SWEDISH star Linus Sundstrom hopes joining Pirates can help him become the best rider on the planet.

The 27-year-old has not raced in Britain since 2013 and says being part of the SGB Premiership can boost his bid to become a full-time Grand Prix rider.

Third reserve for this year's world championship, Sundstrom has ridden in five GPs, two as a wild card and three as a track reserve.

But the Avesta-born flier is keen to take his career to the next level and admits racing at Wimborne Road will play a crucial role.

Asked if he still had an eye on a full-time GP spot, Sundstrom told the Daily Echo: "For sure, that's why I'm still racing speedway. I still believe I can do it and I'm working towards being the best rider in the world one day.

"The day I feel I don't want to be that, I'm not going to do speedway any more because I'm not just doing it for a living, I'm doing it because I want to be the best.

"I had a good year in Sweden last year and was on the pace much more than I had been in previous years. Me and my team have been working even harder on everything – the engines and the bikes – to try to take another step forward.

"England is part of that bid as well, to race more and be more race-sharp and ride on different tracks. It will be pretty hectic but we are as well prepared as we can be."

Sundstrom managed two points as a wild card in last year's Swedish Grand Prix in Malilla. In 2013, again as a wild card, he bagged six points in Gothenburg.

"It didn't go to plan in Malilla but you have to learn from it," he said.

"It's the same guys I race against in the leagues every week, it's just a different level when you come to the GPs.

"It's good to get there and you need to take the positives out of it, even if it's a bad result. It was a real kick up the bum and made me determined to work harder and push harder."

Sundstrom is expected to get the nod to represent Sweden in GP qualifying this year, with riders set to head to semi-finals in Slovakia, Denmark, Italy or Germany.

And the former Peterborough flier knows he will have to be on top of his game to progress.

"In previous years you started in the quarter-finals and had to be in the top eight to advance to the next round," said Sundstrom.

"If you scored nine or 10 points, it was enough. But now it's only the top four from the semi-finals so you can't afford any mistakes.

"You have to be on 11, 12, 13 or 14 points so it's getting tougher and tougher. But if you want to be there, you need to go that way."