KING’S Lynn make a welcome return to the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday with the first of two vital A47 clashes with Peterborough in the space of five days.

The MacInnes Stars haven’t raced in the Sports Insure Premiership since May 1 and have only completed one home league match so far in 2023, that being a hard-fought 49-41 win over Wolverhampton.

They now face the Panthers twice in less than a week, with the return fixture taking place at the East of England Arena next Monday (May 22) at the start of a busy and regular schedule of racing, during which they will look to build momentum.

Boss Alex Brady has stressed the importance of the upcoming matches, insisting that a maximum five points has to be the target against a Panthers side who are yet to get off the mark this season.

Skipper Josh Pickering remains on the sidelines this week but plans to practice in Poland on Saturday ahead of potentially racing there on Sunday, and if that is successful he will be back for the away match at Peterborough.

In the meantime former King’s Lynn captain Lewis Kerr, who has been in good form for Sheffield, guests at reserve with the Stars otherwise at full strength.

There will be plenty of Adrian Flux Arena experience in the visitors’ ranks as the Panthers include three riders who were part of the Stars’ set-up last season.

Niels-Kristian Iversen and Richie Worrall both signed for Peterborough in the winter, but the club have struggled for cover after the much-vaunted return of Nicki Pedersen to UK racing came to an end after less than a lap. However, with last year’s Stars No.1 Richard Lawson booked to guest, the visitors should certainly pose a threat.

Brady said: “This is where the season starts for me, and I think this next week is going to shape what happens for us going forwards.

“We’ve got to be targeting five points from these home and away matches. We need to get the points on the board, and five points across the two meetings would make a massive difference to us in the league table. We don’t want to be playing catch-up, which was our problem last season.

“I firmly believe we can turn things around, and the result we had against Wolverhampton proved what we can do. I know there was a disappointment against Sheffield in the interim period, but we have to regard this as a fresh start.

“We really need a big crowd through the gate, the support means everything to us, and I know they would want us to beat Peterborough as well.

“Without the support there’s no sport and without the sport we’re not doing anything, so we really need the King’s Lynn faithful to get behind us, and I’m sure they will do that.”

Peterborough also include Sam Hagon as a guest at reserve with their regular Rising Star Jordan Jenkins ruled out due to concussion.

*UPDATE: Richie Worrall ruled out on Thursday morning due to a shoulder injury - Peterborough will use rider replacement.

KING’S LYNN: Nicolai Klindt, Thomas Jorgensen, Frederik Jakobsen, Krzysztof Kasprzak, Michael Palm Toft, Lewis Kerr, Jason Edwards.
PETERBOROUGH: Richard Lawson, Benjamin Basso, Richie Worrall R/R, Hans Andersen, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Ben Cook, Sam Hagon.