There’s plenty of life left in Peterborough Panthers veteran

And Nicholls (42) has revealed how bike rides in the countryside have helped him stay as fit as ever this year.

Nicholls was expected to be a trump card in the lower order for Panthers in their original team plans for 2020, but looks set to be elevated higher up the team as some riders will not return for 2021 due to Polish League restrictions.

But Nicholls insists he’ll be ready for a big season at Alwalton whatever the team looks like for the relaunch of the sport after a year out due to the pandemic.

Nicholls said: “The time off the bike this season has just refreshed me to go again in 2021. I might be another year older, but I’m as fit as I’ve ever been in my career now.

“I’ve been training in the gym and been on the mountain bike seeing an awful lot of the countryside where I live.

“I certainly have no plans to call it a day with my racing. I would say the opposite and I think there’s still plenty of years left in me yet.”

Nicholls is also due to double up with Championship oufit Kent to make it a busy season ahead for the former Ipswich man alongside his broadcast duties on the Speedway Grand Prix with BT Sport.

All club bosses continue to plan their structures with Peterborough not the only team faced with changes due to the Polish rule restricting riders racing in other leagues.