PEDERSEN BAN SUSPENDED FOR 12 MONTHS

Triple world champion Nicki Pedersen is cleared to race after his four-month ban for confronting a referee was suspended for 12 months by the Danish Sports Confederation.

The Odense-born racer was initially hit with a six-month suspension by Denmark’s Motor Union. This was after he twice confronted referee Jesper Jensen in a Metal Speedway League Cup semi-final in Holsted on June 2.

Pedersen was found guilty of “unsportsmanlike conduct and threatening conduct” as well as “forcing access to the referee’s box without permission.”

But the rider and his lawyer Adam Ringsby-Brandt immediately lodged an appeal against the verdict, citing procedural errors and claiming Pedersen could not be handed a suspension as he hasn’t been accused of violent conduct.

The ban was cut from six months to four on appeal by the DMU, but Pedersen took the case to the Danish Sports Confederation, which has now suspended his sentence – meaning he will only serve a ban if he commits any similar offences in the next 12 months, which are punishable with a suspension.

The former FIM Speedway Grand Prix star has also been hit with a 15,000 DKK fine (around €2,000).

The news clears Pedersen to continue his career, meaning he can line up for Polish side Grudziadz in the PGE Ekstraliga and Danish club Holsted in the Metal Speedway League in 2022.