KENNETH Bjerre guided Peterborough back into a play-off spot with yet another record-breaking display.
The Denmark star dropped only one point as the Readypower Panthers leapfrogged Belle Vue to reclaim four spot in the Elite League with a 54-40 win over the Aces.
Bjerre smashed the East of England Showground track record for the third time this season, lowering the fastest-ever time to 58.5 seconds.
It means Bjerre has now sliced amazing half a second off the record that stood at the beginning of the season and becomes the first rider ever to lower the mark three times in a row.
He went on to suffer his sole defeat against ex-Panther Peter Karlsson after a sluggish start and ended the night with three wins out of three over former King of the Showground Hans Andersen.
Peterborough took a maximum three points from the clash and are now two points ahead of Belle Vue with three matches in hand.
Newcomer Norbert Kosciuch had a quiet debut but teamed up with Troy Batchelor for a meeting defining 5-1 in Heat 8 while skipper Niels-Kristian Iversen returned after a ten-match lay-off with a broken shoulder.
Iversen claimed a crucial win over Andersen in a Heat 13 maximum and finished with double figures despite a last race zero.
He said: “My wrist was pretty painful throughout the meeting but it was good to be back. It was another terrific performance with everyone scoring and now we can’t wait for Monday’s Sky TV match against Lakeside.”
There was some top-drawer racing, particularly towards the end of the meeting and Bjerre left another big crowd in total awe with an incredible swoop inside the fast-starting Karlsson in a tremendous last race.
Iversen had earlier been in a wheel-to-wheel four-lap scrap before getting the better of Andersen in Heat 13 and Tresarrieu was a spectacular performer throughout.
Overall it was a solid performance from the new-look Panthers and Kosciuch showed plenty of promise, particularly in Heat 8 when he beat in-form James Wright and Josh Grajczonek.
He said: “I really like the Peterborough track although everything was a bit strange for me.
“I felt a little bit tired after all the racing and travelling I have done over the last couple of days and I would like to have done better.”
Norbi had ridden in Poland on Wednesday night, travelled to the Czech Republic for a Thursday meeting, returned to Poland before catching a six a.m. flight to England.
He managed to grab an hour’s sleep in Peterborough before having a practice session and then went straight out for his first ever Elite League match.
With fellow reserve Mathieu Tresarrieu recording his highest score – a win and three third places – there were signs they could develop into a potent reserve pairing.
Six Peterborough riders recorded at least one race win and the strength in depth proved too hot for Belle Vue to handle.
The Panthers now have a run of four home matches in their next five meetings, starting with Monday night’s live Sky TV clash with second in the table Lakeside.
Team manager Trevor Swales said: “We have to keep our home form going – Norbi looks as if he will settle down at the Showground quite quickly and showed what he can do in the 5-1 in Heat 8.
“We are looking very solid right down the order at home – but Monday might be a stiffer test although Belle Vue had two real Showground experts with Hans and PK.”
