Speedway: 'It's going to be hard to cover for Jack', says Sheffield skipper, after win over Leicester
Sheffield skipper speaks out after Tigers win over Leicester
Sheffield skipper Josh Pickering feels Tigers face a fough task to cover for injured number one Jack Holder, despite their win over Leicester.
Sheffield beat the Lions 53-37 at Owlerton, but Pickering pointed out rider replacement brought in many fewer points than Holder’s home average.
But he was pleased by the win on the night, which happened despite the absence of World Number Five, Holder.
Pickering told The Star that the win, against a team that has been the Tigers’ bogey side in recent meetings, was much needed.
He said: “I don’t know how many times Leicester have done us now, I felt it had been three or four in a row. It had to be done and it was very important that we got the aggregate point too.
“They’ve been saying that Leicester are the strongest team in the league, they’ve got strength the whole way through, and thankfully we’ve done enough tonight.
Of covering for Jack Holder, he added: “I think we only got about five points from his rides. I only got one, on one of them in heat one,
“It’s going to be hard to cover for Jack, it’s as simple as that, but considering if Jack was here he probably would have got 12 , 13, 14 or 15 points, we would have won here by even more. We all chipped in. All the boys had a crack and it was a good win, a much needed win. it was good that we got it done.”
He felt good scores by team mates including Anders Rowe, Jye Etheridge and Leon Flint were steps in the right direction, adding Owlerton was a difficult track that was not easy for a home rider. He said riders shared advice on their bike set ups, but they also had to find out what worked for themselves.
He said number one Jack Holder, who suffered a broken arm in a crash in the Grand Prix of Poland at the weekend, was in good spirits.
He said: “He’s obviously copped a nasty whack, and we wish him all the best and a safe and easy recovery.
“He’ll be doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible, but for right now, he’s got to look after himself.”