In his latest Friday Feature MARK PLUMMER catches up with a man who won the Elite League title despite getting knocked out at the semi-final stage "“ it is World Championship racer and ELRC champion Troy Batchelor . . .
His bikes might be emblazoned with the slogan "˜Ride to Party', but speedway is now a serious business for Troy Batchelor.
The often impressive, occasionally outspoken Australian ace has enjoyed a steady rise in the sport.
He has just completed a first World Championship campaign and a respectable ninth-place finish in the overall standings "“ achieved despite not getting the nod to replace Emil Sayfutdinov among the world's elite until March.
He missed out on automatic qualification for 2015 by just seven points, but did enough to impress the selectors who handed him a wildcard return next year.
"I've always really enjoyed what I do," said Batchelor (27). "But I'm at a place now where I can't treat speedway as fun any more.
"It is more of a serious job now because there is so much more on the line.
"I've probably lost financially by being in the GPs this year but gained in so many other ways "“ through experience, exposure and access to sponsors.
"It is the toughest level of competition by far. These guys are not the top 15 in the world for nothing, but I showed I can compete, especially in Copenhagen."
Batchelor reeled off a streak of six heat wins in the Danish SGP at Parken before being pipped by home hero Niels Kristian Iversen in the final and missing out on a memorable seven-ride maximum.
And he is targeting plenty more performances like that next year, not least of all at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne when the GP series returns to Australia for its climax.
Batchelor, who now calls Cambridgeshire home, added: "It's a long time since there has been a GP back home and it will be crazy to ride in one.
"It is great to have Oz on the calendar and I'm sure it will be well-supported. My goal is to have something to ride for when we get there.
"I don't want to be one of those guys who never look like making the top eight and I do believe I could be world champion one day.
"But it is not something I'm expecting to happen next year. My career has been all about improving bit-by-bit, year-on-year and that's what I want to continue.
"I'm looking at the top six places in the standings next year and I've got a few things in the pipeline that will hopefully give me an edge."
Batchelor is so focused on enjoying GP success next year that he will not return home to contest the Australian Championship over the winter.
He has just become an Elite League title-winner for the second time in his career after helping Poole to glory in recent days.
Swindon man Batchelor, who had a season in Pirates colours earlier in his career, was drafted in as a guest for the second leg of their semi-final triumph over King's Lynn and the Grand Final triumph against Coventry.
"Swindon just didn't cut it in the end so it was good to help Poole to win the league," said Batchelor.
"I had turned down a few guest bookings from Poole during the year because I was so busy, but I didn't have much on when they called me about the play-offs.
"To be honest I didn't have to do a lot because Poole have a strong team with a lot of riders going well.
"I know a lot of people love to hate Poole, but I rode there in the past and the people have always been pretty good to me."
The Grand Final was not without controversy as the opening leg at Coventry last Friday was curtailed after 12 heats due to rain.
Poole had successfully completed a full 15 heats in the second leg of their semi-finals against King's Lynn the previous night, but Batchelor is adamant an early halt at Brandon was the correct call.
"We probably could have got to the end, but someone would probably have been hurt and broken something," reflected Batchelor. "The track at Coventry is mostly clay and when you mix that with water you have pottery, not speedway!"
Batchelor also feels track conditions played a part in his club Swindon's exit to the Bees at the semi-final stage. They were beaten 50-45 at a soggy Abbey Stadium to complete a 99-86 aggregate reverse.
Batchelor continued: "We all believed we could win the league and it might well have been different had we not had to ride in the rain at Swindon. I know the track was the same for everyone but it didn't help us as the home team.
"It is frustrating that the weather has had such a big impact on the major meetings in England this year.
"I think they need to look at maybe getting the play-offs scheduled a bit earlier. I'm not saying we need less fixtures but I guess the league might be a bit smaller anyway next year with Eastbourne not racing."
Regardless of size and structure, Batchelor hopes to be back for a 10th successive year in British speedway.
He arrived amid a blaze of glory back in 2005 when helping first UK club King's Lynn to a double at Premier League level. A treble followed for the Norfolk side the following year before Batchelor left the second tier behind.
His top-flight career has featured two stints at Swindon and spells at Peterborough, Poole and Ipswich.
"I've always enjoyed riding in England and I still do," added Batchelor. "I definitely want to be racing here again next year.
"I might knock Sweden on the head and concentrate on league racing in the UK and Poland. I've done a bit of Czech League this year as well so that's a possibility again.
"It will be my testimonial year but I'm planning on leaving a meeting until the following year. I'm going to have a lot going on in 2015 anyway without doing a testimonial."
