Palm Toft is delighted to be back among friends

Speedway

Returning star Michael Palm Toft admits he loves being part of the Peterborough Panthers family.

The 25 year-old became the first name on the city club’s teamsheet for 2016 when agreeing a deal with club bosses late last week.

Palm Toft returns on a 5.96 average after piling more than a point onto his figure in his debut Panthers season - and he is aiming even higher next term as the club bid to build on their charge to the Premier League play-off semi-finals.

MPT said: “At some clubs it is every man for himself, but there is a great togetherness at Peterborough. The riders are friends as well as team-mates and it feels great to be part of a team like that.

“It is a club with a lot of passion where everyone – the promotion, the fans and the riders – are all on the same page and the spirit is brilliant.

“I loved being here last season and I can’t wait to be back. I don’t know the plans for the rest of the team, but I’m sure they will put a good one-toseven together.

“We did really well to reach the semi-finals of the play-offs despite all the injuries we suffered last season.”

Promoter Ged Rathbone insists Palm Toft was an obvious starting point for the club’s team-building and he revealed that working to solve the Dane’s gating problems will be a top priority ahead of the new season.

Rathbone said: “There are a number of possible routes we could go down with the team for next season, but Michael featured in all of them.

“He is a very popular and exciting rider, and the fans probably love the fact he tends to miss the gate because it creates plenty of excitement for them as he works his way through from the back.

“But we need to improve his starting to make life easier for him. We’ll be working hard with him ahead of the season to try to get it right and help him increase his average.” ENGLAND TRIALS Three of Hunts’ talented young prospects – Lewis Baker, Robert Elmore and Harry Ward – have been named in the England indoor under 25 international trial at Northampton on November 22.

Spalding pair Ashley Caress and Jordan Philpott are also included.

There are three Spaldi ng youngsters i n the women’s junior indoor trial – Lucy Cooke, Ruby Hill and Chelsea Tomlin – at Erewash on December 12.

Hunts pair Nicky Brett and Alex Walton have been named in the England men’s senior trial at Northampton on December 6, along with Spalding’s Graham Smith and Matt Whyers. INTERNATIONAL OPEN Local bowler Nicky Brett begins his defence of the Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open in Perth on Monday (November 9) and not last Monday as stated in last week’s column.