PETERBOROUGH

[speedyguy]

From the SGB website:
:::::::
KENNETH Hansen hopes his move to Peterborough can quench his thirst for silverware.

Hansen, who will race for the club eight years after his previous spell back in 2009, says the Panthers must focus on turning their home circuit at Alwalton back into a fortress.

He said: “I hope I can help to bring the supporters some success. It is clear from speaking to the management that everyone here wants to win things - and I'm just the same.

“We need to address the home record which I know hasn't been great in the last couple of years. Sometimes the track at the Showground can be too good and we have to bear that in mind.

“We always had an advantage when I rode here in 2009 and we need to make sure that comes back. The league is going to be really competitive and I don't think any team who wants to reach the play-offs can afford to lose more than once or twice at home.”

[speedyguy]

From the SGB website:
:::
ROB Lyon has quit his role as King’s Lynn manager – to step upstairs and run the club!

Lyon, who has enjoyed a glittering era in charge of the Stars team winning 10 major honours, will be in charge of the day-to-day business at the Adrian Flux Arena.

It means current chief Keith ‘Buster’ Chapman is free to focus on his role as chairman of British Speedway, although he will be in regular contact with Lyon.

The club are expected to finalise their new management structure within the next 24-hours.

Lyon said: “This is the right time for me to take on a new challenge.

“I’m delighted to have this opportunity and I believe it suits all parties at King’s Lynn Speedway.

“I make no apologies when I say I was looking for a new challenge after some wonderful years with the King’s Lynn team, we’ve had so many highs and the occasional low!

“This role means I stay at the club and I’m even more involved. It’s great to be able to play my part in taking the club forward and it’s nice to help Buster like this with everything he has on his plate right now.

“I will be representing the club when it comes to British Speedway Promoters’ Association business and basically this is an extension of what I’ve been doing anyway.

“We are already making progress with the team, the riders have been great and we will be making an announcement regarding our first signing within the next few days.”

Lyon spent a year in charge of the Great Britain team after impressing the national body – but his own commitments saw his stay in charge cut short.

Lynn owner Chapman said: "I'm pleased Rob has taken on this new role and I look forward to working with him.

"He has the time, enthusiasm and determination to succeed. I'm so busy with everything else right now that this is the right move for the club."

Attachments:

[speedyguy]

From the SGB website:::
::::::::
BLOSSOMING talent Tom Bacon is hopeful he can be a big Peterborough hit in 2017.

The 23 year-old will step up to SGB Championship level for the first time after accepting a reserve berth with the Panthers.

Bacon believes it is right time to climb the ladder after starring for the Birmingham side that completed an honours double in the National League last term.

And, buoyed by a handful of pleasing guest performances in the second tier towards the end of 2016, he is relishing the challenge of scoring points on a regular basis.

Bacon said: "I've had two good years in the National League and I believe this is the right time to step up.

"I did four guest bookings in the Premier League towards the end of last season and scored points in all of them.

"That was really heartening and hopefully I can do it on a regular basis for Peterborough next year.

"There was a bit of interest from other clubs, but I like the people here and enjoyed doing a few second-halves at the East of England Showground when I was just starting out.

"I know it is going to be tough, but I'm excited by the challenge."

Bacon, who combines his racing with a career in business management, will enter the fray on a two-point mark.

And Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone is confident his latest recruit can make a big impact - just as one of his Brummies team-mates,Tom Perry, did as the club's British reserve last year.

Rathbone said: "We've kept an eye on Tom for some time and we're delighted to be able to bring him to Peterborough.

"He is a rider making excellent progress in a sport he only took up after completing his education.

"He is from a racing background, and he has the knowledge and talent to be very successful.

"We brought in the top British number seven last season and I'm confident we have snapped up another gem for next year."

Bacon, who will also race in the National League again in 2017, joins popular Danish ace Kenneth Hansen as confirmed members of the Peterborough team for next season.

And further signings are imminent with Rathbone hopeful of completing more deals in the coming days.

PICTURE: New signing Tom Bacon is pictured with Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone (left) and co-promoter Trevor Swales (right). Credit: KEVIN GIPP.

Attachments:

[speedyguy]

From the SGB website:
TWO top Peterborough servants will be back in 2017 - and team boss Carl Johnson insists they have a big part to play in an SGB Championship title challenge.

Ulrich Ostergaard and Simon Lambert are the latest confirmed members of the Panthers septet for next season.

It will be a fourth successive campaign in red and black for Ostergaard, who has been an ever-present in the Peterborough fold since the club returned to the second tier of the sport in 2014.

The 35 year-old is a standing dish at this level and roared to glory in the Premier League Riders' Championship just 14 months ago. He also famously helped the club to Elite League title success back in 2006.

Ostergaard will return for next year on a bargain 7.14 and club chiefs are confident he can bounce back from a dip in form towards the end of last term.

They are also thrilled to welcome back Lambert for a third season in Panthers colours - and hope his injury jinx won't strike again.

The locally-based racer missed a large chunk of the 2015 campaign with serious shoulder damage and saw his 2016 season come to an abrupt halt when suffering a broken wrist and a knee ligament injury in an early July crash.

Lambert will slot in on a 5.25 average and like Ostergaard, it is a figure which provides plenty of scope for improvement.

Team boss Johnson said: "Ulrich and Simon are two riders who are very much part of this club.

"They are excellent performers on the track, great people off it and very popular with our supporters.

"Ulrich's form might not have been to his usual high standards towards the end of last season, but he has worked out the reasons behind it and I'm confident he will be back to his best from the moment the tapes go up next year.

"He is more than capable of establishing himself as a number one rider in the SGB Championship again and no-one is more determined to bring silverware to the club than him.

"Simon has been brilliant for us in the last two years and his importance to the club was highlighted by the way we have struggled when without him.

"He is capable of producing double-figures displays on a regular basis at home and he has also upped his performances on the road during his time with us.

"Touch wood, we can keep him on track for the whole of 2017. If that happens, I'm sure his average will shoot up and that will only stand us in good stead."

Peterborough can also confirm that Ostergaard and Lambert will be the only two returning riders from last season.

They join popular signing Kenneth Hansen and British reserve talent Tom Bacon in a team which will be completed by three new faces.

And fans won't have to wait long to find out who they are . . .

Attachments:

[speedyguy]

From the SGB website:
::
PETERBOROUGH have snapped up hot property Jack Holder - and told him 2017 is his time to shine.

Promoter Ged Rathbone believes the Panthers are the perfect club for the Australian ace - younger brother of former world champion, Chris - to continue his emergence in the sport.

Holder will join Peterborough's chase for SGB Championship honours on a 7.16 average after a two-year grounding in the second tier with Plymouth.

And club chiefs are convinced that is a bargain figure for a racer who was only pipped to a World Under 21 Championship bronze medal in a run-off before shining as a track reserve in the Australian SGP.

Rathbone said: "I fully believe that 2017 will be the year in which Jack makes a big name for himself - and I'm absolutely delighted he will be doing it at Peterborough.

"He is a terrific young talent who has already shown his liking for the East of England Showground with some excellent performances here in the last couple of years.

"He was outstanding when helping Plymouth to win the Premier League Fours last summer and has piled up the points in his league visits as well.

"Jack also came within a whisker of a World Under 21 medal last season and proved he can mix it with the best riders in the business during his appearance in his home GP.

"He has the perfect blend of previous experience at this level to go with a huge amount of potential, but there is no pressure on him . . . or any other rider for that matter.

"I just want to see people enjoying themselves in 2017 and I'm convinced we can be successful if that happens."

Holder joins fellow new arrivals Kenneth Hansen and Tom Bacon, and the returning duo of Ulrich Ostergaard and Simon Lambert, as confirmed members of a new-look Peterborough side.

Those five riders have taken up 28.29 of the club's 40 available points for team building - leaving 11.71 for the two remaining spots. They are expected to be filled within the next few days.

Rathbone added: "The team is certainly taking a different look for next year and supporters will see that continue with the final two signings as well."

Attachments:

[Deleted]

From the SGB website:
::::
PETERBOROUGH have captured a pair of reigning champions to provide a fabulous finish to their 2017 team building.

The Panthers can this morning unveil Paul Starke (photo) and Bradley Wilson-Dean as the final members of a septet aiming to challenge for SGB Championship glory next year.

British ace Starke and Kiwi talent Wilson-Dean both arrive at the East of England Showground having helped Somerset rule supreme in the second tier of the sport last season.

Starke will slot into the main body of an exciting Peterborough line-up on a 6.62 average while Wilson-Dean will begin the campaign at reserve on a 5.02 figure.

And co-promoter Trevor Swales is hopeful they can sample more success following a winter that has gone almost perfectly to plan for the club’s management team.

Swales said: "Being able to bring two title-winners to the club is a wonderful way to complete our team building.

"Paul and Bradley know exactly what it takes to win honours at this level and hopefully they can enjoy more success as Peterborough riders.

"They have already proven they know their way around the Showground and I'm sure they will both excel once getting fully dialed in.

“There’s no doubt that Paul will be challenging for a heat-leader berth whereas I don’t think there will be many better reserves in the league than Bradley.

“He has progressed from an excellent season in the National League to a great year at Somerset – and I’m confident there are big things to come from him.

"We are in the brilliant position of having been able to put together the side that we all wanted.

"It has been a testing and often time-consuming process, but gradually all the pieces having fallen into place.

"We certainly believe we have the right blend of potential and Showground prowess in the main body of the team along with scoring power at reserve."

The final two recruits – Starke and Wilson-Dean - join fellow new faces Jack Holder, Kenneth Hansen and Tom Bacon in a team completed by returning stars Ulrich Ostergaard and Simon Lambert.

And Swales is upbeat about the prospects of a challenge for title success and a possible promotion into the SGB Premiership.

He added: “We have an absolutely brilliant set of fans who have stuck with the club through thick and thin.

“They don't like losing and as a management team we absolutely hate it. Success is long overdue and hopefully this is the team to provide it.

“We have seven guys who are all proud to be riding for Peterborough and who are all capable of improving their averages.

"If that happens, we'll be in a very good place."

Attachments:

[Deleted]

From the SGB website:
::::
PROMOTER Ged Rathbone has completed the full purchase of Peterborough Speedway.

In a major new year message, Rathbone confirmed a takeover deal with previous owners, Readypower has been finalised.

And while he chose to keep the figures involved confidential, Rathbone did reveal that the financial backing of major sponsor T Balfe Construction has also enabled the purchase of track equipment which will immediately be placed under the control of the Peterborough Panthers Supporters' Club (PPSSC).

Rathbone said: "I'm delighted to be able announce the sale of the club from Readypower has gone through.

"I must pass on my thanks to Rick Frost and Julie Mahoney, who have always been very professional in our dealings.

"I'm grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to keep speedway going in Peterborough and both sides have since stuck firmly to the plan we put in place.

"On the surface very little changes, but behind the scenes this purchase will make the club far more financially secure.

"All speedway matters - on and off the track - are now under our control and thanks to the generosity of T Balfe Construction, we have been able to buy equipment which will be handed over to the PPSSC.

"It is all about providing long-term security and giving a fantastic bunch of supporters a say in the future..

"The time will come when I move on - although I hope it won't be anytime soon - and I don't want the club to be in a position where all the hard work goes to waste and speedway in Peterborough is under threat again."

Rathbone, who stepped in following the 2014 season to ensure racing continued at the East of England Showground, insists his business model of attempting to deliver SGB Championship success while living within the club's means will not change.

He added: "Speedway clubs have to cut their cloth accordingly in these tough financial times.

"I've always been adamant from day one that we have to be able to pay our way - and so far we have managed to do that.

"We will never spend beyond our means to chase glory only to put the future of the club in jeopardy.

"We have a very solid management team in which everyone knows their role and has the future of the club at heart.

"We've attracted very pleasing attendances during the past two seasons and I'll be over the moon if that continues in 2017.

"We're always looking to attract new fans and that work will continue in 2017 by spreading the speedway word in Peterborough and beyond."

Attachments:

[Deleted]

From the SGB web site:
::::::
PETERBOROUGH boss Ged Rathbone believes his side’s early schedule will provide a pointer to their SGB Championship prospects.

The Panthers’ first competitive meeting of 2017 will be a home date against Scunthorpe at the Showground on Friday, March 24. Their first away test will also be against the Scorpions, on Sunday, April 2, and they also face league clashes against highly-touted Ipswich and Sheffield in April, along with a KO Cup tie against a revamped Redcar outfit.

Rathbone said: “The opening few weeks will give us a good idea of where we’re at. I’ve said all along that there is no such thing as an easy fixture – home or away.

“Any one of the 10 teams at this level will be capable of getting a result against any other on any given day.

“I think every single meeting will be unpredictable and exciting. It’s going to the best season for a long time for supporters.”

Attachments:

[speedyguy]

From the SGB?BSPA website:
:::
PETERBOROUGH chief Ged Rathbone has praised the generosity of major backers T Balfe Construction.

Rathbone, who completed his takeover of the club over the winter, also struck a new two-year title sponsorship package with the Lincolnshire-based construction firm.

And he has applauded company boss David Balfe for agreeing to pay the entire five-figure package in advance to finance the purchase of essential track equipment at the East of England Showground.

Rathbone said: “Completing my purchase of the club, as had always been the plan, was particularly satisfying as it gives us the opportunity to really build on the good work of the past couple of years.

“One of the first parts of that process was being in a position to purchase machinery and equipment which is used in our operations at the Showground.

“David very generously agreed to pay his two-year sponsorship up front to allow that to happen. Any sporting club needs good sponsors and great supporters . . . and we're certainly well covered on both of those fronts.”

[speedyguy]

From the SGB/BSPA website:
::::::
PETERBOROUGH have arranged a season-opening challenge match against SGB Premiership club Coventry.

The Bees, who have several Panthers connections in their riding and management staff, will visit the Showground on Sunday March 19 as both clubs warm up for the new league campaign.

Peterborough chief Ged Rathbone said: “I don't think we could have come up with a more exciting Challenge fixture to start the season.

“We were approached by Mick Horton a few days ago, and we jumped at the chance to entertain an SGB Premiership team - and Coventry look to be a very good one too.

“They have put together a cracking line-up in my opinion and it will be a brilliant test for our lads. It will be our supporters' first chance to catch our new-look team in action and I'm hopeful that plenty of Bees fans will make the short trip over to the Showground as well.”

Attachments: