PETERBOROUGH No.1 Scott Nicholls has confirmed he won’t race again this season.
The seven-times British Champion suffered a broken ankle in a crash at Glasgow when guesting for Ipswich on September 4.
After a successful operation he was keen to not rule himself out for the campaign immediately, especially with Panthers likely to be competing well into October, but ligament damage has remained an issue and he has now called time on any racing prospects for the rest of 2018.
Nicholls said: “It’s really frustrating for the season to end this way especially because I felt I was really coming into form and then I picked up the injury.
“I’m making progress but I have to be honest and say it’s still giving me grief, it’s very sore and at the moment I can’t even put a shoe on.
“I was hoping to come back especially with the team having big meetings, and there was a really good team spirit at the club so it’s been hard to see what’s happened with so much bad luck after we’d got so far together.
“If it was earlier in the season then obviously I wouldn’t be ruling myself out but at this point I have to accept that it’s not going to happen.
“I’d be absolutely gutted if I came back and then had to pull out because I wasn’t ready, and at this stage it’s simply not worth the risk.”
Nicholls was a top target for the Panthers over the winter but both parties had to wait to confirm his place in the team due to confusion over his eligibility for the Championship.
Although his converted starting average of 9.72 was always going to be almost impossible to retain in such a competitive league, Nicholls maintained the No.1 berth throughout the year and averaged comfortably over eight with several classy displays on a variety of circuits.
He said: “I’ve got to say a big thanks to everyone at the club, the management and the supporters, because I’ve really enjoyed my racing at Peterborough this year.
“I’ve been very impressed with the management, the way they operate, and I really appreciate the support they gave me especially with all everything that was going on with Rye House.
“We don’t know what’s happening in the sport for next year yet, but depending on what is decided at the AGM I would like to return to the club in 2019.”