COLIN Pratt, one of the most experienced promoters in British Speedway, is joining Peterborough for their exciting new era.
Pratt, who was joint England boss in the 80s and won the World Cup, has a glittering list of honours on his CV and joins Panthers after leaving Swindon.
Pratt is relishing the prospect of a new challenge with a club closer to his Norfolk home after first promoting at Rye House in 1975 before a long spell at Cradley Heath, then Coventry and the Robins.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to going to Peterborough. I know there are some great people over there and I’m looking forward to working with the staff and supporters.
“We have a strong-looking team, I think it will be very interesting and if they all get their acts together we could be as good as anyone in the league.
“Craig Cook and Rohan Tungate have done great work for Belle Vue and they will do the same for us and Hans Andersen is Peterborough through and through.
“I’d even go as far as to say Hans is still capable of matching the best riders in the world and he will take some stopping around Peterborough.”
And Pratt believes Peterborough’s winter promotion to the Premiership means the club are back where they belong.
He said: “Peterborough really is a top-level club, but whatever league they’ve been in, the track there has always been one of the most exciting raceways in the country.
“It’s big and fast, it’s on the flat side and has similarities to the tracks abroad, and it’s always good racing there.
“The Showground itself is a good venue in terms of layout, and I know they’ve always had good support there.”
Pratt has also paid tribute to Swindon after spending for seasons with the Wiltshire club.
He said: “It’s sad to be leaving Swindon, because I go back a long way with Terry (Russell) and his family, and I’ve enjoyed my time there with the staff and Rosco (Alun Rossiter).
“They are a tremendous bunch, and winning the league there in 2017 was a bit of a repeat for me with Rosco, having done it together at Coventry in 2010.
“But this is a bit nearer to home which makes things easier with travel, and it does sometimes make more sense to be closer to the track you’re working at.”