The Danish rider arrived at Panthers in the winter with ambitions of establishing himself as one of the Elite League's big-hitters, but things have not gone according to plan.

Risager endured a torrid first few months as a Panthers rider and only a drop to reserve, combined with some off-track team changes, has sparked a revival.

But the 21 year-old is now a man in prime form and is eyeing a return to the main body of the city side at the end of this month.

"I remember telling everyone at the Press & Practice Day that my aim for the season was to challenge Kenneth Bjerre for the role of second heat leader," said Risager.

"So to find myself down at reserve was disappointing, but I am getting there and know I can improve further.

"I have been going well on the continent so it was really frustrating to be struggling in England, but I always knew I had the ability to score well as I have done it in the past.

"I made some changes to my team which have helped and now it is a case of trying to make up for lost time.

"I want to be back in the main body of the team as quickly as possible and I still have high hopes of challenging Danny King for the position of third heat leader."

Risager's most immediate priority is ensuring Panthers don't fall to a third successive home defeat when hosting Belle Vue in an Elite League B fixture at the Showground tonight (7.30pm).

Despite the city side currently languishing worryingly close to the first Elite League relegation battle and being a whopping 11 points off the play-off zone, Risager still has high hopes of conjuring a climb up the table.

He added: "We need to pick up convincing wins against Belle Vue and then Wolverhampton next Thursday to give ourselves some confidence and get the fans believing in us again.

"I still think we can make the play-offs, but we need to get a new rider in as soon as possible rather than having to rely on guests and our number eight."

Risager will have yet another different partner in the reserve ranks tonight after team boss Trevor Swales drafted in King's Lynn youngster Simon Lambert, from Gosberton Risegate near Spalding, to guest at number seven.

Belle Vue will bear little resemblance to the team that defeated Panthers 52-41 in Manchester on Monday.

Charlie Gjedde, who top-scored at Kirkmanshulme Lane, is absent after his partner gave birth yesterday.

The Aces will operate rider replacement for him and have drafted in Eastbourne youngster Lewis Bridger as a guest for injured Lukasz Jankowski.

And down at reserve the visitors will track Rye House rider Robert Mear after Nick Simmons again pulled out with injury following a weekend crash.

Jonas Raun has been dropped in favour of another young Dane, Patrick Hougaard, who makes his debut tonight.




CLAUS Vissing is ready to take on the next big task in a year full of mammoth challenges.