PETERBOROUGH got their Premier League campaign off to a brilliant start with a resounding success at Redcar last night (Thursday).
The Readypower Panthers collected four points from a meeting eventually abandoned after a nasty fall for Bears rider Hugh Skidmore in the early stages of heat 14 which left him in need of lengthy medical attention.
But the result had already been in the bag with three races to spare after Peterborough dominated proceedings throughout.
Their guest duo Richard Lawson and Claus Vissing proved to be wise choices as they notched six race wins between them.
Panthers’ quality shone through early on when Lawson started off his return to Redcar (he was the Bears’ number one last term) with an opening heat win by holding off former Panthers man Lasse Bjerre.
A first maximum of the night arrived in heat two when reserves Simon Lambert and Ollie Greenwood combined before consecutive 4-2s led by Vissing and skipper Ulrich Ostergaard left Panthers sitting pretty.
The Bears clawed themselves back into the meeting with a 5-1 in heat five when Skidmore combined with Stuart Robson to hold off Lawson, but Panthers tightened their grip once again with back to back 5-1s as Lambert and Michael Palm Toft took the flag in heats seven and eight respectively.
Redcar skipper Robson made the most of his tactical ride in heat nine when he raced to victory followed by teammate Skidmore to inflict an 8-1, but Panthers again replied in emphatic fashion as back-to-back 5-1s left them on the brink of a fine victory.
That was secured in heat 12 when Vissing completed his own hat-trick of heat wins to earn a 4-2, but there was no sign of a let-up as Panthers increase their advantage further in a re-run heat 13 courtesy of Lawson’s triumph and a battling third from Ostergaard.
That proved to be the final completed race of a successful night that delighted team manager Carl Johnson.
He said: “We were fantastic from start until the early finish and the boys did exactly what we asked asked of them.
“We chose two good guests tonight who performed for us. Richard has done well for us on many occasions while Claus has also been in top form and loves riding this track.
“The rest of the guys were also excellent and it was great to get a result like this for Ged against his hometown club. He was over the moon.
“Maintaining the momentum is key now. “There is a great team spirit and we want to keep that going for the rest of the season.”
Panthers make a rapid return to action as they travel to Somerset for their final Southern Group outing in the Premier League Cup tonight (7.30pm).
And they will arrive in the West Country with faint hopes of advancing to the latter stages.
Panthers draft in Danish star Kenneth Hansen at number one while Vissing again deputises for the unavailable Robert Lambert.
A search for a guest for Lewis Blackbird, who rides for his Elite League club Wolverhampton, has so far been unsuccessful and it is likely to be rider replacement to cover his absence,
SCORES
REDCAR 32: Stuart Robson 10+1, Lasse Bjerre 8, Hugh Skidmore 7+1, Matej Kus 3, Rafal Konopka 2, Jan Graversen 1, Ben Morley 1
PANTHERS 49: Richard Lawson (guest) 10, Simon Lambert 9+1, Claus Vissing (guest) 9, Ulrich Ostergaard 7, Michael Palm Toft 6+1, Lewis Blackbird 5+2, Oliver Greenwood 3+1.