Bjarne insists 'Pirates fans haven't seen last of me' (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bjarne insists 'Pirates fans haven't seen last of me'

11:10pm Monday 14th September 2009 in

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BJARNE Pedersen has moved quickly to reassure Pirates fans he was not on the way out of Wimborne Road after it was incorrectly announced he was riding his last Poole match midway through their 49-41 home win over Peterborough tonight.

Pedersen produced a sparkling 11-point performance against Panthers as the Dorset club picked up all three league points to throw themselves a lifeline of avoiding the drop after Belle Vue only beat Ipswich 45-44 tonight.

Then the Dane, a Pirate since 2002, said: “It was my last Poole appearance for a while because my partner Lone is due to have our first baby on October 9.

“I’m taking a break to look after her, but I’ll definitely be back in a Pirates race jacket for the relegation-promotion play-off if we’re in it.”

Confusion arose about Pedersen’s future after centre green announcer Nigel Leahy inadvertently told fans the Dane was making his last appearance for the club in between heats.

That got tongues wagging on the terraces with supporters asking whether Pedersen had been dropped.

But Pirates chief Matt Ford moved quickly to stress that was “definitely not the case” and that Poole’s skipper would be on duty if the club is involved in a play-off to avoid the drop.

The Dorset club’s destiny is out of their hands following Aces’ narrow victory over Witches.

But Belle Vue are still bottom, tied on 32 points with Poole but with an inferior race points difference, and they still need to get at least a draw in their final fixture, also at home to Ipswich, on September 28 to climb above Pirates.

Aces, however, may have to go into that meeting without spearhead Jason Crump, the runaway Grand Prix leader, who crashed out of tonight’s meeting.

He was taken to hospital after sustaining a suspected dislocated shoulder and suspected severe tyre mark burns to his arm and could be doubtful through injury.

Pirates’ management might also be on the phone to British Speedway Promoters’ Association headquarters today to seek clarification of the official play-off cut-off date.

From day one at the start of the season, it’s believed Monday, September 14 has been the official cut-off for the title and relegation-promotion play-offs.

If that is still the case, it is Aces who would finish bottom and face a two-legged test against the Premier League play-off champions to retain their top-flight status.

Pedersen, who has struggled by his own high standards at home in the past few meetings, returned to his best against Panthers, becoming the first Poole man to lower GP star Kenneth Bjerre’s colours in heat 14.

With Chris Holder (14) also on fire, Joe Screen and Hans Andersen grabbing eight paid 10 apiece and reserve Steve Boxall firing in an impressive six, Pirates held their nerve to win by more than eight to keep the pressure on Belle Vue.

Pedersen said: “It was great to get back to my best in front of Poole’s fans.

“I knew I had to do something before tonight’s meeting so I changed back to some of my old set-ups and it did the trick.

“You haven’t seen the last of me in Poole colours. I’ll be back for the play-off if we’re in it.

“I want to do at least two more years in the British League, so hopefully I’ll be back at Poole in 2010.”

Pirates 49: 1 Hans Andersen (2-2*-2-2*) 8+2, 2 Joe Screen (1*-3-3-1*) 8+2, 3 (guest) Robert Ksiezak (0-0-fell exc) 0, 4 Bjarne Pedersen (2-3-3-3-0) 11, 5 Chris Holder (3-2-3-3-3) 14, 6 Ben Wilson (1-0-1-ret) 2, 7 Steve Boxall (3-1-ret-2-0) 6. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Peterborough 41: 1 Niels-Kristian Iversen (3-2-2-1-2) 10, 2 Claus Vissing (0-1*-1-2-0) 4+1, 3 Rider replacement for Kenneth Hansen, 4 Kenneth Bjerre (3-3-3-2-1*) 12+1, 5 Mads Korneliussen (0-1-2-3-0) 6, 6 Klaus Jakobsen (fell-0-1*) 1+1, 7 Ales Dryml (2-1-2-1*-0-1-1*) 8+2. Team manager: Trevor Swales and Wayne Swales.

Referee: Paul Carrington.

Sky referee: Mick Bates.

League points: Pirates 3 Peterborough 0.

Ht 1: Iversen, Andersen, Screen, Vissing, 59.76 (3-3).

Ht 2: Boxall, Dryml, Wilson, Jakobsen, 60.98 (7-5).

Ht 3: Bjerre, Pedersen, Dryml, Ksiezak (fell, remounted), 60.06 (9-9).

Ht 4: (re-run) Holder, Dryml, Boxall, Korneliussen, 59.95 (13-11).

Ht 5: Pedersen, Iversen, Vissing, Ksiezak, 60.30 (16-14).

Ht 6: Screen, Andersen, Korneliussen, Jakobsen, 60.65 (21-15).

Ht 7: Bjerre, Holder, Vissing, Wilson, 60.52 (23-19).

Ht 8: Screen, Vissing, Dryml, Boxall (retired), 61.94 (26-22).

Ht 9: (re-run) Pedersen, Korneliussen, Jakobsen, Ksiezak (fell excluded), 61.06 (29-25).

Ht 10: Bjerre, Andersen, Screen, Dryml, 60.66 (32-28).

Ht 11: Holder, Iversen, Wilson, Vissing, 60.62 (36-30).

Ht 12: Korneliussen, Boxall, Dryml, Wilson (retired), 61.27 (38-34).

Ht 13: Holder, Andersen, Iversen, Korneliussen, 60.64 (43-35).

Ht 14: Pedersen, Bjerre, Dryml, Boxall, 60.99 (46-38).

Ht 15: Holder, Iversen, Bjerre, Pedersen, 60.41 (49-41).