The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Great Scott rides to the rescue as injury sadly rules out Wilson-Dean
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British great Scott Nicholls has answered an SOS call from Peterborough Panthers.
The seven-time national champion has agreed an 11th hour return to the city club for the new SGB Premiership season.
Club bosses turned to Nicholls after New Zealand champion Bradley WilsonDean was ruled out of their plans on medical advice.
It means the 41 year-old, who also raced for the club in the last two years, will step in at reserve where he hopes to pile up the points.
“I’m so happy to be back at Peterborough and the team looks really strong on paper,” said Nicholls.
“I was prepared to sit out the Premiership and just focus on riding in the Championship, but it’s great that this opportunity has come up.
“It looks like I’ll start the season down at reserve, but the plan is not to stay there long.
“I’m working hard on getting an engine and setup together that will work around the Showground.
“Last season I was always playing catch-up after starting the year at Wolverhampton and then coming to Peterborough.
“The fans deserve a lot better than what they got last season when we had absolutely no luck with injuries.
“I really feel for Bradley though as his season is over before it even begun, but I’m sure he’ll come back stronger once he is properly healed.”
Nicholls joins number one Niels Kristian Iversen, fellow returning riders Rohan Tungate and Hans Andersen, and new recruits Michael Palm Toft and Chris Harris in the Panthers side for 2020.
Club bosses – including newly-appointed team manager Rob Lyon - are expected to complete their remaining signing in the coming week with popular Peterborough stalwart Ulrich Ostergaard widely tipped to be handed the other reserve berth.
Wilson-Dean withdrew from the Panthers side late last week after undergoing shoulder surgery in his homeland.
While the operation was a success, doctors ordered him to sit out of racing for at least the next six months.
Wilson-Dean said: I’ve been instructed by the surgeon and bone specialist that I can’t be racing bikes for at least the next six months if I want to heal properly.
“After consulting with my friends, family and mentors, I’ve made the decision to listen to the surgeon and to sit out racing for now so that I can get myself 100 per cent fit.
“It’s been really tough on me – not just physically buy also mentally as well – and the decision wasn’t one I made lightly. There is no doubt in my mind that when I get back to racing it will be the best anyone has seen me yet.”