New Peterborough Panthers boss has scratched an irritating itch and he expects to be successful again

The city club’s new team boss admits he was hungry to return to speedway management after a couple of years away.

The former Great Britain and King’s Lynn chief succeeds Carl Johnson in the Panthers hotseat for 2020 with the latter man focusing on his co-promoter role.

And Lyon likes the look of the team that has been built for the club’s 50th anniversary season which has been delayed until mid-April at the earliest by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve had a couple of years out of the sport,” admitted Lyon (pictured inset right) at the club’s press and practice event last Saturday. “But I’m hungry and ready to go again, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“I was itching to get back involved in team management again. I made it known I was interested, I got the phone call from Peterborough and the rest is history as they say.

“We have a team full of experience and which looks very solid with strength in all areas. I know all of the boys already and have worked with quite a few of them in the past. It’s an interesting mix and I’m sure it will be good.

“I’ve been relatively successful in the past and hopefully I can replicate that here when we get racing.”

Panthers endured a rotten return to the sport’s top-flight last year when being plagued by serious injuries and finished adrift at the bottom of the standings.

Only three members of the 2019 team return with Hans Andersen, Rohan Tungate and Scott Nicholls back on board.

Seven-time British champion Nicholls was initially overlooked before answering an 11th hour call from club bosses after New Zealand title-holder Bradley Wilson-Dean was ruled out on doctors’ advice.

Ulrich Ostergaard, who raced in the final few meetings of last term, has also been brought back at reserve.

They are joined by new number one Niels Kristian Iversen, another former British champion Chris Harris and Michael Palm Toft.

Lyon added: “It is important to bring a feelgood factor back to the club after last season being so tough and I think people are quite pleased with the team we have on paper.

“We need to get off to a good start once we are able to go racing and try to build up a home-track advantage.

“It’s a team we believe is going to do some damage this year and hopefully the people of Peterborough come out and support us, and we can deliver for them by entertaining and getting good results.”

The impact of the coronavirus was so great only four riders, Iversen, Palm Toft, Harris and Nicholls were able to make it to press and practice day. Tungate, Andersen and Ostergaard were all stuck abroad.

The first six scheduled Panthers meetings have already been postponed.