Battye delighted with success of rookie season with Berwick Bandits

After picking up three different Rider of the Night awards at the Berwick Bandits end of season presentation night the 25-year-old New South Walian was understandably delighted.

Only three years after switching to shale following a successful road racing career, Battye ended the season with almost 150 points from 20 appearances, forcing his way into the main body of the Berwick team with an official average 5.32.

He was especially effective at Shielfield Park where, from the number seven berth, he scored paid 20 against Workington, 17 and 16 against Edinburgh and 15 points in the first leg of the MAXiCab Cup final against Plymouth.

Not surprisingly the Bandits re-signed him for 2027 in the face of strong competition from north of the border.

All achieved despite missing almost three months of the season with fractured vertebrae, chest and facial injuries after being knocked off in a cup tie against Workington just three meetings into his debut season.

He also settled into local life, swapping the surfer paradise beaches of Australia for the rather chillier but no less spectacular north Northumberland coast.

“I worked so hard to get over to Britain. I was pretty confident that I would go OK but it has gone better than I could have hoped for – despite the injury,” Battye said.

“I’d never been involved in team racing before, everything in Australia is solo, but all the boys at Berwick have helped me, especially away from home. It’s been unreal.”

For many Battye’s name first crossed their radar when BSN screened last winter’s Australian Championships but he had already attracted the attention of Berwick owner Jamie Courtney and team manager Stewart Dickson as they put the finishing touches to their 2026 side.

Three-times World Champion Jason Crump and Craig Boyce were among those both advising and championing Battye while Berwick stalwarts Dick Barrie and Greg Blair were able to report first-hand on his potential during visits Down Under.

But it was still something of a gamble to fly the Australian over and throw him straight into the fray.

“Not many people would have heard of me,” the current Northern Territories state Champion admitted. “I deliberately targeted the Aussie champs, partly for experience but also to get my name out there.

“Racing in Britain has been the dream since I started in speedway and I couldn’t have found a better club or town to come to.

“Even so after spending eight hours in a hospital bed wearing a neck brace I thought it was season over after just a couple of meetings.

“But my insurance company was willing to fly me back to Australia – first class as it happened – and I was able to see a specialist over there who helped my recovery.

“Now it’s back home and another shot at the nationals and every other meeting I can fit in to get ready for 2027 back at Berwick.

“It was a good start but I know there’s plenty more to come.”