NICKI Pedersen has unexpectedly parted company with Peterborough after less than one race for the club.
The Dane crashed in the opening heat of his first Premiership meeting for the Panthers against Ipswich on March 27. He announced this week: "I have to pull out for now and resign, the body is just not fit enough with my injury for the technical British tracks. "I hope you can find a replacement very quick and move on and focus on the main thing, winning the British league." In a statement, the Panthers management said: "It is a great shame that Nicki has had to leave. We understand and respect his reasons and wish him well for the remainder of the season. "Nicki was very much the marquee signing we wanted to help Peterborough enjoy a great season, and we are now madly scouring the speedway world as we look to bring in a signing to replace him. "We have already spoken to half a dozen very high-profile riders, who at this moment have all turned down the opportunity due to commitments in the Grand Prix or elsewhere in meetings abroad. Several of those riders have indicated that the situation may change later in the year. "We will continue with this process as we look for the best replacement for Nicki that we can possibly bring in." The Peterborough promotion have also admitted that the current season looks very likely to be the club's last. The statement continued: "We have a contract with the Showground until the end of October, and at this stage it is highly unlikely that this will be renewed. "We have spoken to several people regarding the potential for a new site, but the club would need significant help with that as it would essentially involve building a new stadium. "Our intention is to carry on fighting for as long as possible to keep Peterborough Speedway in Peterborough, but as it stands now, the speedway will cease in October." "¢ Full coverage of this story in next week's Speedway Star.
