He raced on the international stage with the Australian under-21 speedway team, but victory in the Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix will go down as one of Josh Pickering's highlights of an amazing year.
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Pickering and his racing partner Brodie Nowlan finished a fraction of a second ahead of Daniel Wicks and Mackenzie Childs in a dramatic finish to the race around the streets of Cessnock.
Last year’s winner Chris Watson and Michael Kirkness finished third.
It was third time lucky for Pickering and Nowlan who raced against each other in dirt bikes from the time they could hold a bike up.
“We came close the first year, I was disqualified leading my heat by 20 seconds in the second year and I missed last year’s event to race in the Phil Crump Trophy in Mildura as I was trying to raise my profile in speedway,” Pickering, from Heddon Greta, said.
“The time we were disqualified still niggles as I was leading the heat by 20 seconds and got done for lifting my visor. I was just trying to get some air on my face to cool down, but that’s the rule.
“Brodie contacted me a couple of months ago to see if I wanted to go it in this year. I jumped at the chance as it’s one of those great events that attracts riders from all sorts of categories.
“It’s the best fun event I’ve been involved in. Everyone is relaxed and you go for it.
“To win it with Brodie is so great. We’ve been mates for years since we rode against as juniors in dirt bikes.
“Brodie went into the Red Bull Rookie Series on road bikes and had a couple of years racing on road, but he has just been riding for fun in motocross over the past four or five years.”
Pickering said he was looking forward to the Australian summer speedway season after an exciting UK debut.
“The highlight was obviously getting second in the Speedway Under-21 World Cup with the Australian team,” he said.
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“That was just sensational.
“I’ve learned so much over the year. I don’t know if I’m any faster but I feel I am a better rider.
“I think I can handle the bike far better. I can point in where I want and it goes there.
“I’m probably better at choosing when to make moves as well.”
Pickering raced with the Edinburgh Monarchs alongside Newcastle’s Sam Masters during the UK season.
Contracts for next season have been delayed as the British Speedway governing body waits to discuss rider qualifications and team composition rules at its annual general meeting.
“I haven’t signed again with the Monarchs, but I’m confident it will be with either them or some other British Club,” Pickering, who averaged an impressive 5.9 points with bonuses over the season, said of his plans for the next European season.
“I’m really looking forward to it as this year was also very much learning about living in the UK as much as riding.
“Brooke my partner and I had never lived overseas. We’ve got used to it and enjoy it now.
“Going back I can just concentrate on riding professionally as we know what to expect.”
Pickering starts his Australian summer campaign at the NSW Under-21 titles at Kurri Kurri on November 18.
