mudflaps

‘Every man will fight for every lap of every race’ Anders Thomsen in action against Edinburgh. Ged Rathbone has told his Panthers riders to do whatever it takes to reach the final of the Premier League play-offs. The city club travel to Scotland tomorrow for a semi-final second leg showdown against reigning champions Edinburgh. Panthers will cross the border in possession of a two-point aggregate advantage after a 46-44 triumph in the opening leg at the East of England Showground last Sunday. And they will make the long trek buoyed by a league triumph at Armadale earlier in the season. Panthers ran out 45-44 winners in a league clash there back in August - admittedly inspired by a high-scoring performance from a guest, Ricky Wells - and are confident of putting on another super show to keep their title dream alive. Supremo Rathbone said: “The objective was to ensure we go to Edinburgh with an advantage and we have that - albeit a small one. “We were huge underdogs before the tie began and I’m sure that is probably even more the case now, but we know we are capable of performing well up there. “We have proved it once already this season and we are determined to do it again to reach the final. “Every man will fight for every lap of every race. We will do whatever it takes to win as long as it is within the rules. “Edinburgh are wary about the threat we pose and the Monarchs promotion are well aware they are going to be in a tough meeting tomorrow. They are hot favourites and under all the pressure. “There is absolutely no chance of us going up there and rolling over. Anyone who thinks that will be the case is very much mistaken. “We have been on a terrific journey this season and we certainly don’t want it to end tomorrow night. We want it to go all the way to the title.” Rathbone was quick to admit Panthers cannot afford to be second-best out of the starts as they were for the vast majority of the opening leg. But he believes the tight confines of Armadale will work in their favour in that respect. He added: “I don’t know what Edinburgh do, or what they use, at the starts, but their gating was different class in the first leg. “We have plenty of decent trappers in our team, but Edinburgh riders were quicker away from the tapes time and again. “We certainly can’t let that happen again in the second leg and I don’t think we will. Armadale is a much tighter track with a much shorter run to the opening corner so I expect the elbows to be out and plenty of incidents to happen. “We have to let the Edinburgh riders know they are in a meeting and show we want it more than them. “They have guys like Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen who are off to the Australian GP in a couple of weeks time. They are not going to want to put everything on the line and risk getting injured.” Panthers will again bring in Ipswich rider Rohan Tungate as guest number one while Edinburgh expect to have German ace Kevin Wolbert available. He missed the opening leg with an arm problem. http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/every-man-will-fight-for-every-lap-of-every-race-1-7000552

crikey Rob you need to get out more! All the best FP

crikey grandad you still around? thought you'd be pushing up daisy's by now!!

I'm sure I saw a certain Mr Bratley in the pits before the meeting unless he has a better looking older brother!

Mate.. Mine eyes are dim I cannot see I had not brought my specs with me! I haaaad nooot brooought myyyy speeeecs with me! Thanks for the clarification!! p.s and I was sitting behind Neil Watson!!

yeah that's why I think he got fenced and gave up! could be wrong though.. was a shame cos it looked like we were going to be on a 5-1.. Nice pics mate!

enjoyable meeting once again and very good crowd. great fightback by the Panthers love watching Grondal and Thomsen.. Not sure what happened to Barker in heat 15 was he fenced or did he shed a chain? fingers crossed for the return leg... we need our reserves to get amongst the points big time !

Oh crikey!! Not sure!

yeah don't get me wrong I like the guy and can see why the fans love him - there just seems to be an inability to effectively handle a "fast" speedway bike!

other than this one!! 6. Konopka

scared the guy that tried to kidnap Process Ann on the mall in 1974!

come on mate - we sat behind you and you correctly corrected me about the potential semi final opponents being Edinburgh rather than Zummerset!

Close but no cigar!!

crikey you are soooo bitter!! Move on - there nothing for you to see on any Panthers thread you loser!!

25 minute delay for MPT sliding off on heat one was a little tedious - certainly didn't need to see the arrival of the ambulance - whose driver was obviously bored! if he's having treatment stick a reserve in...! Had a couple of newbies with me - they couldn't work out why it took 2 hours and 40 minutes for 15 minutes of racing - if we had finished any later I was going to remain in the grandstand and watch the Lunar Eclipse! but I would have had to asked Neil Waston to move!!

highlights of the evening for me were. a) Rafa Konopka walking away from his horrendous crash in Heat 11 - looked very bad at first when he followed his bike in under the air fence. My mate saying is that Pam St Clemence helping repair the air fence on turn 4! c) John Bates stunning ride in heat 14! d) Panthers smashing up the Tigers to progress to the semi finals.. Finally what a great crowd and atmosphere - pity it took 50 minutes to complete the first 2 heats... What really needed was a 15 minutes interval break after heat 10!

surely we will be okay with R/R at number 1 , especially if Garrity is out also ... Shame though as it could detract from the levels of entertainment.

TARGET: 2,000 Tuesday September 22, 2015 PROMOTER Ged Rathbone wants the people of Peterborough and beyond to pack the East of England Showground for the club's huge play-off battle. The Readypower Panthers host Sheffield in a vital quarter-final second leg on Sunday (September 27, 5pm). They go into battle holding a 46-44 aggregate advantage after a stunning comeback success in South Yorkshire last Thursday in the first leg of a stormy tie. And Supremo Rathbone believes an army of home supporters can roar his team to a semi-final spot by creating a daunting Alwalton atmosphere. He said: "The fans have backed us superbly all season and proved that we did the right thing by stepping in last winter to keep the sport going in Peterborough. "Our crowds have been hovering around the 1,000 mark for the majority of meetings, but I really want to see the place packed on Sunday. "As a promotion we have delivered on everything we said we would by putting together a terrific team and, despite all the bad injuries and bad luck that has come our way, making it into the play-offs. "Hopefully the people of Peterborough - and the surrounding areas - can show their appreciation by turning out in force to help us take the next step towards the title. "I'll be absolutely over the moon if we can get a crowd of around 2,000 people and that can make a huge difference to the riders." And Rathbone reckons another thrilling chapter of this play-off grudge match awaits those who descend on the East of England Showground. He added: "It has the makings of being the best meeting anywhere in the country all season. "There have been fireworks off the track and I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of them on it as well. "We're in a great position after producing such a brilliant comeback at Sheffield in the first leg, but they will be desperate to pay us back by winning at our place. "We've got a big job to finish and we need as many people behind us as possible." Peterborough bosses are still mulling over their options for the number one spot. They can draft in a guest or utilise the rider replacement facility to fill the void left by injured captain Ulrich Ostergaard. It is hoped the Premier League Riders' Championship king will be present on Sunday to provide backing from the pits. http://www.peterboroughpanthers.co/news.php?extend.2642

the worst piece of business ever done by Mr Frost! Couldn't agree more - always been a whining Aussie whinger! who tends to goes missing in important meetings when the track is wet!.

PMSL!!! 1. Troy Batchelor 0, R, R = 0

comfortable Panthers win... 52-38...!

well said that man.....!

yeah and then you woke up and found Bobby Ewing in your shower!!

them junior aspirins must be strong!

good job! All PL reserves should be british imo!