SPEEDWAY: Batch is back to form on his own patch (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Batchelor rediscovers his scintillating best

4:54pm Tuesday 29th May 2012 in Sport

Sky Sports Elite League.

Belle Vue 33, Swindon 60.

SWINDON enjoyed a happy away day on their Elite League visit to Belle Vue on Monday with an emphatic 60-33 victory.

The Robins were in stunning form, ripping into their struggling opponents from the very first race, with all seven riders making significant contributions.

Troy Batchelor, whose form had been causing concern among the Robins management, had his best night of the season so far, leading the scorechart with a 12+1 score.

And there was plenty of back-up from Hans Andersen (11+1) and Peter Kildemand (10+1), who has been promoted to the body of the team after his brilliant start to the season in reserve.

It was a superb team effort throughout with the Wiltshire side producing one of their biggest away wins for many years.

The Robins got off to an almost perfect start – dropping just two points in the opening six races to lead by an incredible 28-8 scoreline. Former Swindon favourite Charlie Gjedde momentarily stopped the onslaught when winning a shared Heat 7, and the Aces did reduce the deficit with Ales Dryml (tactical ride) and Claus Vissing racing to a 7-2 in Heat 8.

But the recovery was short-lived as Robin Aspegren and Batchelor romped to a maximum in Heat 9, and a 4-2 two races later from Andersen and Nick Morris put the meeting well beyond the reach of the hosts.

A further 5-1 followed in Heat 13 – this time courtesy of the impressive Batchelor and Andersen – and the Robins broke the 60-point mark when Kildemand and Batchelor followed Gjedde home in Heat 15.

Sky Sports Elite League.

Swindon Robins 56, Peterborough Panthers 37.

SWINDON returned to Elite League action at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday with a convincing 56-37 victory over Peterborough.

The Robins faithful have been starved of home speedway in recent weeks because of the atrocious weather, but the victory over the Panthers was played out to a bumper crowd in glorious conditions.

Peter Kildemand was the star of the show from the reserve berth with five stunning race wins in his 16-point score. Hans Andersen also had one of his best displays of the season with 11+3 against his former club and Nick Morris was very impressive while contributing 9+2.

Alun Rossiter’s men hit the ground running from the very first race with Andersen and Morris contributing a 5-1. Another maximum from the Andersen and Morris pairing in Heat 6 put the Robins 21-15 ahead.

That lead become ten courtesy of the impressive Kildemand and Morris in Heat 8, but former Robin Ryan Fisher – guesting in place of Olly Allen – did reduce the deficit momentarily for the Panthers with a tactical ride victory in Heat 9 over Troy Batchelor and guest Todd Kurtz.

But with Kildemand winning three of the final four races, it was more than enough to ensure they picked up the maximum three Elite League points on offer.

ROBINS fans raised £1,882 at the Peterborough match for the Lee Richardsns Fund, which was set up to support the former Swindon rider’s family following his fatal crash in Poland a fortnight ago.

THE Robins are in action next on Bank Holiday Monday away at Wolverhampton.