BJARNE Pedersen has revealed that midway through last season he "wasn't sure whether" he wanted to continue racing in the Grand Prix.

But Pirates' captain - eagerly waiting to see if he will retain his Poole Castle Cover place for 2008 - admitted a late improvement in form had lifted his spirits.

Pedersen finished a disappointing 12th in the World Championship and it is three years and 37 GPs since he won his solitary round at Wroclaw in 2004.

He only held onto his GP status by beating Czech Lubos Tomicek in a run-off for third place in the qualifying final at Vojens, Denmark, in September.

Pedersen, likely to be forced to leave Pirates if the team building limit is reduced at this weekend's BSPA conference, said: "In the middle of last season I was not very happy with how I was going in the GP.

"In fact, I really started to think about whether I really wanted to do any more GPs, but a couple of days after I qualified in Vojens I was really feeling great.

"Now I really want to give it a go for next season.

"It has been two years since I have done well in the GP, but I feel in the last one-and-a-half months of last season I was looking very good and now I'm excited about next season."

Pedersen, who finished a career-best sixth in 2005, added: "We had a poor start last year and after that it was just like it wasn't meant to be my season.

"I've had two poor years in the GP but now I want to be back in the top eight after all the effort I have put in.

"If you look at it, there were not a lot of points between 12th and seventh this year, I think it was 14.

"So you only need to pick up two more points a meeting and you would go from 12th to seventh.

"But it is very, very hard work, although I'm really looking forward to next season.

"I know what I need to do over the winter. If I can sort that out I can't see any reason why I can't get good results in 2008."

Pedersen doubled his chances of retaining his five-year long GP status by taking part in the qualifiers this year and was grateful to do so.

He's not sure, however, whether he would enter the qualifiers next year.

Pedersen, who has just tied up a new sponsorship deal with Poole-based Garry May Building Services, said: "It is too early to say whether I'll go down that route.

"I haven't thought about it yet for next season. But the chance is still there. I can't give an answer yet, although, hopefully, I won't need to use that option.

"I'd need to be in the top four or five in the Danish Championship first round anyway to even qualify for the GP qualifiers."

  • Pirates' Riders' Equipment Fund stage a speedway quiz night in the West Stand at Poole Stadium on Wednesday, start 7.30pm.

Cost is £4 (members) and £5 (non-members) payable on the door.