LINUS Sundstrom admits it is "good to know" he has six-time world champion Tony Rickardsson in his corner.

The 27-year-old will this year race for Pirates – where the retired Rickardsson enjoyed a fruitful spell – having spent five years away from these shores.

And Sundstrom says the support of one of speedway's greatest talents is a boost for his career.

The Swedish charger told the Daily Echo: "He is friends with a lot of my sponsors and I have some people who help me who used to help him when he was riding.

"He has known me since I was a kid so I think he is a bit interested in my career and follows me a bit.

"He is always there if I want some advice. I can always call him if I am thinking about something or have some problems, which is good to know.

"We don't talk to each other weekly but we speak now and then. We bump into each other because we live in the same town in Sweden.

"I had lunch with him last week and he was asking me what handlebars and seats I was using.

"We also did some enduro together in the snow over the winter, so we see each other now and again."