Bjarne Pedersen

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

For the Danish Olympic rower, see Bjarne Pedersen (rower).

Bjarne Pedersen
Born (1978-07-12) 12 July 1978
Holstebro, Denmark
Nationality Denmark
Websitewww.pedersenracing.com
Current club information
British leaguePoole Pirates
Danish leagueHolstebro Speedway Klub
Polish leagueStart Gniezno
Swedish leagueElit Vetlanda
Career history
Great Britain
2000–2003Newcastle Diamonds
2002–2010, 2016Poole Pirates
2011, 2013–14Eastbourne Eagles
2012Birmingham Brummies
2015Leicester Lions
Poland
1997Opole
1999, 2006KS Toruń
2001–2002Rawicz
2003Orzeł Łódź
2004ZKŻ Zielona Góra
2005, 2007–2008Wybrzeże Gdańsk
2009Unia Tarnów
2014–Start Gniezno
Sweden
1998,2012Vargarna
1999Elit Vetlanda
2000–2002Kaparna
2004Masarna
2003, 2005–2009Västervik
2010Indianerna
2015 2014Piraterna
Denmark
1996–2001, 2007–Holstebro
2002Vojens
2003, 2005–2006Holsted
2004Slangerup
Individual honours
2004Danish Champion
2004Elite League Riders Champion
1999Danish Under-21 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.[2] However, he did not ride as a full-time professional until 2000. Pedersen began his UK racing career 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.[3] 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.[4] In 2004 he also won the Elite League Riders' Championship.

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.
2007 Speedway Grand Prix - 12th place
Final Championship standings: 12th 77 Riding No (12)
Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Italian SGP 12 5 (1,E,3,1,1) 5
2 /11 European SGP 7 8 (3,1,0,2,1) +1 12
3 /11 Swedish SGP 16 3 (0,0,2,1,0) 4
4 /11 Danish SGP 13 5 (X,3,1,0,1) 11
5 /11 British SGP 10 7 (2,3,1,1,0) 15
6 /11 Czech Rep. SGP 11 6 (3,1,0,0,2) 1
7 /11 Scandinavian SGP 9 7 (0,1,2,2,2) 7
8 /11 Latvian SGP 9 8 (2,2,2,1,1) 15
9 /11 Polish SGP 8 8 (3,1,3,1,0) +0 12
10 /11 Slovenian SGP 7 9 (0,0,2,3,3) +1 9
11 /11 German SGP 5 11 (0,3,2,2,3) +1 12
2008 Speedway Grand Prix - 11 place
Final Championship standings: 11 69 Riding No (11)
Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Slovenian SGP 16 4 (0,0,2,0,2) 5
2 /11 European SGP - - Injured* -
3 /11 Swedish SGP - - Injured* -
4 /11 Danish SGP 9 7 (1,2,3,0,1) 1
5 /11 British SGP 5 14 (2,3,3,3,3) +0(X)) 16
6 /11 Czech Rep. SGP 9 7 (F/x,2,2,0,3) 7
7 /11 Scandinavian SGP 10 6 (0,2,0,1,3) 12
8 /11 Latvian SGP 8 7 (0,0,2,2,3) +0 9
9 /11 Polish SGP 14 4 (1,1,0,2,1) 15
10 /11 Italian SGP 2 17 (3,0,2,3,3) +2 +4 5
11 /11 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's Career Wins". PedersenRacing.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  3. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  4. "Bjarne wins GP". SpeedwayWorld.TV. 4 September 2004. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  5. "Bjarne regains GP enthusiasm". Daily Echo. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  6. "It's over". Daily Echo. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
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