TROY Batchelor has apologised to both sets of supporters that attended Monday afternoon’s SGB Premiership encounter between Poole Pirates and Swindon Robins at Wimborne Road – branding the Dorset track as dangerous and unfit to ride on.

Batchelor was one of only two Robins riders to stay upright throughout the meeting’s entirety, which took two-and-a-half hours to complete following a series of crashes, breaks for track grading and track watering.

The Australian international stated retirement in his opening ride was necessary to avoid serious injury – though he completed the meeting by recording an inspired 10+1 from four rides as the Robins were beaten 51-39 by Neil Middleditch’s septet.

Monday night’s evening meeting at the Abbey Stadium wasn’t without its track problems either. Robins skipper Jason Doyle was seen raking the track himself after an unsuitable rut developed on the first turn – which halted racing more than once.

Boycotting heats due to unfit racing conditions is, however, not an option for Batchelor, who stated he wants to see the sport grow and prosper – not turn against itself.

He said: “Poole was dangerous to be honest.

“Anybody that was here, or anybody with eyes, saw what happened. When you’ve got crashes in every race, track grades happening more often than not and world champions crashing what more is there to say.

“It’s unacceptable. No one wants a broken leg or to crash, that shouldn’t be happening.

“There is nothing I can do, I’m tired of talking about the situation.

“You get in trouble for being honest, so you may as well just go along with it – it’s messed up.”

Current world champion Tai Woffinden last week revealed poor conditions in the UK as one of the key reasons behind his absence from British racing in recent seasons.

And Batchelor described the track curator’s role as a specialist form of employment that requires a necessary level of qualification and skill – similar to how any tradesman in England earns a credible status.

He added: “Monday was not a good advertisement for speedway. And I care about that, because if there is no speedway then there are no riders.

“Working with the track is a specialty job – like a plasterer, not everyone can do it.

“You need to know what you are doing, it’s not simple. In Poland, there are experienced guys that have been working on the track for decades.

“It’s their baby. But in some cases where tracks aren’t good, someone will turn up at 9am in the morning.

“Tracks should be prepared days in advance, the weather should be checked. It’s not easy, and it’s easy to criticise. “We turn up with the best equipment possible, and get served up poor tracks.

“In my first race at Poole, I could not do four laps – I had to pull into the grass. If I carried on, I would’ve ended up in the fence.”