Ricko: `I respect Todd bowing out at the top'

From the Echo, first published Saturday 18th Oct 2003.

ALL Poole Pirates speedway management, riders and fans now know the full expression in the old saying of being sent to Coventry.

After two Elite League wins and a play-off final victory at the Midlands venue, I am back at Brandon this evening representing Poole in the Elite League Riders' Championship and then the club returns in the Elite KO Cup Final second leg on October 25.

For sure I will be pumped for tonigh''s meeting but I will also be testing my bikes to make sure they are full on for the Pirates in the cup final.

Having finished top of the league, then won the play-off final, the boys are really up for beating Coventry again, although I'm sure the Bees will be out for a quick revenge following their play-off disappointment.

We did a satisfactory stonewall job in the cup semi-final second leg at Oxford eight days ago.

The home side hit us with a couple of maximum heat advantage 5-1s, I had a bit of first bend tumble in heat six and Bjarne (Pedersen) took a heavy fall.

But we had enough in reserve to win through on aggregate but lost on the night by a couple of points.

It was quite an emotional night with Australian Todd Wiltshire riding for the final time in a competitive fixture for Oxford.

Todd announced earlier in the season that this would be his last in the sport.

Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed Todd's company off track and he has always been a difficult opponent to ride against.

I have total respect for him and his decision to bow out of the sport at the top. He is certainly a very capable performer as he proved when winning three races as a guest for the Pirates in the play-off final first leg at Coventry.

The sport will miss his presence and I certainly wish him the best in his new property business venture Down Under.

My racing schedule is starting to slow down now as the nights draw in.

At times it has been a difficult season for me and I am looking forward to having a break and regrouping for the start of 2004.

But that's a few weeks away yet.

All the positives right now are wearing the blue and white of the Pirates, starting tonight at Coventry.

The Elite League Riders' Championship is renowned as the final classic of the season in England and there is an illustrious list of winners names on the trophy from Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen.

I am proud of the fact that the only winner representing Poole has been yours truly last season and I also won the event in 1998 as an Ipswich rider.

Finally, I haven't forgotten our League Cup team who battled through to the final last Wednesday against a powerful looking Belle Vue side who included the Jasons - Crump and Lyons.

A final against Eastbourne awaits and my fingers and crossed that the team can withstand the Eagles in what promises to be 30 more heats of gripping speedway.

There's never a dull moment following the Pirates...

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