SPEEDWAY: Peterborough Panther Perry wants Rebel revenge

Tom Perry hopes to continue a sparkling start to his Peterborough Panthers career by putting one of his former clubs to the sword.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Apr 2016, 16:51 BST
Updated 22nd Apr 2016, 17:54 BST
Tom PerryTom Perry
Tom Perry

The reserve ace has been a revelation in the opening weeks of the 2016 season and contributed another useful 7+1 haul as the city team triumphed 53-40 on Thursday (April 21).

That victory catapulted Panthers clear at the top of the early-season standings ahead of the visit of Somerset to the East of England Showground on Sunday (April 24, 5pm).

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Perry spent 18 months as a Rebels rider before eventually being dropped and said: “I definitely want to prove a point on Sunday.

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Tom Perry in action.Tom Perry in action.
Tom Perry in action.

“I had a tough time down at Somerset with a few injuries that knocked my confidence.

“They dropped me in the end as I wasn’t riding too well, but Peterborough have given me the chance to come back into the Premier League and I’m very grateful for that.

“They have also filled me with confidence. The team management and promotion are always 100 per cent behind you whether you’ve had a good ride or a bad one.”

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Perry reckons a new relaxed attitude is also helping to contribute towards his success on the track.

Tom Perry in action.Tom Perry in action.
Tom Perry in action.

The 23 year-old rode full-time in the past, but now fits his racing around a full-time job in a Wolverhampton bank.

He added: “I was putting too much pressure on myself in the past and that really knocked me back.

“These days I just go into meetings with the aim of enjoying them. I’ve got a full-time job away from the sport now so it is not about earning money.

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“I’m just loving my racing again and all I want to do is be on the bike.

“I know a lot of people have tipped us to do well, but I don’t think about things like that.

“The only thing I focus on is winning races and trying to help the team win meetings.

“We’re top of the league at the moment and we all want to stay there.”

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Somerset will be contesting their first Premier League meeting of the season on Sunday.

Garry May’s side are one of the most successful in the second tier of the sport after capturing team honours in each of the last four seasons.

They have something of a new look this term with Kiwi prospect Bradley Wilson Dean and highly-regarded Aussie talent Jake Allen two interesting new recruits in a team skippered by another man from Down Under, Josh Grajczonek.

TEAMS

PANTHERS: Ulrich Ostergaard, Michael Palm Toft, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, Simon Lambert, Nicklas Porsing, Emil Grondal, Tom Perry.

SOMERSETL Josh Grajczonek, Jake Allen, Charles Wright, Paul Starke, Rohan Tungate, Bradley Wilson Dean, Zach Wajtknecht.

Related topics:Premier LeaguePeterborough PanthersSomerset