Nicholls quits Elite League

British number one won't return in 2009

Last updated: 27th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Nicholls quits Elite League

Nicholls: Quits EL <i>(Pic credit Les Aubrey)</i>

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British number one Scott Nicholls is the latest big name to quit the Elite League after he confirmed he would not be riding in his homeland in 2009.

The Grand Prix star has followed the likes of world champion Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock, and most recently, Jason Crump and Andreas Jonsson in announcing that he will not be taking part in the British calendar next term.

Nicholls' decision comes after he was awarded a place in next season's Grand Prix series and it is his commitments on the continent that have seen him decide to quit Britain.

"I feel I have got to give myself a real chance in the Grand Prix series because up to now I don't think I have," Nicholls told the East Anglian Daily Times.

"There are 11 GPs this season and by riding in Poland, Sweden and England, it is just too much.

"It's nothing to do with money, just like Jason Crump, I want a change. Indeed I will be earning less money by not riding in England.

Gamble

"It's a gamble, I know it is and a very difficult decision to make. I enjoy riding in England and I enjoy the English fans, but it is just too hectic.

"This will be my 13th season in Sweden in 2009 and I've ridden a few meetings every year in Poland for almost the same amount of time.

"By resting from England I hope to be physically and mentally fitter for the Grand Prix series and I can also spend a bit more time with Sophie and Mia and have just a bit more normal a life.

"I don't want to look back and think I didn't do what I wanted to in the sport.

"I could possibly have ridden for a club for the first six weeks of the season in England, but I don't think that's fair on the public or other riders.

"I need to make this break and see if I can do myself justice in the GPs. At the moment it is that desire to achieve more in the series that is driving me.

"I'm 30 and I feel I have plenty of seasons still left to give the GPs a chance, but I need to give myself a chance."

Comments (8)

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Tom Ray says...

I am surprised at the tone of the comments re Scott Nicholls not racing in the Elite League next year. He is just doing what the fast guys in other types of motorcycle racing do. For example: James Toseland left British Superbike to race in World Superbike and now he is in MotoGP, and good for him, I'd love to see him become world champ. My point is that BSB is not hurting without him; it is still a great, hotly contested series. Likewise, Elite League Speedway will continue to provide good value for money for fans who attend meetings to see good, close racing. I can understand that some people may feel betrayed when racers they have cheered on and suppported leave British Speedway to concentrate on the Grand Prix series, but that's just the way it is in professional sports. Boycotting British Speedway just because a few of the stars have left would not do the sport any good at all. Get out there and support the new young stars that will certainly come along.

Posted 09:00 9th December 2008

Neal Dulake says...

The british speedway scene is in alot of trouble. how is the sport going to bring through the young riders for team GB in the future without nobody to look up to. I was quite confident about british riding in the last two years or so and witnessed my first cardiff trip this year but i think overall british speedway is on a downhill spiral im sorry to say. Thanks to Sky Sports for your excellent coverage of our much loved sport.

Posted 08:34 2nd December 2008

Stan Tonks says...

I think it is disgraceful that British riders like Scott Nicholls decide to leave the elite league and ride in others countries . How on earth are the many up and comming young riders going to learn thier trading when the best british riders move away. Nicholls should Never be allowed to put on another england race jacket until he returns to ride in the elite league. This is where he learned his trade and he should be teaching the younger riders thier trade. I dont care what anyone says its all about money.

Posted 10:49 30th November 2008

Paul Rose says...

lets go back to the old way and have the british qul rounds, british final. and so on and finish with the world final in a new country each year and that will see all the top rides not having to go all yhe place( ipswich fan since 70,s

Posted 10:20 29th November 2008

Malcolm Stranack says...

yet a nother big rider not coming back to the elite league ...watt a load of rubish the elite league is going to be this year ,..i hope the clubs are going to put the entrance fee down this year and not up...

Posted 18:17 28th November 2008

Chris Jericho says...

Its a disgrace that the national number 1 and British Champion has decided to give up his own domestic league. . If Nicholls was going to give up any league it should have been Sweden. He effectively said in Speedway Star this week that the British title means nothing to him so I hope no one cheers him at Cardiff this season.

Posted 13:58 28th November 2008

Chris Newill says...

I began watching Speedway in 1973 at Halifax. I was hooked after 1 meeting, the smell, noise and spectacle of a motor sport at which you could stand 6 feet from the action ensured that. I have seen the sport go through many phases since then, gone to many of the old World Final meetings around the world and seen fantastic riders come and go. The likes of Peter Collins, Phil Crump, the late Simon Wigg, Malcolm Simmons, Hans Nielsen, Eric Gundersen and many others regularly graced our racing. When the World Championship changed to the Grand Prix series I was sceptical because I could not see the advantage. The "experts" talked about removing the "chance" element of a 1 off Final. But everybody who can remember the old system will know that riders still had to compete in several meetings in different countries in order to qualify for the Final. What it did do was to promote the "lesser", more remote nations to the point where they became more powerful than the traditional nations. Now GB can't get more than 2 riders in the Grand Prix. And the format has changed back to almost the same system as the old competion, 16 riders, 20 rides with the addition of 3 extra races. Riders now seem to think that the answer to winning the World Title is not to compete in England. They turn their backs on the people who nurtured and supported them and on the country which has provided them with a living for so long. Why is riding in Poland better than England? They say it's not the money, it's less meetings. How does that make them better? When I began watching Speedway many riders still had full time jobs, how hard was that! Well, I'm very sorry Scott, I don't think that your failure at the World Championship has anything to do with where you ride, I just don't think that you're good enough. But only time will tell. I am in despair at the stupidity of some factions in this great sport.

Posted 16:35 27th November 2008

Roger Hyland says...

The new season will be poorer without all the stars defecting from the Elite league, and attendances will be down I'm sure. It must be tuff to ride so many times a week and travel to the differant countries so I can understand there decsions and for an individual rider the world series is there top priority and ultimate goal. But where does that leave the elite league? The BSPA keep changing the rules year in year out hopefully for the better but not this year. We have some young good stars that hopefully will step up to the elite league but for how long? how long before the new stars realise they cannot cope with all the meetings and do the same. I don't have answers but something has to change or Speedway in this country will suffer and we will see teams closing down because the public will stop supporting. I have a long round trip to Lakeside which at the end of the day cost £30 inc entry petrol dartford crossing etc so I will pick and choose next season but will still attend. A speedway fan since early 70's.

Posted 11:54 27th November 2008
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