Panthers pair chase individual success

Panthers are one of five clubs with two representatives in the showpiece event at Owlerton.

Both will travel with high hopes of making an impression, with Palm Toft having returned to action this week after missing Panthers’ win at Ipswich last Thursday, and playing his part in a run of success for King’s Lynn in the Premiership.

Nicholls, meanwhile, will be competing in the second-tier Individual for the first time in his illustrious career.

After his initial spell with the Panthers in the old Division Two in 1994, he was a top-flight rider only from 1995-2017, although he did take Championship guest bookings last year.

He said: “I go to Sheffield determined to win. I enjoy being back in the Championship going to places I haven’t been for so long. It’s like going back to the grass roots and that can be more satisfying.

“It’s going to be a tough meeting, it’s actually only a handful of riders short of being the same line-up as for the Premiership Riders’ title, so it’s a hard field.

“But it’s obviously something I would love to win.”

Line-up: Michael Palm Toft (Peterborough), Charles Wright (Sheffield), Ben Barker (Redcar), Stuart Robson (Newcastle), Aaron Summers (Berwick), Kevin Doolan (Berwick), Richard Lawson (Lakeside), Ricky Wells (Edinburgh), Nico Covatti (Ipswich), Ty Proctor (Workington), Erik Riss (Edinburgh), Craig Cook (Glasgow), Kyle Howarth (Sheffield), Scott Nicholls (Peterborough), Josh Auty (Scunthorpe), Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe).