Dersingham speedway rider Lewis Kerr 'gutted' King’s Lynn Stars missed Premiership play-offs

Dersingham speedway rider Lewis Kerr says he’s “gutted” King’s Lynn have missed the Premiership play-offs, with injuries coming at precisely the wrong time.

Stars skipper Robert Lambert, Michael Palm Toft and Nicklas Porsing have all picked up injuries during the last two months.

Craig Cook withdrew due to illness in a defeat at Wolverhampton last week on a night that effectively ended Lynn’s chances of getting into the playoffs.

And now this week Thomas Jorgensen has been added to a long injury list.

Kerr said: “Everything that could’ve happened at Wolves the other night, did happen, and also with Dale (Allitt) being there on that night. It just wasn’t to be.”

Co-promoter Allitt has himself gradually been introduced back into the fold following serious illness at the beginning of the campaign, and was team manager at Wolverhampton.

Kerr added:”It was good to see him back – it was like he’d never been away.

“It was just one of those things. All of us were needed to get into the play-offs and then do something when you get there. We’re all gutted about that.

“I was there when ‘Tofty’ aggravated his injury at Eastbourne.”

Lynn still have the target of an unbeaten home run which they will protect next Monday (September 16) when they face Swindon, who are in the hunt for the league title.

Kerr said of the home target: “That’s the plan.

“We’re still unbeaten in the league and we want to preserve that – although you don’t get a trophy for doing that – without a doubt.”

Stars boss Peter Schroeck said: “My boys will be looking to end the season with some good performances.

“We face Swindon at home on Monday and we can still have a big say on whether they finish top of the table.”

“I’d urge all King’s Lynn fans to come along and get right behind us.”

Schroeck wants more consistency away from home as part of the Stars’ 2020 vision,

The Poultec Stars have had a torrid time on the road in 2019 after picking up just three points from 11 meetings, which has resulted in some of their riders making changes to equipment to try and resolve their gating issues away from home.

Schroeck said: “The boys are all racing for a team spot next year.

“We are going to have to look at a different strategy of how we are going to win away like we do at home.

“We are going to carry on doing what we have been doing at home because we have got something good, but it is not quite good enough to make an impact away.

“We just have to analyse the situation at the end of the season and maybe make one or two changes to be able to cope with going away.

“It is no good being at home scoring 12 or 14 points and nothing away, that is a big issue and we need to have more consistency.”