Josh fourth in Aussie opener

NEWS Thursday 4th January 2024, 11:53am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Josh Pickering made the final of today's first leg of the Australian Championship in a strong field, before finishing behind Max Fricke, Rohan Tungate and Jaimon Lidsey in that last race.

Gate positions played a large part in the proceedings and Josh was off the poorest gate in the final (gate 3) but he did manage to turn back on the first corner and squeeze into second. Unfortunately he then lifted and was fortunate that Fricke or Lidsey did not run into him. Max then produced the best ride of the meeting to sweep round race leader Tungate who had come off the highly favourable gate 1.

The field included all the top Aussies other than Jason Doyle, though one or two (especially Sam Masters) did not have best equipment. Josh seemed to have bags of speed but drawing two gate 3 rides in the qualifiers told against him – he did extremely well to pick up a win (off gate 1 in heat 4) plus four second places making him joint third highest qualifier.

Along the way he managed to pass both Chris Holder and Ryan Douglas. There were not many overtakes after the opening lap during the meeting though Fricke's ride in the final was a glorious exception.

The four finalists were very much the most impressive men in the meeting. The Holder brothers both finished on 10 with Brady Kurtz and Ryan Douglas scoring 8. New Glasgow man James Pearson deserves a mention for two early wins heading Picko in his third ride and also beating Chris Holder, Douglas and Masters.

It had been suggested that Kye Thomson might be in the meeting but apparently injury kept him out.

The remaining rounds are:

2nd round Kurri Kurri Jan 7th

3rd round Albury- Wodonga Jan 9th

4th round Mildura Jan 11th

5th round Gillman Jan 13th