PETERBOROUGH saw their demanding run of away fixtures begin with a heavy defeat on Thursday night.
The ‘T Balfe Construction’ Panthers were beaten 57-36 at Ipswich in an East Anglian derby clash as they missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League.
That was despite a fine performance from Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, who provided three of Peterborough’s four race wins on his way to a 15-point haul boosted by a successful tactical ride.
The only other triumph arrived courtesy of short-term recruit Ashley Morris, who inspired a 4-2 in heat two – one of just two advantages the visitors managed. He also featured in the other, in heat 12, along with Busk Jakobsen.
The remaining five Peterborough riders could only manage a combined 14 points with skipper Ulrich Ostergaard among them.
He admitted: “To lose this heavily in a local derby, and at a track where we have gone pretty well in the past, is very disappointing.
“The track was a bit tricky and a few of us got caught out a times. I was one of the guys to make a mistake when I had a crash.
“Nikolaj was really on it and Ashley also did well, but the rest of us didn’t get the points we should.
“Hopefully we can make up for this result by putting on a good show in the Premier League Fours on Sunday.”
Peterborough were undone by a series of five Ipswich 5-1s in the space of six races last night.
Returning reserve Zdenek Holub and skipper Ostergaard were both excluded during that run for crashes in heats eight and nine respectively.
The spell of home dominance was only interrupted when Busk Jakobsen donned the black and white helmet to secure a 6-3 for Panthers in heat seven.
But Peterborough’s fate was eventually sealed with four heats to spare as Ben Barker, who had a spell with the club last season, inspired a 4-2 in the 11th contest that left the Witches, for whom British champion Danny King roared to a full maximum and second string James Sarjeant claimed a paid full-house, in an unassailable position.
Peterborough now turn their attention to the biggest-ever Premier League Fours extravaganza at the East of England Showground this weekend.
They are then back on the road in the Premier League next week when travelling to Sheffield on Thursday (July 28). A long trip to Workington follows on Sunday, July 31.
SCORES
IPSWICH: Danny King 15 (max), Danny Ayres (guest) 10+1, Morten Risager 9, James Sarjeant 8+4 (paid max), Ben Barker 8, Nico Covatti 7+3, Connor Mountain 0.
PETERBOROUGH ‘T BALFE CONSTRUCTION’ PANTHERS: Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 15, Ashley Morris 7, Lasse Bjerre (guest) 5+1, Ulrich Ostergaard 4+1, Zdenek Holub 2+1, Emil Grondal 2, Tom Perry 0.
