FANS’ favourite Lewis Blackbird is on his way back to Peterborough . . . and he hopes to be better than ever.

Blackbird was a star turn during his debut season in Panthers colours in 2014 even though it came to an abrupt halt due to a double fracture of the ankle and lower leg sustained in a crash when making his debut in the Danish League.

But he has already fully recovered and is raring to go again next term when he will have a heat-leader berth in his sights.

Blackbird said: “First and foremost I’m delighted everyone pulled together to ensure the club survived.

“Peterborough is a great track with top fans and I loved every minute of my time riding here last year.

“It ended pretty badly with injury, but I’m determined to come back an even better rider and I’m looking forward to working with the new promotion.

“My target is to become a heat leader and I’ve got a lot of things planned that will hopefully help me continue to improve.”

Blackbird’s return will come as no surprise after his high-scoring exploits last season when he added close to one-and-a-half points to his starting average.

He will slot into the main body of the Peterborough side for 2015 on a mark of 6.30 and club chief Ged Rathbone is delighted to have wrapped up a deal for another rising British star within 24 hours of tying down teenage talent Robert Lambert.

Rathbone said: “Lewis impressed everyone with his performance last season and his injury became a turning point in our season.

“I’m convinced the campaign would have ended very differently had it not been for losing Lewis at the beginning of August.

“We have two of the best up-and-coming British riders in Lewis and Robert and that should be an exciting prospect for everyone.”

Blackbird becomes the fourth rider to be handed a place in next season’s line-up, joining Lambert, Adam Roynon and skipper Ulrich Ostergaard.

That leaves three spaces still to fill with more signing activity expected this week.