Troy Batchelor joins the Swindon Robins for 2020 title defence

TROY BATCHELOR will return to the Swindon Robins for the 2020 British Premiership season after signing a new deal with the reigning league and cup champions. Total Sport Swindon’s Chief Of Sport, Ryan Walker spoke to the Swindon team manager Alun Rossiter to get his reaction on the squads latest signing.

A sensational 2019 season saw the Swindon Robins become league and cup champions for the first time in the clubs history, with Australian Troy Batchelor enjoying his best season in Robins colours as he helped guide Swindon too glory. 

However with a 42.5 points limit put on all Premiership teams following the British Speedway boards AGM meeting, there were worries that manager Alun Rossiter would have to pick between either club Captain Jason Doyle - who signed for the Robins yesterday - and Troy Batchelor if he were to form a competitive team for the 2020 season. 

Speaking on the move however, Rossiter admitted that he felt he owed a degree of loyalty to Batchelor following the 32-year-olds stellar season. 

“I just felt sometimes there's no loyalty in speedway,” said Rossiter. 

“I've been accused of being too loyal to some riders in the past but I felt I owed it to Troy [Batchelor].

“He was down at the end of season awards thinking he’d rode himself out of the team for next year. 

“I can still put a competitive team together for the new season,” he said. 

The re-signing of Troy Batchelor sees him join fellow countryman Jason Doyle as the clubs second signing for the 2020 title defence. 
 
 Speaking on the capture of Batchelor, team manager Rossiter explained how the entertainment factor served up by the Aussie duo of Batchelor and Doyle is second to none. 

But joked that the competitiveness between the two seasoned riders isn’t good for his nerves when watching from the pits. 

“When people say they are the new turbo twins, they’re not. Everyone knows that there are only one turbo twins and that’s Chris Holder and Darcy Ward,” said Rossiter. 

“These two are more like the nightmare twins! But it’s great to have Jason and Troy back in the team. 

“When you see them racing against each other in heat thirteen it’s a nightmare for me but great entertainment,” added Rossiter. 

Finishing the 2019 season with the two highest Green Sheet averages, the signings of Jason Doyle (8.96) and Troy Batchelor (8.82) has seen Rossiter take a hefty chunk out of his 42.5 squad limit. But despite now having just 24.7 points left in which to find five riders, the Swindon team manager explained he is still confident of forming a competitive squad but revealed that at least two changes would have to be made to the team which lifted the title just last month.

“It’s been hard and I'm sure there will be a few moans as there always is about team selection,” said Rossiter.

“There will be a minimum of two changes to the squad, there could be more but it depends on the way things work out.

“It’s interesting trying to put a new team together given the points restriction.

"I’m working hard and trying to get deals done so we will see what happens,” said Rossiter.