Middlo GP role was 'one-off' (From Bournemouth Echo)

Middlo GP role was 'one-off'

7:00am Wednesday 28th May 2008 in

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NEIL Middleditch has confirmed his surprise appearance in the Swedish Grand Prix pits alongside Scott Nicholls was "just a one-off".

The former Great Britain team manager was in Gothenburg helping Nicholls in a working capacity on Saturday only a few months after he relinquished the national post.

But Middleditch, who is Pirates' current boss, told the Echo from trackside: "Basically I was coming out to Sweden anyway with friends to watch the meeting.

"So I just said to Scottie if you want I will run my eye over your programme and see if I can help in anyway'.

"It's nothing permanent, just the fact I was here.

"One of Scottie's pits crew was unavailable and I helped him out."

Nicholls, who has been close friends with Middleditch since his spell at Poole alongside the manager in 1999 and 2000, agonisingly missed out on the semi-finals on count-back after scoring seven points.

It leaves him lying in 12th place with 16 in the overall standings, 12 adrift of an automatic re-qualification place for next year's series.

Middleditch, who saw Nicholls escape injury when his front wheel clipped the back of reserve Billy Forsberg's bike and clattered into the safety fence in heat 16, said: "It was difficult for Scottie.

"He probably would have been in the semis if he hadn't gone up over Billy's back wheel and then you don't know what might have happened.

"Scottie had a couple of outside gates and it wasn't the best, but that is the way it goes.

"It was nice to be back in the GP pits. It gives you a buzz, it always does. But it was a one-off."

Middleditch, whose seven-year reign as GB manager included helping British riders in the pits during GPs, is known by most as a highly effective motivator.

He said: "I'll probably be at more GPs in a spectator role in the future and if I can help Scottie or anyone else, I will."

Meanwhile, Pirates could be forced to use rider replacement for injured Chris Holder when they take on Eastbourne at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

Pirates: 1 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 2 Freddie Eriksson, 3 Chris Holder or rider replacement, 4 Adam Skornicki, 5 Davey Watt, 6 Magnus Zetterstrom, 7 Daniel Davidsson.

Eastbourne: 1 Scott Nicholls, 2 Lewis Bridger, 3 Rider replacement for Lee Richardson, 4 Cameron Woodward, 5 Edward Kennett, 6 Simon Gustafsson, 7 Brent Werner.