Pedersen hurt in track crash (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pedersen hurt in track crash

7:05am Saturday 3rd May 2008 in

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PIRATES' injury woes took a big turn for the worst when Bjarne Pedersen sustained a suspected broken left wrist during their shock 58-32 defeat at Coventry last night.

Poole Castle Cover's captain hit the fence hard in heat 11 after getting into trouble on the second lap with his side on a probable 8-1 that would have all-but booked their place in the Craven Shield final.

Pedersen, who had been on a tactical ride, was outside race leader and team-mate Adam Skornicki going into the second turn.

They were trying to team-ride to keep Coventry's Simon Stead at bay, but with the Coventry man hot on their heels Poole's luck ran out.

Pedersen fell, was excluded, withdrew from the meeting and is almost certain to miss Pirates' Elite League home clash against Swindon on Monday.

Stead and Stanislaw Burza got a 4-2 in the re-run to increase Coventry's lead to 41-25 in the Craven Shield semi-final, second leg.

Then Coventry, who had still been trailing 87-77 on aggregate with three races to go, fired in a trio of 5-1s to snatch a 58-32 win on the night, a dramatic 92-90 aggregate triumph and book a date in the final against Lakeside later this month.

Pedersen, whose team-mates Karol Zabik and Zbigniew Suchecki are both already on the injury list, said last night: "It's not looking good. I will go for X-rays tomorrow."

The Dane, who left Brandon with his wrist heavily strapped and bandaged following lengthy treatment from track doctor Peter Kenyon, added: "I think it's broken. I'm 99 per cent sure. I'll see tomorrow."

Talking about his crash, Pedersen said: "Adam had produced a fantastic start and I was out in front with him.

"But I was scared they (Coventry riders Simon Stead and Stanislaw Burza) would go around us.

"So I went really wide, but I went a little bit too wide and picked up some grip.

"I hit my wrist on Adam's bike's mudguard, it straightened me up and I went into the fence.

"It was my fault, but I wanted to get us into the final. I wanted to win the race so we could get in the final."

Pedersen, who was undecided whether to fly to Denmark or travel by road to his Blandford home last night, added: "I'm cheesed off.

"When you're leading 24 points from the first leg you shouldn't lose on aggregate.

"I feel so angry about it, for the club and the fans. I feel I let my team down."