Bjerre will be back at Panthers in 2011

KENNETH Bjerre will be back at Peterborough next season.

And co-owner Rick Frost has challenged him to be the Readypower Panthers’ Leigh Adams!

Adams called time on his European career at the end of last month at the age of 39 after breaking all the Swindon club records for appearances and points.

World number seven Bjerre agreed a new contract over the weekend and will definitely be in the Readypower Panthers’ line-up when the 2011 campaign gets underway next March.

Frost said: “We have all seen what Leigh did for Swindon – Kenneth can do the same for us.”

Bjerre, 26, begins his fifth successive year with the East of England Showground outfit after establishing himself as an out-and-out number one last season.

He averaged over ten points a match and was ranked third in the Elite League averages behind Adams and Wolverhampton’s Fredrik Lindgren.

He was also voted Rider of the Year by the Peterborough management team and presented with the trophy at Saturday night’s successful Panthers’ 2010 Party.

Bjerre said: “I’m delighted to sign a new contract – I made it plain to everyone that I didn’t want to ride anywhere else.

“I was as disappointed as anyone that we didn’t win trophies this season and that’s something to go for next year.”

Kenneth has been joined at the club by his younger brother, 17-year-old Lasse who was formally introduced as a full asset at the Party.

He will continue racing in the Premier League next season but joins the ever-growing pool of exciting new racers on the club’s books.

Fellow Dane Rene Bach and Australian teenagers Dakota North and Taylor Poole form the backbone of a potential conveyor belt of top-flight talent.

FIRST season newcomer Krzysztof Buczkowski all but swept the board in Peterborough’s end of season awards.

The Polish star, who averaged nearly six points a match in his maiden full-time Elite League season, carried off a sackful of silverware at the 2010 Panthers’ Party.

He was voted Riders’ Rider of the Year by his teammates and also picked up the top honour as the 100 Club Rider of the Year.

On top of that he was voted Most Improved Rider of the Year and also won the special Barry McIntosh Trophy, in honour of the former fan and sponsor.

Buczek and fellow newcomer Norbert Kosciuch flew over from Poland specially for the final social event of the season.

They were joined by all the Panthers’ 2010 regulars – skipper Niels-Kristian Iversen, number one Kenneth Bjerre (the promotion’s Rider of the Year), Rory Schlein, Troy Batchelor and number eight Craig Cook.

Also present was new signing Lasse Bjerre while the only automatic choice missing was Frenchman Mathieu Tresarrieu who is still recovering from an operation.