Heddon Greta's Josh Pickering has signed with British Premier League speedway giants Edinburgh Monarchs.
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Pickering qualified for a UK riding permit with fourth place at the Queensland championship and will join fellow Hunter rider Sam Masters, who skippers the team.
The 20-year-old has made a rapid rise up the Australian speedway ranks after moving to the track in 2013 after starring on dirt bikes and riding for Honda Australia in the Asian Dream Cup road series.
“I started racing dirt bikes around 2004 and raced them for maybe eight years. Then I moved over to road racing in 2012. I did that for a year and a half, riding for Honda Australia in the Asian Dream Cup, but after I lost my ride I ended up buying a speedway bike,” Pickering told the Monarchs’ website.
“I bought two bikes from Adam Shields, I wanted to make a career out of some type of motorcycle racing and it didn’t really worry me which one.
“I just enjoy riding bikes I guess, so I have ridden speedway from 2013 and haven’t looked back.
“Last year I had a few dramas with illness and didn’t spend as much time on a bike as I wanted to, but this year I’ve been racing here there and everywhere, trying to do as many laps on the bike as I can. It’s starting to pay off for me so I’m happy with that, and I believe with Edinburgh I can get to the next level. It should be a good move for me.”
Pickering has qualified for the four-round Australian title which kick off in Adelaide on January 4 and wind up at Kurri Kurri on January 14.
“I leave on Tuesday to head to Adelaide for round one of the Australian Championships. It’s four rounds, I’ll race there then Mildura, Shepparton and finally back at my home track at Kurri-Kurri.
“I’ve raced there all year and never scored less than 12 points, so I know if I can get out the box either one or two I’m as quick as the top guys, so it will be good to see how I go against them.
“I’ve had a few meetings recently where I have missed the start after changing my motors from straight to offset, it’s surprising how much difference it makes so I have just had to get my head around that. I just wasn’t giving it enough revs off the start but it will be interesting to see how I go.”
Pickering has already armed himself with tips from Masters and former Monarch Max Fricke about his new home track Armadale in Edinburgh.
“Sam and Max have told me that Armadale can be a good track for you once you get to know it, and I’ve watched a few videos with Sam just to get an idea of what I’m looking at for when I get there so I’m not going to be shocked! I like a challenge so it’s going to be good to get my head round it and sorted.
“I did ask Sam if you can pass at Armadale and he said yes, most certainly, though I’d rather get out the box because it makes it a lot easier!
“My girlfriend Brooke will be coming with me, it will be good to have someone with me in the good times and bad. Sam knows my girlfriend quite well and he said from his own experience it was a bit tough when his girlfriend was on the other side of the world.
“Sam’s a good captain and a good mate and I couldn’t be happier to be riding with him.”