MARK PLUMMER speaks to a rider full of hunger and regret in his latest "˜Friday Feature' . . .
THINGS have worked out pretty well for Richard Hall in the end.
He is back in speedway and back at a club where he was already tasted title glory "“ and that's not a bad scenario for a rider who hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the beginning of the season.
Hall was handed a 30-day suspension from the sport after an unsavoury incident in which he kicked rival rider Josh Auty after a crash involving the pair during an April clash between Scunthorpe and Redcar.
The severe punishment led to his release from the Bears, but his absence from the sport has actually stretched to more than four months.
Now Hall is back after being snapped up by Peterborough earlier this week. It is an opportunity he is determined to seize.
"The incident earlier in the season shouldn't have happened, but I can't change that now," reflects Hall, who turns 30 later this month.
"It was in the heat of the moment after I had been T-boned. I reacted badly and I regret that. I apologised many times and I knew I needed to take a bit of time out.
"I got a lot of grief on social media with all kinds of threats coming my way. I had people telling me they were going to get me on the way home and things like that!
"I've still been racing in the World Long-Track and Grass-Track, but I've been missing speedway."
Hall's only speedway action since picking up that suspension arrived in late May when he represented Great Britian in a European Championship qualifier. He scored six points at Zarnovica in Slovakia.
He dropped a big hint that he was eyeing a return with a recent Twitter post which showed a picture of his bikes and the message "˜my babies just sat there waiting for a phone call . . .'
He and they didn't have long to wait as Peterborough bosses turned to Hall to help solve their injury crisis after Lewis Blackbird suffered a double leg-break while riding in Denmark to join Ryan Fisher as a long-term casualty.
Hall has been drafted in along with fellow Brit Adam Roynon and German international Max Dilger with reserve Joe Jacobs also making way.
Thrashing out a deal proved easy with Hall desperate to secure a return to a club where he enjoyed glory eight years ago at Elite League level.
He was a key member of the Panthers team that snatched title success in unforgettable fashion with an incredible Grand Final comeback against Reading Bulldogs.
He starred in two vital race advantages as Trevor Swales' side recovered from being 10-points adrift on the night "“ and 12 points down on aggregate "“ with just three heats remaining to nick the silverware by a single point.
"I'll never forget winning the league that night," continued Hall. "And I have to admit I still watch the meeting now and again all these years later.
"I remember getting called into heat 13 and being told I had to score a point. I managed it and then there was all the fireworks in heat 14.
"Mark Lemon got excluded for taking me off and everyone had to calm me down because I still had a job to do.
"I can remember the re-run clearly when I passed Charlie Gjedde to get a 5-1 with Sully (Ryan Sullivan, and then Hans (Andersen) and Sully did the rest in the last race.
"It was one of the biggest nights of my career and great to be part of a league-winning team."
Hall's return to Peterborough sees him re-united with another member of the 2006 title-winning class - current skipper Ulrich Ostergaard.
They will line up alongside each other again on Tuesday (August 19) when Peterborough host Ipswich in an East Anglian derby clash at the East of England Showground.
"I believe I can be an eight-point rider in the Premier League and hopefully I can show that sort of form for the rest of the season," continued Hall.
"I've never won the title at this level and it would be great if I could put that right with Peterborough after already winning the Elite League there.
"I'm looking forward to having a bit of practice on Monday and then getting going as a Peterborough rider again.
"I love the Showground track, I love the club and I love the fans there. I could not be more excited about being back.
"I spoke to a few other clubs but those offers weren't even really worth considering. This is the move I wanted and I'm delighted it has worked out."
