NeilWatson

It’s a hypothetical question of course as we planned 2018 in the knowledge that the league programme was only for 10 home meetings. However, had the league been two home and two away (20 home meetings rather than 10) I expect that the Shield would have been shelved. We would have started the season closer to 15th March and no doubt the cut-off would be later than 9th September. We may have run a couple of double-headers, and/or more Fridays in addition to Sundays. One way or another we would have fitted it all in! (In 2017 Panthers raced on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - as that was the agility needed to fit in the full programme.) I would add that fixed race nights in 2018 meant that Championship Clubs couldn’t race on Bank Holiday Mondays which reduces available dates.

That’s an unpleasant response to a genuine offer by one of the nicest and most knowledgable people in speedway.

http://www.speedwaygb.co/files/downloads/c18_issue_13.pdf

Our last scheduled fixture is Sunday 9th September which is the final day before the league cut-off.

PETERBOROUGH are pleased to confirm next Friday’s (July 13) Championship fixture against Scunthorpe definitely goes ahead. There has been confusion over the status of various Friday fixtures in the league, but the visit of the Scorpions to the East of England Arena was never called off. The meeting takes place at the start of a massive weekend for the table-topping T.Balfe Construction Panthers, who also stage a double header on Sunday July 15 against Lakeside (in the KO Cup) and Sheffield. Promoter Ged Rathbone said: “We were requested by the BSPA to look into not racing on any future Fridays, and we desperately tried to get some new Sunday dates at the East of England Arena. “However, having spoken to the stadium there were none available, so although we’ve tried to do everything possible to help the BSPA we’re unable to change. “So the meeting next Friday will definitely take place, and we’ve had an e-mail from the SCB (Speedway Control Bureau) confirming it is definitely on. “I must stress that although we know it had been removed from the fixture list, the meeting was never postponed, and it should be shown once again in the BSPA fixture list very shortly. “I wanted to clarify this for everyone as soon as possible, and we’ve actually had some enquiries from people down south who must be coming up to make a weekend of it, so I’m pleased to confirm to everyone that it’s definitely on.” Panthers are aware of the date clash between their Sunday double-header and the football World Cup Final, but the meeting does need to go ahead due to stadium availability. However, they will closely monitor the progression of the tournament, and will be prepared to adjust their start-time (currently 5pm) should England be involved in the Final which gets underway at 4pm. Rathbone added: “Under normal circumstances we wouldn’t be running on that date, but it is simply a case of there being no alternatives and also it was the only time Sheffield could come. “We need to get the fixture raced to make sure we get everything in before the cut-off, plus we have to get the KO Cup competition progressed. “We will look at the situation over the next few days, especially if England reach the Final. We know we’d need to avoid a cross-over between the events if that’s the case. “Obviously running a double-header with no crowd would be financial suicide for the club so we will do all we can to react to the situation, and I urge everyone to come along and back the team as we’re enjoying such a fantastic season.” ENDS

Yes, Peterborough v Scunthorpe on 13th July goes ahead as scheduled.

PETERBOROUGH have confirmed Emil Grondal will return to the team when their Championship campaign resumes next week. Grondal has been ruled out since suffering a horror crash in Denmark in late May, but has come through practice sessions both in his homeland and at the East of England Arena last Friday. Ellis Perks, who came in for five matches plus the Championship Fours as reserve after previously-planned signing Edward Kennett was also injured, has been released and has now secured a team place in the National League with Plymouth. And Panthers promoter Ged Rathbone has given a glowing reference to Perks, who came in at short notice and was part of a Panthers team which won all five matches he was involved in, plus the Fours at Redcar. Rathbone said: “Ellis has been absolutely fantastic. Strangely enough when we signed him we heard loads of stories about how he could be a prima donna, and all sorts of things like that. “But it couldn’t be further from the truth from what we’ve seen. He’s enjoyed himself, and I was pleased to give him a lap of honour after last week’s meeting to say thank-you to the supporters, and for them to thank him. “He dropped everything at short notice to come over from Australia to join us, and I’d certainly look at him again for the future. He’s been a perfect professional during his time with us, and I wish him all the best at Plymouth. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Emil back next Friday against Scunthorpe. He’s been out practising over the last week or so including at Peterborough, and it will be good to have him back with us.” ENDS

http://www.peterboroughpanthers.co/news.php?extend.3329.2

Bewley, Drozdz, Etheridge

BRILLIANT Peterborough smashed Lakeside’s eight-match winning run with a 52-38 victory at the East of England Arena on Friday. The T.Balfe Construction Panthers are now four points clear at the top of the Championship table, and more significantly twelve ahead of fifth place, after they put together a powerful performance at home to dominate the meeting. Ulrich Ostergaard made a successful return from injury to top-score with 12 points but there were key contributions right down the order, and Bradley Wilson-Dean also contributed a hugely entertaining double-figure total. Panthers edged into a two-point lead across the opening four races, helped when visiting No.1 Nick Morris touched the tapes in Heat 1 – although he still salvaged third place from Ellis Perks in the re-run. Reserves Simon Lambert and Tom Bacon notched a 4-2 in the next, with Bacon overcoming Alfie Bowtell and then just falling short in a late bid to pass Ben Morley. Adam Ellis became the Hammers’ first winner in Heat 3 but Ostergaard responded for Panthers in the next, and a terrific Heat 5 saw Wilson-Dean and Michael Palm Toft record the first 5-1 of the night. BWD edged Morris out over the first lap before MPT moved through on the inside next time around to extend the advantage to six points. Former Panther Richard Lawson won Heats 6 and 7, the second of which was a tactical substitute outing, but Ostergaard prevented maximum damage by heading Ellis for second place. Bacon then rode a stormer to take Heat 8, which was a Panthers 5-1 until the final bend when Zach Wajtknecht got alongside and past Lambert for second place on the outside. But Panthers did pull off a big 5-1 in the next, and again it was their prolific middle-order pairing with Palm Toft holding firm on the inside whilst Wilson-Dean’s outside line took him clear of Lawson. The Hammers hit trouble on bend 4 in Heat 10 with Morley lifting and being collected by team-mate Ellis, although having held a 5-1 at that stage Panthers had to be content with a 4-2 in the re-run as Ellis split Scott Nicholls and Perks. Lakeside made no progress in a shared Heat 11, which enabled Panthers to lock up victory in a thrilling twelfth, with Wilson-Dean surging around Ellis to take the win whilst Bacon performed a similar move on Bowtell for third. There was more fine action in Heat 13 with Panthers holding a 5-1 for most of the race ahead of the thrusting Lawson and Morris, with Lawson snatching second from Nicholls on the run to the line. But it was nowhere near enough even for the Hammers to threaten a league point, despite a fine defensive ride by Lawson to edge out Palm Toft in Heat 14. And there was a wild Heat 15 to conclude proceedings with Ellis producing a classy effort to go round Ostergaard for the win, whilst Wilson-Dean’s chase of Lawson looked set to pay dividends when he dived through on the last bend – only to earn himself a disqualification for putting both wheels onto the grass on the exit of the turn. Delighted Panthers co-promoter Ged Rathbone said: “It was an impressive performance from us. We had to stay focused, there were a couple of times that Lakeside could have come back into it, but the lads stuck to it and we got the result we wanted. “They are really dialling into the track now, and the likes of Bradley and Tofty are forming a fantastic pairing, so hopefully now we can go from strength to strength. “I think we’ve sent the message out to the rest of the league that we’re here for serious business, but there’s still plenty to race for and we’ll keep our feet firmly on the ground. “We said at the beginning of the season with our league form that we’ve been too slow starters every year. It was something we had to address, we’ve done it, and hopefully now the lads will get stronger still as the season goes on.” PETERBOROUGH 52: Ulrich Ostergaard 12, Bradley Wilson-Dean 11, Scott Nicholls 9, Michael Palm Toft 7+3, Simon Lambert 6+2, Tom Bacon 5, Ellis Perks 2+1. LAKESIDE 38: Richard Lawson 15, Adam Ellis 11, Nick Morris 5+1, Zach Wajtknecht 4, Ben Morley 2, Alfie Bowtell 1+1, Kyle Newman r/r.

Pleased to say the full catering offer is in place for tonight!

PETERBOROUGH Speedway wish to advise supporters of admission arrangements for tonight’s meeting against Lakeside (7.30pm).Due to a major event taking place during the day at the East of England Arena, entry to the venue for speedway administration staff is slightly delayed. Turnstiles for speedway will be open by 6.30pm but we would recommend supporters do not arrive very early as there is likely to be congestion with other visitors leaving the site.Additionally, we must advise in advance that catering facilities may not be available due to the overlap of events in the afternoon and evening. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Danny’s GSA is 7.33 from 1st July

Any move into the PL by Lasse will be on a converted CL average as that will be his most recent MA

European U21 semifinal in Czech Republic on Saturday

Art 19.7.3 and Art 16.1 give priority to CL meetings over NDL meetings. http://www.britishspeedway.co/2018_speedway_regulations_online.pdf

No relevance directly, but it shows a more realistic ranking when the number of meetings is disparate.

Peterborough are +5 - home loss, 4 point away win, away draw, two away ‘consolation points’.

Ulrich will not be riding at Redcar on Thursday.

Peterborough do have two ambulances in attendance, however it is a medical decision whether to call and transfer to a County ambulance. Cost does not enter the equation where our medical cover is concerned.

Thanks. The options are a PL only rider of 5.7 or below, a CL rider of 7.41 or below, or RR. Rule out all the riders already racing and go from there.

Average too high

Yes Not the case Yes, but the top three in the averages, not necessarily the heatleaders on the night.

Yes if their average fits - 5.7 or lower

As are Ipswich, Edinburgh, Sheffield and Glasgow