Bjarne Pedersen

Bjarne Aagaard Pedersen (born 12 July 1978 in Holstebro, Denmark)[1] is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who represented Denmark in the Speedway World Cup, winning it on two occasions: in 2006 and 2008.[2][3][4]

Bjarne Pedersen
Born (1978-07-12) 12 July 1978
Holstebro, Denmark
NationalityDanish
Career history
Denmark
1996–2001, 2007–2015, 2018Holstebro
2002Vojens
2003–2006, 2014–2017Holsted
2004Slangerup
2019–2021Esbjerg
Great Britain
2000–2001, 2003Newcastle
2002–2010, 2016Poole
2011, 2013–14Eastbourne
2012Birmingham
2015Leicester
2021Peterborough
2021Plymouth
Poland
1997, 2019–2020Opole
1999, 2006Toruń
2001–2002Rawicz
2003Łódź
2004Zielona Góra
2005, 2007–2008Gdańsk
2009–2011Tarnów
2012–2015Gniezno
2016Piła
2017Lublin
2018Ostrów
Sweden
1998, 2012Vargarna
1999, 2016Elit Vetlanda
2000–2002Kaparna
2003, 2005–2009Västervik
2004Masarna
2010, 2017–2018Indianerna
2014–2015Piraterna
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
Starts71
Podiums7 (1-2-4)
Finalist7 time
Winner1 times
Individual honours
2004Danish Champion
2004Elite League Riders Champion
1999Danish Junior Champion
2004European Grand Prix Winner
Team honours
2003, 2004, 2008Elite League Champion
2003, 2004Elite League KO Cup Winner
2002, 2006Craven Shield Winner
2003British League Cup Winner
2001Premier League Champion
2005Swedish Elitserien Champion
1997, 2003, 2006Danish League Champion
2007Elite League Pairs Champion
2006, 2008World Cup Winner

Career summary

Pedersen began his speedway career in 1990. He won his first title in 1994 winning a Danish junior pairs championship with Charlie Gjedde.[5] However, he did not ride as a full-time professional until 2000.

Pedersen began his United Kingdom racing career in with the Newcastle Diamonds in the Premier League. He took part in his first two Speedway Grand Prix events in 2002, both as a wild card.[6] His first full Speedway Grand Prix season came in 2003, but it was not until 2004 when Pedersen won his only Grand Prix to date at the European GP in Wrocław.[7] Also in 2004, he won the Elite League Riders' Championship, held at Wimborne Road on 17 October.[8]

Pedersen admitted at the end of the 2007 season that he had lost enthusiasm for riding in Speedway Grand Prix series until he qualified for the 2008 series in the race off in Vojens.[9]

Pedersen was retained by Poole for the 2008 season over former world champion Jason Crump when it was announced the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA) that the points limit for team building purposes was to be reduced drastically. Poole promoter Matt Ford stated that Pedersen was chosen due to his loyalty to Poole over the previous six seasons.[10] He continued to ride for Poole until the end of the 2010 season when he joined Eastbourne Eagles for the 2011 Elite League speedway season.

On 20 August 2011, he qualified for the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix as a permanent rider, after finishing runner-up in the GP Challenge. After one season with Birmingham Brummies he returned to Eastbourne for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.[11]

Following a few rides for Leicester Lions in 2015 he rejoined Poole for the 2016 Elite League campaign.[12]

In 2021, he signed for Peterborough Panthers and Plymouth Gladiators and after winning the league and cup double with Peterborough during the SGB Premiership 2021 season, he announced his retirement.[13][14]

Speedway Grand Prix results

YearPositionPointsBest FinishNotes
200226th1012th2 Wild card rides
200314th513rdFinished 3rd in the Norwegian GP
200410th78WinnerWon the European GP
20056th902ndFinished 3rd in the Swedish GP, 3rd in the British GP and 2nd in the Czech GP
200612th823rdFinished 3rd in the Danish GP
200712th775th
200811th692ndMissed European and Swedish GPs through injury. Finished 2nd in the Italian GP.
201122nd314th1 Wild card ride
201213th596th
2007 Speedway Grand Prix Final Championship standings
(Riding No 12)
Race no. Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Italy Italian SGP 12 5 (1,E,3,1,1) 5
2 /11 Europe European SGP 7 8 (3,1,0,2,1) +1 12
3 /11 Sweden Swedish SGP 16 3 (0,0,2,1,0) 4
4 /11 Denmark Danish SGP 13 5 (X,3,1,0,1) 11
5 /11 United Kingdom British SGP 10 7 (2,3,1,1,0) 15
6 /11 Czech Republic Czech Rep. SGP 11 6 (3,1,0,0,2) 1
7 /11 Sweden Scandinavian SGP 9 7 (0,1,2,2,2) 7
8 /11 Latvia Latvian SGP 9 8 (2,2,2,1,1) 15
9 /11 Poland Polish SGP 8 8 (3,1,3,1,0) +0 12
10 /11 Slovenia Slovenian SGP 7 9 (0,0,2,3,3) +1 9
11 /11 Germany German SGP 5 11 (0,3,2,2,3) +1 12
2008 Speedway Grand Prix Final Championship standings
(Riding No 11)
Race no. Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Slovenia Slovenian SGP 16 4 (0,0,2,0,2) 5
2 /11 Europe European SGP - - Injured* -
3 /11 Sweden Swedish SGP - - Injured* -
4 /11 Denmark Danish SGP 9 7 (1,2,3,0,1) 1
5 /11 United Kingdom British SGP 5 14 (2,3,3,3,3) +0(X)) 16
6 /11 Czech Republic Czech Rep. SGP 9 7 (F/x,2,2,0,3) 7
7 /11 Sweden Scandinavian SGP 10 6 (0,2,0,1,3) 12
8 /11 Latvia Latvian SGP 8 7 (0,0,2,2,3) +0 9
9 /11 Poland Polish SGP 14 4 (1,1,0,2,1) 15
10 /11 Italy Italian SGP 2 17 (3,0,2,3,3) +2 +4 5
11 /11 Germany German SGP 14 3 (1,1,1,0,0) 15
  permanent speedway rider
  wild card, track reserve or qualified reserve
  rider not classified (track reserve who did not start)

* Pedersen sustained a broken wrist during a Craven Shield meeting for Poole on 2 May 2008. His place at the European Grand Prix and the Swedish Grand Prix were taken by first reserve Lubos Tomicek.

References

  1. Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0
  2. "Bjarne Pedersen". Eurosport. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. "Bjarne Pedersen Dania". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  5. "Bjarne's Career Wins". PedersenRacing.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  6. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  7. "Bjarne wins GP". SpeedwayWorld.TV. 4 September 2004. Archived from the original on 12 October 2004. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  8. "Elite League Riders' Championship". Speedway History. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  9. "Bjarne regains GP enthusiasm". Daily Echo. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  10. "It's over". Daily Echo. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  11. "Bjarne Pedersen". WWOS backup. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  12. "Poole's 70th anniversary: Pirates icon Bjarne Pedersen proud of epic points haul". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  13. "Pedersen Signs". Plymouth Speedway. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  14. "PIRATES PREPARE TO SAY FAREWELL TO BJARNE". Poole Speedway. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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