Flyin' Ryan's spitting image can be a bargain
HE shares a first name with one Peterborough icon – Zdenek 'Sam' Tesar – and is a spitting image of another – Ryan Sullivan.

And if he can go on to be half as successful as those past Panthers greats, Zdenek 'Sam' Simota will be a very happy man.

The Czech second string has arrived on loan from Reading and is seen as a bargain signing on a low 4.44 average.

The man himself is certainly confident of fulfilling pre-season predictions of being a man to watch in the city side.

"I am really looking forward to riding for Peterborough," said Simota. "I am used to riding on big, fast tracks in my own country so I hope I can get many points here.

"I can usually start quite quickly and I like to ride round the outside as well, so hopefully I can pass a few riders too.

"I knew I wanted to stay in the Elite League so when Reading dropped into the Premier I was very happy to come to Peterborough.

"It will be good to ride here for a year and maybe I can stay longer if it goes well."

Simota will partner Panthers skipper Hans Andersen in races this season while wearing the number two race-jacket. It will not be a new role for a man who teamed up with former world champion Greg Hancock at Reading in the early part of last season.

Simota added: "It is good to be on the track with top riders and I always try to help my team-mates as much as possible."

And Simota is determined to exorcise his past Showground demons.
He was part of the Reading team sensationally beaten here in the 2006 Grand Final, although Simota's night had ended long before Panthers pulled off their meteoric fightback.

Simota had been taken to hospital with a pelvic injury after a heat eight pile-up ended his season.

It is a crash he recalls clearly. "The other guys – Richard Hall and Travis McGowan – fell in front of me and a bike hit me," added Simota.
"It was a bad crash but I will not be thinking about it when I am riding the track."