ALUN Rossiter may have won the battle, but Swindon captain Troy Batchelor is still confident of winning the World Cup against his Robins team manager.

Rossiter steered Great Britain to victory in Event One on Saturday night as Batchelor’s Australia team finished third, meaning they will have to negotiate Thursday’s Race-Off if they are to make Saturday’s final in Bydgoszcz.

While Batchelor was happy for Rossiter as the Brits took victory in their home event in King’s Lynn, the Aussie has insisted he has yet to fully secure the World Cup bragging rights given the two teams could meet again in the final.

“Rosco takes a lot of stick all the time but he’s done very well and picked a good team,” he said.

“There are some options of riders and he put together a very good team out of what he’s got and he did a good job.

“Of course it’s disappointing but we have another chance now and hopefully we can make the most of it.

“Rosco was able to lead them to victory and well done to him but you have to be a good loser to be a good winner. Let’s see how he takes losing because we will get him back.”

Batchelor, who himself scored 14, admitted his side endured something of a nightmare evening in Norfolk with Cam Woodward, in for injured former world champion Chris Holder managed just a single point. Darcy Ward also endured an uncharacteristic off night as he scored only six, with a bizarre incident seeing him retire from heat 18 after confusing a red light in the crowd for the signal to stop the race.

“We were confident of getting the win at King’s Lynn but what could go wrong pretty much did,” Batchelor said.

“We had bike breakdowns, crashes and we didn’t finish races which really isn’t on. Doyley (Jason Doyle) had a good night and I scored enough but it’s a team event and you need all the guys to score.

“Darcy had one of the worst nights of his career over the last few years and this wasn’t the night to do it, but you’d rather have it now than on Saturday.

“I’ve seen the light in heat 19 with Greg and I think even Greg might have shut it off a bit. After the right he asked me if I saw the red light and I said “yeah” but unless you see a red flag you really shouldn’t be shutting off and I always go until everyone else stops and the flags are out.”