NEW signing Michael Jepsen Jensen provided a tantalising taste of his star quality – as Peterborough went down 43-47 at King’s Lynn tonight.
The teenage Dane won his first race in the Readypower Panthers’ colours and ended his night with a valuable seven, paid eight, on his first ever visit to the Norfolk Arena.
The 19-year-old newcomer was the real bright spark in a battling performance that threatened to derail the Stars’ bid for the play-offs.
If Peterborough take all three points against their derby rivals at the East of England Showground tomorrow night (Thursday, 7.30pm) they will be four points behind the Stars with both teams having two matches left.
On paper the Panthers’ certainly have the easier run-in with a home and away clashes with bottom of the table Swindon from which they can take a maximum of seven points, which would lift them to 46 points.
Team boss Trevor Swales said: “If we’d ridden like that in every away match we would have been certainties for the play-offs.
“We were very unlucky, Krzysztof (Buczkowski) fell when he was second and Kacper (Gomolski) had a chain break when he was third.
“It was great to see Michael having such a good meeting, he showed everyone how talented he is and will be a really good asset in the Knock Out Cup and the future.
“We still have a chance of getting into the top four but it’s no longer in our own hands. We have to win our last three matches and ideally get 11 points and hope others slip-up.”
Only a brilliant from-the-back last race win from Peterborough asset Kenneth Bjerre denied the Panthers a draw.
But at least they picked up a consolation point after providing eight of the 15 race winners.
Only reserve Richard Lawson and the out-of-touch Buczkowski failed to take the chequered flag.
And it was Buczek’s miserable display that had the greatest influence on the final result as he had another nightmare at the Norfolk track.
In two Elite League visits this season he has scored only three (paid four) in eight rides.
KING’S LYNN 47: Kenneth Bjerre 10, Oliver Allen 8:2, Mads Korneliussen 8:1, Kozza Smith 7:4, Lasse Niels-Kristian Iversen 6, Bjerre 5:2, Filip Sitera 0.
PETERBOROUGH 43: Nicki Pedersen 10:1, Michael Troy Batchelor 10, Michael Jepsen Jensen 7:1, Linus Sundström 7, Kacper Gomolski 4, Krzysztof Buczkowski 1:1, Richard Lawson 1.