Bjarne could do a GP U-turn (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bjarne could do a GP U-turn

6:58pm Sunday 28th September 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

BJARNE Pedersen hasn't shut the door on a dramatic Grand Prix return if he automatically re-qualifies for next year's series after finishing second at Lonigo.

Going into the Italian GP last night, Pirates' captain announced he would be pulling out of the World Championship at the end of the season, regardless of his final position this year.

But after producing his best GP performance since 2005 at Lonigo, the Poole Castle Cover rider leapt from 13th to 10th and is now only seven points adrift of the final qualifying spot.

It means if the Dane could follow up his joint second best display in 57 rounds with an eighth final appearance at Gelsenkirchen on October 11, he might just creep back into the top eight.

That begs the question, would he then complete a U-turn by deciding to line up in the GP again?

Asked if he would reconsider his decision not to ride in 2009 if a last-gasp effort hauled him into the top eight, Pedersen said: "It's a very hard question to answer.

"Of course you feel different when you get something back, and it's great to be on the rostrum again.

"I'm sure if I'd been on the rostrum at Cardiff earlier this year, it would have given me a big kick. It was just so hard before Cardiff, being injured and missing two rounds.

"It's given me a big kick to do good in the GP again, but I'm still outside the top eight. I'm still not in the GP in 2009.

"If I finish in the top eight, the choice is mine, but I still think it's very important you are hungry to be in the GP and before Lonigo I just felt I didn't get anything back from the GP.

"But a night like I had there gives you a lot of confidence.

"It's very hard to pull seven points back in the last GP. The chance is there, but you need to get into the final to get big points.

"I still wanted to do my best in the last two GPs and I showed that in Lonigo.

"Of course I'll go for it in Germany. If the chance is there I'll try my best."

Pedersen twice won off the favourable gate one position in Lonigo, and also powered to victory off four as he swept into the semi-finals with 11 points.

He did well to fight off Greg Hancock's challenge for second in their semi.

Then the Dane took advantage of Jason Crump's last-lap ill luck to snatch second on the last bend after race winner Hans Andersen had also stormed past the Aussie on the final circuit as Crump's engine cruelly died.

Pedersen, the European GP winner in 2004, said: "It was good something went my way because I feel I've missed that this season.

"I feel I'm putting a lot of effort into the GP, so it's good to get something back finally.

"We had the luck when Jason packed up on the last corner. I was in the right place at the right time."

Asked if he felt he'd benefited from riding under no pressure, Pedersen said: "I didn't feel any different from other GPs.

"It's not like I was nervous in the other GPs. It's just we had a good set up and some good luck.

"I had a lot of bad luck at Cardiff, but this time I got something to take home."

If Pedersen doesn't jump into eighth, Gelsenkirchen will be his 58th and final GP.

The Pirate said: "I had a good meeting in Germany last year when I finished fifth.

"Of course I'll go there to do my best and see where we end up.

"I really feel the chance of winning and securing a place in the Super Prix race for a record $200,000 was taken away from me at Cardiff," said Pedersen. He was referring to the incident when referee Marek Wojaczek inexplicably excluded him rather than Nicki Pedersen in the semi-final after the latter fell on the first bend.

"It's another GP for me at Gelsenkirchen and I'll try to do my best," he concluded.