Career
In 1983 Pedersen signed for the Cradley Heath Heathens. His first British meeting heralded a five-point return in Birmingham"s Second City individual Trophy on 18 March. His future had been plotted for Dudley Wood almost a year earlier when he was recommended to Heathens team manager Peter Adams by his countryman, Bent Rasmussen.
The ensuing months brought three more clubs knocking on his door but in August, Pedersen publicly pledged his future to Cradley.
The decision was then made by new manager Colin Pratt to loan the Dane out and he spent 1984 with Sheffield. Despite that season being marred by a broken arm, he did enough to convince Tigers" promoter Maurice Ducker that he was worth buying.
However, Pratt refused to sell and Pedersen"s return to Dudley Wood for 1985 saw the start of an uninterrupted 8-year stint with the club His speedway career was brought to a premature end in his testimonial year.
Less than a fortnight after Pedersen"s 10-year testimonial at Cradley, he crashed in Denmark and suffered a serious back injury and never raced competitively again.
He has also had one year spells as team manager with Oxford and promoter with Cradley when they spent the 1996 season riding at Stoke. In 1999, he raced in the 25th Anniversary meeting at Denmark"s Vojens track. A series of competitive races were held involving old and current international stars, including Gary Havelock, Henrik Gustafsson and Jesper B. Monberg.
He is currently a coach for the Dudley Heathens Speedway team riding in the National League in England.
Dudley Heathens has roots with Cradley Heathens who currently ride at Perry Barr Stadium with the Birmingham Brummies. Individual World Championship
1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 9th - 7pts
1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 2nd - 13pts
1987 - Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium - 7th - 19pts
1988 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 3rd - 13pts
* Pedersen qualified for the 1989 and 1990 World Final"s but withdrew injured on both occasions.
World Pairs Championship
World Team Cup
Individual Under-21 World Championship
1982 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 5th - 10pts
1983 - Lonigo, Pista Speedway - 12th - 5pts.
