Peterborough Panthers boosted by Rohan’s return and he’s been urged to ‘slam in the big scores’

The Australian racer becomes the fifth confirmed member of the city side for the 2020 campaign which is now only a few weeks away.

Tungate also represented Panthers last season when they were cast adrift at the bottom of the table during a nightmare return to the top-flight.

The 30 year-old saw his average drop by more than a point to a final figure of 6.59 in 2019, but he clearly did enough to convince team boss Carl Johnson he deserves another stint at the East of England Arena in the club’s 50th anniversary season.

Johnson said: “Rohan showed last season that he can be one of the top riders in the SGB Premiership.

“It was tough for him at times – especially when things weren’t going his way in the early weeks – but he turned it around.

“Some of his performances at the Showground were outstanding and there is a real racer inside him.

“I’ve wanted him back since the moment last season finished and we’ll do all we can to help him slam in the big scores more consistently.

“A key thing for me is that Rohan believes in himself a little bit more and adopts the attitude that he is one of the best riders over here.”

Tungate joins two other 2019 riders – Hans Andersen and Bradley Wilson-Dean in the Panthers side along with Chris Harris and Michael Palm Toft.

They still have two other slots to fill and have been widely linked with a swoop for locally-based Grand Prix ace Niels Kristian Iversen.

The Danish rider was part of the club’s last title-winning team of 2006 alongside countryman Andersen.

Club chiefs have also suggested they may seek to bring in a newcomer to British speedway to boost their asset base.

Johnson added: “We’ve had the riders we want in mind for many weeks – even months.

“We’ve had to wait for a few details to be finalised here and there, but we’re now in a position when we can get the full team announced to the fans sooner rather than later.”

Five of the seven SGB Premiership clubs – Belle Vue, King’s Lynn, Sheffield, Swindon and Wolverhampton – have long since completed their line-ups for 2020.

Ipswich are the only other side yet to be completed. They, like Panthers, have five riders in place.

The Witches had also signed British showman Danny Ayres before his tragic passing recently.

Panthers’ campaign begins with a 50th anniversary individual meeting at Alwalton on March 15 with their first Premiership Supporters’ Cup fixture at home to King’s Lynn following four days later on March 19.