NEW signing Troy Batchelor will be well and truly fired-up for next week's clashes against Poole. The Aussie, of course, spent last season with the South Coast side, and his rivalry with Chris Holder is, to put it mildly, very intense.
That rivalry is not helped by the fact that Troy finished second to Holder in the Australian Championship. Troy said: “I have mixed views on the Australian Championship, to finish second was pleasing because when I went back home I had set myself the target of finishing in the top three.
"But when Chris Holder is the winner, it does take a bit of the shine off it. One of my goals is to win the Australian Championship and it would be nice to think I can have a good season here, and then go home and win it next year. Chris had the better of me in Australia, now I want to get the better of him over here.”
Aged just twenty, Batchelor is certainly one for the future and, if his previous appearances at the Abbey are anything to go by, he should be a colourful addition to the Swindon side.
Troy said: “I think it’s going to be a good year. I’ve got a good set-up, some good bikes, and it’s a new team and a new track, so there’s a lot to be excited about. I
"’ve ridden here [at Blunsdon] a couple of times in the past and even managed to beat Leigh [Adams] at the end of last season, so that was a bonus.
"We’ve had a few practices here ahead of the season starting and I did one slow lap before I was straight on the gas, so I’m really up for it. There’s always a lot of hype before the season; I’m not really one for that, I like to do my talking on the track.
“We had a good trip away to Dublin before the season and there’s a good feeling between the team. It’s a really good bunch of lads and we’re having a bit of fun.
"We’ll have a bit of fun on the track too, but, when it’s time to get down to business, we’ll make sure it happens. It’s all about getting the balance right and I think we’ll have a good year.
"With all the changes that have been made to the league it’s difficult to know which teams will do well. I know some people are writing us off, but we’re not worried about that.
"We want to make the Play-Offs and have a good year, and I can’t see any reason why we can’t make that happen.”
INTERVIEW BY CHRIS SEAWARD
EXTRA REPORTING BY RICHARD CROWLEY
