World Champion Greg Hancock rides at Peterborough

Monday, March 19, 2012
10:39 AM

PETERBOROUGH’S new-look 2012 line-up will receive a stern test as they launch the new season at the Showground tonight

Panthers legend Ryan Sullivan heads up a Select team which also includes multi-World Champions Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen in what promises to be a terrific opening to the campaign.

But it’s already been a hugely promising start to racing for two members of the Panthers side in particular, with Linus Sundstrom and Olly Allen both boosted by wins in big individual meetings over the weekend.

All nine members of the Panthers squad will be on show, with doubling-up men Rene Bach and Kyle Newman appearing in the Select side, and co-boss Trevor Swales – who will manage the Select – says the meeting will offer good preparation for the year ahead, as well as providing a fine spectacle for supporters.

Swales said: “This meeting serves as a good, competitive warm-up for all of our squad, and it will be ideal preparation for the league starting next month.

“I’ve never made predictions at the start of the year and I’m not going to start now, because you look around the league and there are so many unknown factors, but what I can say is we’re very happy with our line-up and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

New joint-manager Jan Staechmann, meanwhile, is delighted to see such a strong field assembled for the first meeting of the season.

He said: “It’s fantastic to see the three unattached riders racing in the UK. Ryan is a Peterborough legend, and I think the fans will relish seeing him back at the Showground, and it is our luck that the GP stars Greg and Nicki are in the UK, warming up for the first Grand Prix, and thus we get a rare chance to view them in action. It’s great to see the current World Champion in Britain.

“For ourselves, the practice days were very encouraging and the team seems to be bonding very well, which bodes well for everyone involved. It’s also nice to be able to include all of our double-up riders in our opening meeting.”

Gates open at 6pm with the action getting underway at 7.30pm. Normal admission prices apply with accompanied under-12s going free, and there will also be a giant fireworks display after the meeting.

MICHAEL Jepsen Jensen is out of tonight’s season-opener at the Showground after crashing at high speed whilst practising in Poland on Friday.

Club bosses have moved quickly to bring in former Panther Richard Hall who will now ride for the Ryan Sullivan select side, with Rene Bach switching to take Jensen’s place in the Peterborough 1-7.

Hall’s return sees him link up again with Sullivan who were both part of the 2006 Elite League winning team

Panthers co-boss Jan Staechmann said: “Thankfully Michael hasn’t got any broken bones, ligament or tendon damage.

“He’s had an x-ray and MRI scan and all is reported to be okay. He’s just battered and bruised really, but as it is only a challenge match tomorrow there is no point in taking any risks at this early stage of the season and risk making things worse.

“He’s already had plenty of physio treatment over the weekend and will continue to have further intense treatment.

“All being well he intends to be at the Showground tomorrow night to meet the supporters

PANTHERS: Kenneth Bjerre, Lasse Bjerre, Olly Allen, Jesper B Monberg, Linus Sundstrom, Richard Lawson, Rene Bach

SULLIVAN’S SEVEN: Ryan Sullivan, Cameron Heeps, Nicki Pedersen, Richard Hall, Greg Hancock, Rohan Tungate, Kyle Newman.

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