7:00am Saturday 13th September 2008
By Phil Chard
PIRATES boss Neil Middleditch is hoping Bjarne Pedersen's ultra professional approach will help the Dane retain his Grand Prix status for next season.
Poole Castle Cover's captain only has three rounds left to overcome a 14-point deficit and force his way into a top eight automatic re-qualifying place for 2009.
Pedersen, who lines up in the Polish GP at Bydgoszcz tonight (6pm), has 45 points, with Fredrik Lindgren currently filling eighth with 59.
Middleditch said: "We know Bjarne is a very capable rider and if it wasn't for the two rounds he missed earlier this season, he would be a lot closer to the top eight now.
"You like to get off to a good start. Unfortunately he didn't and then picked up an injury that set him back.
"Everyone else already had the points in the bag by the time he returned and Bjarne has been trying to play catch-up from behind.
"He's very professional, will keep his head down and keep going to the last race in the series in Germany."
Middleditch added: "We know Bjarne is a world class rider. There are a lot of riders who haven't won a GP and he has.
"To win even one is a fantastic feat and at Cardiff earlier this year he showed what he could do, although he was extremely unlucky to be excluded in the semi-final.
"But he will keep going and hope the luck goes his way next time."
Previewing Pedersen's chances at Bydgoszcz, Middleditch said: "He likes the Polish tracks. He's had plenty of experience there.
"Traditionally, it's very slick. One of the great things about Bjarne is he's a very quick gater and has good equipment, which is perfect for those types of tracks.
"Bjarne's very capable of getting into the top eight. It's just a shame those two missed meetings could prove to be very costly come the end of the series.
"I know he's quiet and unassuming, but he's 100 per cent professional.
"He's been a great servant to Poole, and Pirates fans appreciate his service to the club. That's why we all want him to make it back into next year's GP."
Pedersen decided to sit out the GP qualifiers this year after regaining his place by finishing third in the Grand Final at Vojens last year.
So he doesn't have the chance to book his place tomorrow in this season's final at Zielona Gora, Poland, where the top three will automatically qualify again.
Debating Pedersen's chances of being awarded a seeded place into the 2009 series if he misses out on the top eight, Middleditch conceded: "We don't know how the organiser's think when handing out those spots.
"Bjarne has been in the GP for a number of years and the only way he can 100 per cent get back in is to qualify himself.
"He's not going to rely on possibly getting a seeded place and wants to get there on his own merit."
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