'I've been in speedway for 30 years - I'm not done'

Scott Nicholls began his career in 1994 and is still racing 30 years later

A speedway rider who has been racing for thirty years said he did not have a retirement date and had more races in him.

Scott Nicholls, 46, from Ipswich, started his career in 1994 and had several stints racing for the Ipswich Witches and Peterborough Panthers among other teams.

Throughout that time, he became the British Speedway Individual Champion seven times.

Currently the captain of the Oxford Cheetahs, Nicholls' autobiography has just been released detailing the highs and lows of his career - including his 2009 fight with Emil Sayfutdinov.

The riders came to a disagreement on track at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain in Cardiff that year following one of the heats.

"It's racing, these things happen," Nicholls said.

"It was probably a bit frosty for a while but then we didn't see each other.I was out of the Grand Prix after that and we didn't race each other much at all afterwards.

"Then, when we did see each other, it was always a polite gesture but I've got an awful lot of respect for him and I think a lot of him.

"He's been tremendous to ride with and he's a really good guy."

The riders are now good friends and Sayfutdinov was similarly still racing up until a recent crash earlier this month.

As well as racing, Nicholls has branched out into some speedway broadcasting

A highlight for Nicholls was in 1998, just four years after his professional debut, when he was part of the Ipswich Witches team that dominated that season.

They won the Elite League, the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield tournament.

"To be part of that infamous '98 side that won the treble... [it] probably will go down in history as one of the most successful and dominant teams in speedway," Nicholls reflected.

"It is great to be a part of that and it's a great memory full stop."

Now racing in his forties, Nicholls said he still found enjoyment in the sport.

"Speedway is fortunate that it is not like motocross for example or some other sports where you have to be super fit and you have to be right at the top of your game physically," he explained.

"Yes I keep myself in shape - I'm in pretty decent shape for my age - but the race is short and sharp and a lot of it does come down to experience.

"I'm enjoying it, that's the biggest thing."

'Live your life'

Fortunately, Nicholls has not been majorly injured during his career either.

However, one tyre burn during a race at Ipswich's Foxhall Stadium did lead to a blood clot in his leg that fortunately did not move further in his body.

"It puts it into reality that scary things can happen but also at the time you have to get on and live your life," he added.

Asked how long he will continue racing, Nicholls said while he did not want to put a number on it, he knew it was "not going to be long".

"I'm 46 but I'm enjoying it and I still feel like I can do a decent job," he said.

"When I don't feel like I can do a decent job and can maintain decent form then I'll walk away."