Robins man says he is relieved to be back to his best.

“In any sport there’s always haters out there, but I think you have to have a little bit of faith,” he said.

“I had a few engine failures and problems with the ignition at the start of the year, and I just didn’t know what was going on, the bike wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do.

“I wasn’t feeling too good when I was at the back, trying hard but just going nowhere, everything was going wrong.

“Things are getting a lot better now, every meeting I feel like it’s coming back.

“It’s nice to get that feeling where the bike is doing what you want it to and you are winning races again.”

Batchelor’s display was one of a number of impressive performances as Swindon grabbed the maximum three Elite League points.

Making the most of Wolves’ multiple absentees – including Tai Woffinden and Nicolai Klindt – the hosts stormed to the most straightforward of victories, their fifth out of five at home.

It was not only Batchelor that only dropped one point all night, with skipper Hans Andersen also achieving the same feat, albeit from four rides.

Danish star Peter Kildemand (11+3) twice left Wolves number one Freddie Lindgren trailing in his wake and there was also excellent support from Jason Doyle at reserve (10+1).

The visitors were left to rue the disappointing display of guest Rory Schlein, who could only managed three paid four, while Lindgren was not his usual dominant self.

Lukasz Sowka’s failure to score at number two was hugely expensive for the West Midlanders as Swindon cantered home with ease.

Meanwhile, three Robins riders will ride in Grand Prix qualifiers tomorrow as they look to secure their places in the Grand Prix Challenge at Gorican, Croatia.

Andersen and Kildemand will take on a field that includes world championship regular Antonio Lindback and ex-Robin Grzegorz Zengota at Lonigo in Italy.

Meanwhile, Batchelor is at Divisov in the Czech Republic where he meets a tough field including Chris Harris, Krzysztof Kasprzak and Janusz Kolodziej.

The top five from those two meetings and another five from the other meeting in Vojens, Denmark, will progress to Gorican on September 29.

Batchelor added: “It’s pretty tough but speedway is about what happens on the day, so we’ll see what happens.

“I’ve had a few good meetings and I don’t think I could go into it any better.”

Elsewhere, Swindon would like to send their condolences to the family of lifelong Robins fan Norman Hinchcliff, who has died at the age of 81.