PIRATES second string Bjarne Pedersen has admitted he would like to stay at the Elite League club next season - less than two months into the current campaign.

The young Dane has been a revelation since he joined Poole Meridian Lifts on loan from Prem-ier League Newcastle over the winter.

And Pedersen has impressed the Dorset track's bosses Matt Ford and Mike Golding, as well as the club's fans.

Pedersen, who has already piled up paid 76 points in 10 meetings for Poole in his debut top-flight season, said: "I would like to stay here a couple of years.

"I am really happy with the way my form is going out on the track at the moment and things are going well off it as well.

"It is a really good promotion here at Poole, the track is good and the Pirates fans are great.

"The thing is, if I do my job well for the whole season, I hope they ask me back next year."

Pedersen, who also beat former World champion Mark Loram to win Jan Andersen's Farewell Hoedown at Edinburgh, added: "I am really enjoying myself in the Elite League.

"It is really hard in the top flight following my move up. You need to gate well and you can't come from the back so easily as in the Premier League.

"I am pleased with my gating. That is going well and means I am normally in a good position going into the first corner."

Andersen, who has averaged 7.07 in all competitions for Pirates, continued: "The Poole track was a bit slick in the first two home meetings I rode for them and I needed a new engine set up for that.

"But it is a good track, a fair track to the home side and the opposition and I like it.

"I have beaten Mark Loram, Billy Hamill and Lee Richardson at home already so I feel I am all right out there. It was really hard going to the first away meetings. Most of the home riders have raced on their tracks for a couple of years already, so they know it really well.

"I think as the season goes on and I am going back to those places for a second time I will do better away from Wimborne Road.

"It has been a perfect start for me considering I stepped up, joined a new club and also have a new engine tuner in Finn Jensen,

"Nearly everything is new, new track to learn, new promoters, new supporters etc, but I'm just so pleased I made the move now.

"I've felt I had to step up ever since the last two or three months of last season when I was scoring 13 to 15 points every meeting in the Premier. I needed to step up and ride against the best guys to carry on improving."

Tonight's Elite League meeting against Belle Vue Aces has been postponed due to a waterlogged track.

Aces promoter John Perrin explained: "There is a problem with the drains and the track and pits are flooded."

He added: "Even if we had two days of sunshine there is no way the place would be ready and the weather forecast is for more rain in Manchester."

The closing date to buy tickets for the British GP from Poole Speedway is Wednesday 8 May.

Tickets are available from Mike Noble, the Poole Track Shop, or by ringing him on 01202 387872, and cost £24 or £35.

The Supporters Club are also taking bookings for their third coach to the GP, but they would like to remind anyone who has not yet paid to do so asap, as their seat will not be confirmed without payment.

The Supporters Club are also running a coach to King's Lynn for the KL v Poole match on Saturday 4 May. Travel Costs are £19 for non-members - £18 for Elite members.

Coach departs the Poole Stadium car park at 1 pm. All bookings to the Poole Track Shop or Mike Noble on 01202 387872.