Peterborough 49 King’s Lynn 41

MICHAEL Jepsen Jensen produced a stunning performance to inspire Peterborough to all three Elite League points against King’s Lynn on Good Friday afternoon.

The young Danish star stormed to a match-winning 16-point haul as the Panthers recovered from a slow start to get their league campaign off to a flyer.

He had four race wins which was crucial as skipper Kenneth Bjerre had a rare off-day and was forced to change engines mid-meeting after failing to score in his opening two rides.

Olly Allen also played a pivotal role with 10+2 and Linus Sundstrom 7+1 gave additional good support.

For King’s Lynn Niels-Kristian Iversen returned to his former track in decent form with 13+1, and David Howe (8+2) also had some good moments.

The Stars got off to the best possible start with Iversen and Daniel Nermark putting them 5-1 ahead in Heat 1.

Peterborough quickly levelled things in Heat 2 courtesy of Jensen and Richard Lawson, but another 5-1 from King’s Lynn in race 6 edged the visitors ahead again (19-17).

Sundstrom and Lawson restored parity in Heat 7, but after his engine change Bjerre and Rene Bach produced a maximum in Heat 10 - and it was a lead the Readypower Panthers never surrendered.

The victory was confirmed when Jensen took the chequered flag in Heat 14 and Jesper B Monberg produced some last bend heroics to pass Howe to join his team-mate for a 5-1.

And then all three league points were confirmed when Jensen and Allen followed home Iversen in Heat 15. The Stars did look as if they would pick up a consolation point, but Maciej Janowski fell whilst in third place and their hopes were gone.

Peterborough co-boss Jan Staechmann said afterwards: “King’s Lynn pushed us all the way, but Michael was the big difference and our match winner.

“Having said that every rider had a part to play and it was pleasing that we had other people who could cover with Kenneth having a rough time with his engine.

“That was very encouraging and is important that we have the strength in depth to do that.

“It’s a good win and now we head to King’s Lynn tonight looking for a similar performance.”

PETERBOROUGH 49: Michael Jepson Jensen 16, Olly Allen 10+2, Linus Sundstrom 7+1, Jesper B Monberg 5+2, Rene Bach 4+1, Kenneth Bjerre 4+1, Richard Lawson 3+1

KING’S LYNN 41: Niels-Kristian Iversen 13+1, David Howe 8+2, Maciej Janowski 8, Daniel Nermark 6+1, Mads Korneliussen 6+1, Kevin Wolbert 0, Filip Sitera 0