SWINDON target Troy Batchelor believes his exploits in the Australian Championship will help him get the 2013 season off to a flying start when he returns to Europe.

The 25-year-old led the standings going into this morning’s final round in Kurri Kurri, and only needed to make the B final to secure his maiden national title.

Regardless of whether he claims the crown or not, Batchelor believes he has an advantage over many of his European rivals who have been without competitive racing since the season ended in October.

“The good thing for me is that I am still racing, and it doesn’t feel like I have stopped at all because I am back racing again in January,” he said.

“I will come back to Europe and take February off and then start racing again in March, so it will be like I haven’t stopped.

“People often ask how you are feeling about the start of the season, and I can say ‘I never finished’ so it is all going good.

“It shouldn’t change anything for me because I have kept going while some of the other guys around Europe have had five months off.

“Some of them probably have done nothing and some will have been working on bikes but not practiced, so “Sometimes you have had a hard year and you need to take a break and reset, but then other times it can work to your advantage by carrying on.

“I feel good, and I know I can start the season good because I have still been racing.”

While Batchelor’s Elite League future remains undecided, the Australian has moved clubs in Poland after leaving Leszno to join Wroclaw.

He will ride alongside close friend Tai Woffinden at the Olympic Stadium, and believes the change will do him good.

“I was at Leszno a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, but change is sometimes good because you can’t spend 20 years at the same place,” he said.

“You can sometimes get stuck in a hole, so change is going to be good for me and I am looking forward to it.

“I am going to get to ride with Tai (Woffinden) which is great because we get on well, and we can practice towards the meetings and things like that which is important.

“Sometimes it matters who is on your team and who you are paired with, because you need to get on with your partner.

“We might be racing at number three and four together for Wroclaw, and we will be doing three or four races a night together and if we can score points together it will be great.”

The Robins continue to wait for clarification over whether or not they are allowed to approach Batchelor over a loan move.

BSPA chairman Alex Harkess has gone on record to say riders not used by their parent club should be allowed to leave on loan, but the Blunsdon club are waiting for clarification on the issue when the management committee meets on Tuesday.

To find out if Batchelor was able to clinch the Australian title, log on to www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport. The meeting was due to start at 8am UK time.