PIRATES stalwart Bjarne Pedersen insists he is only looking forward as he bids to put a nightmare 2015 stint with Leicester behind him by winning another Elite League title.

Some feared the 38-year-old had been lost to British speedway when he left the Lions under mysterious circumstances at the start of last season.

He was then brutally dropped by Lakeside without turning a wheel, leaving him without a club on the eve of the season.

But with Dave Watt struggling for form early in the year, Pedersen was handed a return to Wimborne Road in May and has not looked back, proving a powerhouse at reserve.

Leicester, who visit Poole tonight (7.30pm), have endured a nightmare season on and off the track and are currently bottom of the table.

Asked if he was surprised by the turmoil at Beaumont Park, Pedersen admitted: “Not really, but that’s a different story. I’m just glad I’m here now. I’m looking forward.”

And the Dane has plenty to look forward to, with Pirates second in the Elite League standings, five points short of leaders Belle Vue, but with a meeting in hand and three fixtures against the Aces to race.

Having spent five years away from Wimborne Road, Pedersen relishes the prospect of winning a fourth Elite League title in Poole colours – eight seasons after his last championship triumph in 2008.

He said: “The chance was there to come into the team and I took it. I’ll do everything I can to push for the title and come out on top.

“This is a great team to come into and now it’s business time. We are in the top four and we really want to come out on top before the play-offs, and of course afterwards.”

Pedersen admits Poole can ill-afford to take the Lions likely, despite them languishing rock-bottom of the table on 18 points.

He said: “You never take anything for granted. We saw Leicester win earlier in the season at Swindon, so there’s never any such thing as a walk over. We need to be on top of it from the start.”

Pedersen is currently on a 6.06 average, having enjoyed a fruitful stint at number six. Incredibly, this remains the lowest average in the team and could keep him at reserve for the play-offs.

A bargain average for the former European SGP winner and world number six could also put him in prime position for a return to Wimborne Road in 2017. But Pedersen is not thinking beyond October.

He said: “Now, all the focus is on the play-offs. We know how important each meeting is. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will lift the trophy and we can start speaking about next year.”