King's Lynn Stars turn up the heat on Premiership rivals Peterborough

Premiership

King’s Lynn Stars 55 Peterborough Panthers 35

Stars’ Great Britain duo Robert Lambert and 10-point top scorer Craig Cook rode through the pain barrier to star in their derby on Thursday at the Adrian Flux Arena.

Reserve Lewis Kerr was, with 9+2, joint second home scorer with Lambert.

Lambert and Cook were declared fit after their collision in Saturday’s Speedway of Nations World Final in Russia, while Thomas Jorgensen came back after a shoulder injury and fellow Dane Nicklas Porsing returned to the club, so Lynn were back to full strength.

Lambert shrugged off a stiff neck while Cook was coping with a wrist injury.

The new Poultec Stars reserve signing Porsing was beginning his third spell with the Saddlebow Road stadium side and bosses were expecting a renewed rider after bringing his own equipment from Poland.

Peterborough booked Poole’s Josh Grajczonek for injured skipper Hans Andersen; Ty Proctor returned for the first time since switching from Lynn recently; and Simon Lambert, who has just finished another spell with the Stars, stepped in for Josh Bates at reserve.

Australian Proctor used his local knowledge to win the shared 3-3 opening heat from Michael Palm Toft and Robert Lambert, who was warned to stay still at the tapes by referee Dave Watters.

Away guest Simon Lambert took a 15m penalty after bursting through the second race tapes, and was last behind team mate Aaron Summers and 5-1 maximum Lynn pair Kerr and Porsing.

Panthers captain Scott Nicholls also wrecked the tapes, so S. Lambert came in during a Heat 3 Stars 4-2 won by Thomas Jorgensen.

The next two outings were shared with S. Lambert retiring on his third race in three heats, then Proctor – on a mission – picking up his second victory.

Summers led Heat 6, but Robert Lambert quickly overtook him to speed home in Lynn’s second 4-2.

Panthers bagged their first heat advantage in Heat 8 following Proctor’s hat-trick and the Aussie immediately went out as a tactical sub replacing Aaron Summers. Lynn’s Erik Riss went into the third bend fence and was excluded, while Proctor won the re-run for the visitors’ second 4-2.

Palm Toft superbly went from fourth to second by the second lap to back up winner Lambert as Lynn managed their second 5-1 to leave the scores 34-26 at the Heat 10 interval.

The hosts made it two maximums in a row from Craig Cook and Kerr with Proctor’s winning run ending on a retirement on lap two.

Guest Grajczonek had a nightmare, and he pulled up shortly after the start as Cook and skipper Lambert romped to a Heat 13 5-1 to wrap up overall victory.

Kerr and Jorgensen hammered in another maximum, Lynn’s fifth.

Summers had to begin off 15 metres in the final nominated outing which was won by Tungate ahead of Palm Toft and Riss.

Rain – forecast for ten to nine – fell at 8.30pm briefly between Heats 8 and 9.

Lynn: Robert Lambert (captain) 9+2, Michael Palm Toft 9+1, Erik Riss 7+1, Thomas Jorgensen 8+2, Craig Cook 10, Lewis Kerr 9+2, Nicklas Porsing 3+2. Fastest time: Heat 6, by Robert Lambert, 58.17 seconds.

Peterborough: Josh Grajczonek (guest) 1, Ty Proctor 12, Scott Nicholls (capt) 2, Charles Wright 7, Rohan Tungate 8, Aaron Summers 5+1, Simon Lambert (guest) 0. Fastest time: Heat 7, Wright, 58.18secs.

Lynn skipper Lambert’s mother Helen will be performing a skydive for the Keeping Abreast charity at Beccles next Friday. Half the proceeds will go to multi-world speedway champion Greg Hancock’s wife who has cancer.