POOLE rider Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen revealed how Pirates legend Bjarne Pedersen “helped me through the tough times” when racing as a youngster in Denmark.

Pirates boss Matt Ford revealed how a recommendation from former Wimborne road star Pedersen had convinced him to sign the 25-year-old in the winter.

And Busk Jakobsen has enjoyed a fruitful start to his life in a Poole race jacket – totalling eight paid nine and six paid seven in Premiership Shield meetings against King’s Lynn.

Busk Jakobsen is set to line up for defending champions Pirates in their SGB Premiership curtain-raiser at Peterborough tomorrow (7.30pm).

Speaking in December, Ford said Pedersen had “tipped Nikolaj to have a very good career and to be a dominant force for Denmark in the future”.

Reacting to the recommendation, Busk Jakobsen told the Daily Echo: “It’s always nice. Bjarne actually helped me when I was younger. I started in the Danish league and rode together with him.

“He helped me through the tough times when I was just a kid. It’s always nice to read those words.

“I heard Middlo (team manager Neil Middleditch) say Bjarne is the second-highest scorer here ever.

“That’s a big thing, if I can do the same it would be good! But it’s just nice to be here and I’m really enjoying it.”

Born in Viborg, reserve Busk Jakobsen admitted his main aim would be to break into the top five of Pirates’ line-up this season.

Assessing his campaign so far, the Danish ace added: “Things are going all right, it’s still early days and I still need to settle in but I’m glad about how we have started the season.

“Everything is still new and I need to get myself fully into the team, but I will.

“I don’t want to stay as a reserve all year. This is the first season I am doing in the Premiership from the beginning, we will see how things go but my aim is to be in the top five by the end of the season.

“It’s always good to go in and score points and good meetings will be there. There will also be some bad ones but I am just enjoying my racing this season.

“I have David Howe as well, so I don’t have to worry about certain things. He is taking care of my bikes and things.

“It’s good to work with him. He has experience all over the country and I feel he has given me a lot, not only as a mechanic but also a rider’s experience.

“I am picking up wherever I can and hopefully that will help me progress a bit faster.”