King’s Lynn Stars skipper Josh Pickering on season's biggest speedway win over Wolverhampton and cup final clashes with Sheffield

King’s Lynn skipper Josh Pickering is eagerly looking forward to facing former club Sheffield in Thursday's league cup final first leg.

Sheffield have beaten the Stars four times this year in the league but Australian Pickering, fresh from last night's 63-27 humbling of Wolverhampton, was in confident mood ahead of the Owlerton meeting.

The Minors & Brady Stars speedway side are picking up form with three wins out of five after a mid-season slump, and their captain said of the clash with SGB Premiership leaders the Tigers: “I'm ready for that one!

“All the boys are ready. We need to win something for King’s Lynn. Last year wasn't anything good to celebrate.

“In the year as a whole there has been signs of bad luck. When we've lost our home matches, it's only been by a few points.

"When we've lost the away matches, if we had a couple of decisions go our way it would've been a different result also.

“I do believe with the base we have now and the groundwork that has been done if we keep five out of the seven riders, that will put us in a very good position for next year."

The home second leg takes place at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday, October 3.

Pickering was keen to highlight paid maximum man against Wolves, Richie Worrall, whose 31st birthday it is today (Friday).

The Stars won 14 out of 15 races – for those keeping score, it was ten from their Danish trio Frederik Jakobsen, Nicolai Klindt and Thomas Jorgensen, two from Aussie Pickering and two from a Brit (Worrall).

On a personal note, the 25-year-old added: “For me it's been a little inconsistent. I tried another engine and experimented a bit.

"I got back on the engine I last rode against Wolves which done the job and I was happy. I don't like losing, winning is when I'm enjoying my racing."

Team boss Alex Brady said of the Wolves win: “I was a bit gutted that Nicolai missed out on his maximum but it was a really good night which stands us in good stead for next week.

“Picko summed it up on the back of the parade truck, it was just fun with all seven riders chipping in together with smiles on their faces. The track was spot on, the crowd was noisy and it was one of those nights that you just wish could happen every week.

“If we can replicate this performance up at Sheffield, where we have gone quite well both times, then again here we have every reason to believe we are capable of lifting the cup.”