Speedway: Sheffield skipper admits best team won, but not for lack of trying by Tigers in loss to Leicester
Sheffield skipper speaks after speedway KO Cup defeat against Leicester at Owlerton
Sheffield speedway skipper Josh Pickering admitted the best team won, as Tigers went down 49-41 at home to Leicester in the KO Cup.
Pickering felt he did not do himself justice on the night, and thought Leicester were starting well at the tapes.
He said: “Of course you’re riding against some very good quality riders, and like me, if I get out in front no one is passing me, and vice versa. They know how to go round here, it’s a fast track, and when your bike’s set up, and you’re on the throttle, things are easy.
“They’ve got a couple of good gaters, to be honest. Dougie (Ryan Douglas) is an unbelievable starter, as is Sam Masters, Mozzer (Nick Morris) is a good gater, and Kyle Howarth was popping out tonight. Even Dan Thompson, a very good gater.
“Maybe with the way things went in their favour essentially, I’m not blaming the track, it’s how we wanted it, we wanted it to be slicker and a bit more of a racing track.
“But at the same time, it probably was easier for the opposition to ride and then less daunting, so they felt more comfortable to do more things.”
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He admitted that the second KO Cup meeting between the clubs, at the Hydroscand Arena in Leicester, would be difficult.
He said: “I feel like if we were 49-41 in front it’s potentially not enough. Leicester are a very strong outfit and they’re very good at home. We’re just going to have to wait and see how things pan out.
“It wasn’t for a lack of trying, the boys were in there having a crack tonight, and it was a shame things didn’t go as planned.”
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