Pirates: Bjarne gets his 'hunger' back (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pirates: Bjarne gets his 'hunger' back

6:19pm Wednesday 24th February 2010 in

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PIRATES star Bjarne Pedersen admits he’s eyeing a World Cup final place again after being unceremoniously axed by Denmark midway through last year’s competition.

Poole Castle Cover’s ace, returning for a ninth successive campaign with the club, also revealed he had regained his speedway hunger after enduring a tough 2009.

Rejuvenated by the winter break, he fully intends to take advantage of Poole chief Matt Ford’s instruction to be more single-minded on-track.

As well as trying to help Pirates lift the Elite League title, Pedersen also wants to reclaim the Grand Prix place he relinquished in 2008.

He begins preparations for the new season in earnest next week when he will be one of 15 Danish riders, including Pirates team-mate Leon Madsen, taking part in a national training camp in Croatia.

Pedersen said: “We’re going to Gorican, which stages its first GP this year, and the important thing is to see how the bikes work and get some laps in.

“I haven’t raced for Pirates since September because I finished early last year so I’ll be taking new bikes with some new engines.

“It’ll be good to get back out on track.”

Last season Pedersen surprisingly surrendered his national team place for the first time since 2000, with Patrick Hougaard stepping in.

With this year’s final on Danish territory at Vojens in July, he said: “It’s a target getting back into the team.

“It’s not the main target, but it’s one of them for 2010.”

Pedersen, who has voluntarily passed the Poole skipper’s armband to Davey Watt, added: “I really feel last year turned into a negative thing and I don’t want that again.

“It’ll be better not to be captain and just focus on my job.”