PIRATES asset Magnus Zetter-strom today vowed to put his spat with the club firmly be-hind him as he looks forward to making his Peterborough debut in their Sky Sports-covered meeting tomorrow.
The 30-year-old Swedish showman could not hide his heart-felt disappointment at being replaced by Grzegorz Walasek, following the Pole's return from injury.
So much so that Zetterstrom's form dropped alarmingly in his last three outings for Poole Meridian Lifts before Walasek was called up to replace the Swede at Wolves last night.
Zorro - as Zetterstrom is affectionately known in British speedway circles - is Pirates through and through.
And he desperately wanted to ride for them until the end of this season.
But he now sees his on loan move to Peterborough for the rest of the campaign as a blessing in disguise, after, admittedly, taking a few days for the situation to sink in.
Zetterstrom, who also had a loan spell with the Panthers in 2000, said: "It is still a little bit strange at the moment that I am going to Peterborough. But I think I will get used to it pretty quickly.
"I just want to ride speedway. I'm really grateful to Peterboro-ugh and to Poole for the help they have given me in fixing up this loan deal.
"I could have been going home to Sweden and not getting any more rides in England this year. I am pleased Peterboro-ugh really want me and have come up with a team place.
"Now I just have to look forward and get on with it, starting with Peterborough against Eastbourne on Sky tomorrow night."
Zetterstrom added: "It will be strange being there and not at Poole. But wherever I ride and who ever I ride for, I try to do a professional job.
"I am having a brilliant year in Sweden for Ornarna in their number one position. I'm reasonably happy with my performances in England, but I don't know why I'm scoring better in Sweden than over here.
"I know Peterborough will be a good home track for me so that suits me good. I also know the promoters and most of the riders. The drop down to reser-ve should mean I can build up my confidence again so that I can score more points. This move could push me on more and make a difference. Hope-fully I can score more points.
"I'm not saying it will be easier because I am a reserve. But, hopefully, I can do well in my first race in heat two.
"If you have a good first outing it boosts your confidence for the rest of the meeting.
"There are no excuses for my poor performance at home to Ipswich and also at Ipswich.
"But Poole's decision to drop me affected my racing and, also, Jim Lynch rang me up during the day on Thursday and said I must have your answer within an hour.
"So that was all on my mind when I was riding for Poole."
* Arsenal goalkeeper Richard Wright made a guest appearance at Exeter last night in a meeting for Lawrence Hare.
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