FIXTURES FOR 2017: Panthers face Scunthorpe at home in Championship opener
The city club’s full 2017 fixture list has been released this morning (January 24).
They face Scunthorpe in their first competitive meeting of the season. The two sides clash at the East of England Showground on Friday, March 24 with a return date in Lincolnshire nine days later.
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Hide AdPanthers also face highly-rated Ipswich and Sheffield in the early part of the campaign while also having to negotiate a KO Cup tie against a revamped Redcar side.
Rathbone said: “The riders can’t wait for the season to start - and I’m sure everyone else feels the same.
“We’re all looking forward to what is likely to be the most unpredictable and exciting year for some time.
“I’m expecting all 10 teams at our level to be very closely matched and that means any of them can beat any other - home or away - on any given day.
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Hide Ad“The opening few weeks will give us a good idea of where we’re at. Our aim will be to qualify for the play-offs and I’m sure the nine other clubs will have the same goal.
“Whatever happens, we’re looking to be professional, consistent and enjoy ourselves.”
Panthers will hold their Press & Practice event on Friday, March 17 and are working to secure Challenge fixtures – both home and away, and against Premiership clubs – for the following two days.
The club stage the British Under 21 semi-final on April 11 and will also lay on two other national meetings that month.
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Hide AdThe opening round of the British Youth Championships is to be split across two dates at Alwalton.
The 500cc and 250cc classes will take to the track on April 9 after a Panthers’ cup tie against Redcar, and the 150cc and 125cc classes follow an East Anglian derby against Ipswich.
The club will also stage the Championship Fours with the date of that event still to be confirmed.
PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS FIXTURE LIST 2017-01-24
DATE OPPONENTS COMPETITION VENUE
Fri 17 Press & Practice Day
Fri 24 Scunthorpe Championship HOME
APRIL
Sun 02 Scunthorpe Championship Away
Sun 09 Redcar KO Cup HOME
Tue 11 British Under 21 Championship semi-final
Thu 13 Redcar KOC Away
Sat 15 Ipswich Championship Away
Sun 16 Ipswich Championship HOME
Thu 20 Sheffield Championship Away
MAY
Sun 07 Edinburgh Championship HOME
Sat 13 Newcastle Championship HOME
Fri 19 Berwick Championship HOME
Sat 20 Berwick Championship Away
Sun 21 Newcastle Championship Away
Fri 26 Edinburgh Championship Away
Sat 27 Glasgow Championship Away
Mon 29 Workington Championship HOME
JUNE
Thu 08 Redcar Championship Away
Sun 11 Berwick Championship HOME
Sun 18 Sheffield Championship HOME
Thu 22 Sheffield Championship Away
Sun 25 Glasgow Championship HOME
JULY
Sun 02 Ipswich Championship HOME -
Sat 08 Glasgow Championship Away -
Fri 14 Sheffield Championship HOME -
Sat 15 Workington Championship Away -
Thu 20 Redcar Championship Away -
Sun 23 Redcar Championship HOME -
AUGUST
Sun 06 Edinburgh Championship HOME
Fri 11 Edinburgh Championship Away
Sat 12 Berwick Championship Away
Sun 13 Newcastle Championship Away
Wed 16 Scunthorpe Championship HOME
Sun 20 Scunthorpe Championship Away
Thu 24 Ipswich Championship Away
Wed 30 Newcastle Championship HOME
SEPTEMBER
Sat 02 Workington Championship Away
Sun 03 Glasgow Championship HOME
Sun 10 Workington Championship HOME
TBC: Redcar (H).
* Panthers will stage the first round of the British Youth Championships.
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Hide AdThe 500cc and 250cc classes take place on April 9 and the 150cc and 125cc brackets on April 16. They will follow club meetings on both of those dates.
* Panthers will again stage the Championship Fours, but the date is yet to be confirmed.