QUEENSLAND'S and Swindon Robins' new recruit Troy Batchelor has set himself the goal of winning round three of the prestigious Linddales Labour Hire Australian Championship Series in Mount Gambier on Saturday 5 January and his form in round two would indicate he’s on the right track.
Batchelor has plenty of reason for optimism and the high speed Mount Gambier circuit holds no fear for the twenty-year-old. ‘I love the high speed stuff and I've got the engines to get the job done,’ he said.
‘I was really happy with round two and I think my strength is probably the next three rounds, given the larger size of the tracks. When the series started I had an idea that Chris (Holder) might skip away early, but I felt that if I could get to this point with a reasonable points haul I could reel him in.’
Troy’s optimism comes off the back of a great season in Poland, which saw him emerge as a star on the huge Leszno circuit that has many similarities to Mount Gambier. ‘Leszno is a big fast circuit and my engines are very much geared toward that style of racing. They did the job there and there's no reason they can't get me over the line first on Saturday.’
Series leader Holder has had a somewhat rocky relationship with Batchelor over the last couple of years and it came to a head last February when the two rising stars went head-to-head for the National Under-21 Championship at Gillman. That event ended in a heated debate between Batchelor and race officials, with Holder once again coming out the victor.
Whilst Holder and Batchelor are sure be somewhere close to the front on Saturday, so too are international riders Joe Screen (UK), Fredrik Lindgren (SWE) and Filip Sitera (CZE). Screen in particular should find the Mount Gambier circuit to his liking and provided his engines are strong enough it will be no surprise if he finishes on top.
Mildura’s Cameron Woodward has also shown consistent speed as has Newcastle wild-man Jason Doyle. The Cardiff Express, as he is known, fancies himself as a threat tomorrow and he generally delivers.
Of the rest of the riders in the field, perhaps Tom Hedley and Cory Gathercole could spring a surprise, with both riders desperate to rediscover their impressive international form.
Local interest will focus on Aaron Summers and Robert Ksiezak, both of whom have shown flashes of brilliance in the two rounds to date.
Mount Gambier’s Borderline Raceway has a reputation as one of the nation's best prepared tracks and should that continue, then Saturday’s event will no doubt provide some stunning high speed action.
