PETERBOROUGH Readypower Panthers have completed their new-look Elite League line-up by signing exciting Pole Krzysztof Buczkowski.Two-times World Cup gold medallist is the man the Panthers hierarchy believe could be a vital piece of a title-winning jigsaw.

PETERBOROUGH Readypower Panthers have completed their new-look Elite League line-up by signing exciting Pole Krzysztof Buczkowski.

Two-times World Cup gold medallist is the man the Panthers hierarchy believe could be a vital piece of a title-winning jigsaw.

The 23-year old hasn't ridden in Britain since 2007, when he had a short spell with the now-defunct Reading Racers, scoring impressively and earning plenty of admirers along the way.

His form in Poland and Sweden was enough to interest the Panthers and they wasted no time in tying him down to come in at reserve next season.

Team manager Trevor Swales said: “We were looking for a rider to complete our top seven and Krzysztof was one of half a dozen potential targets on our list.

“Then out of the blue we received an email from Krzysztof's manager, Krystian Plech, son of Polish legend Zenon Plech.

“He asked whether we'd be interested in bringing Krzysztof over and we immediately got back to him.

“He actually said that Krzysztof had given him three teams he would like to ride for, and we were his first choice.

“At that stage it was relatively simple to sort out a deal.”

Buczkowski and Plech were both in the city last weekend, staying the night at the Marriott Hotel before signing on the dotted line on Sunday.

The deal was sealed last night when the Polish Motor Federation gave the green light for Buczkowski to race in the UK next year.

Swales added: “We were waiting for confirmation that the Polish Federation will allow him to race in the UK and that has now come through.

“We took him to the Showground, showed him where his workshop will be, as well as taking him into the city centre to do some Christmas shopping. He was very keen to be here.”

New Director of Speedway Peter Oakes was also eager to sing the praises of the Panthers' latest coup: “Krzysztof is clearly a very good rider.

“He has a decent record in Poland where he has ridden in the main body of the team for Bydgoszcz, in the top league, for the last couple of years.

“He has plenty of international experience and has been a Grand Prix reserve four times, which shows how highly he is rated in Poland.

“He only rode in eight matches for Reading so is actually a free agent which means he can become a Peterborough asset.

“Many Panthers fans will remember him - he scored 12 paid 13 in Reading's won and beat all the top visitors, including top-scorer Hans Andersen!

“He is young, keen and he really wants to ride for Peterborough. That is what we have built our team around this year, we want eight riders who want to win things for the club, and Krzysztof fits in perfectly.”

Buczkowski is expected to be joined at the club by fellow Pole Karol Zabik, who is still awaiting clearance from the Polish Speedway Federation regarding a ban he received by his club.

They will join Niels-Kristian Iversen, Kenneth Bjerre, Troy Batchelor, Lewis Bridger and Adam Roynon as confirmed starters for the 2010 season.

Peterborough have also started building for the future with the double capture of talented Australian teenagers Taylor Poole and Dakota North.