BJARNE Pedersen feels it’s more important for Pirates to lift the Knockout Cup than for him to taste individual glory in the Elite Open Riders’ Championship at Peterborough tonight.

The Dane lines up at Alwalton (7.30pm) intent on repeating his 2004 success in what was then called the Elite League Riders’ Championship.

But for Pedersen, who has already helped Poole win eight major trophies since 2002, achieving team honours has always been far more important than obtaining personal plaudits.

So he already has his eyes fixed on helping the Dorset club gain revenge for their 2008 Knockout Cup final defeat against Eastbourne when they clash again in the climax to this year’s competition later this month.

Pedersen said: “I feel I have fast equipment and can give it a good go tonight on a really fast track with plenty of different racing lines.

“The trophy I really want to win, though, is the cup with Poole.”

Pedersen, Chris Holder and Davey Watt are the only survivors from Pirates’ class of 2008 who cantered to title success only to surprisingly lose to underdogs Eagles in the cup final.

Pedersen, whose side had been firm favourites to complete a league and cup double, said: “It wasn’t overconfidence. It was just people were mentally drained and didn’t have focus in the final.

“I feel great now. I’m really up for the cup and the rest of the team are as well.”

Pedersen is joined at Peterborough by Pirates team-mate Holder, who finished third behind champion Leigh Adams and Chris Harris in the ELRC at Coventry last year.

• Buccaneers visit Newport tomorrow (1pm) in the National League play-off semi-final, second leg.

The league’s Peter Morrish said, as far as he was aware, Newport’s 49-38 first-leg lead stands despite Bournemouth claiming they rode under protest after questioning the eligibility of Hornets’ line up.