Pedersen joins Hammers.

Ronni Pedersen, the older brother of the 2003 World Speedway Champion Nicki Pedersen, is the latest name to be added to the Arena-Essex squad for the 2004 season. The A F Stocktaking Hammers Promoter, Ronnie Russell, announced this latest signing on Friday evening at the "Questions and Answers" session that followed the Annual General Meeting of the Hammers Supporters Club.

The Raceway Tavern was packed to the rafters with supporters when Ronnie advised the fans that Dane Ronni Pedersen would be replacing the injured Paul Hurry for the opening few meetings of the season. Hurry, who was present at the meeting, has recently had a second operation on the arm he injured towards the end of the 2003 season. He is expecting to be fit to take his place in the Hammers side during April but Pedersen will take the place of the Maidstone, Kent based rider until that time.

Pedersen is an ideal replacement following the announcement that former Hammer Brian Karger could not deputise for Hurry as his Polish team were not prepared to allow him to ride in this Country. Pedersen will not be able to spend the whole season with the Hammers due to his other commitments but jumped at the opportunity of racing again in this Country.

The arrival of Pedersen will add even more spice to the opening two matches when the A F Stocktaking Hammers are due to race against Eastbourne in the home and away Airtek Air Barrier meetings. He will be racing against his younger brother Nicki and that is likely to create a few sparks on the track as the two brothers are really competitive, especially when racing against each other. These two fixtures were already keenly awaited as they also pit the two Russell brothers against each other - Ronnie the Hammers Promoter and Terry the Co-Promoter at Eastbourne.

Furthermore two of the A F Stocktaking Hammers side, 2000 World Champion Mark Loram and Dean Barker rode for the Sussex coast team last season and the Hammers top rider in 2003, Joonas Kylmakorpi, will be included in the Eagles line-up.

29 year old Ronni, who was born in Middelfart in Denmark, started his UK career with Peterborough in 1993 and stayed with them until 1998, although he missed the 1996 season. He did not ride in this Country in 1999 and 2000 but re-appeared in 2001 when he rode in 10 Elite League matches for King's Lynn averaging 6.64.

In 2002 he appeared on just one occasion for King's Lynn and scored paid 14 points from his seven rides in the home match against Poole. He appeared regularly in the 2003 Grand Prix Series riding in six out of the nine meeting series scoring a total of 23 Grand Prix points, which placed him in 23rd place overall.

The 2004 Fixture List for the Arena-Essex A F Stocktaking Hammers has now been released. It is a season where the Hammers take their place in the Sky Sports Elite League, which is the top level of the Sport in this Country.

The Hammers start the season away at Eastbourne on Saturday 20th March in the 1st leg of the Airtek Air Barrier Meeting. The 2nd leg on Wednesday 24th March opens the action at Purfleet. The Essex based Club then travel to Oxford on Friday 26th March for the 1st leg of the Knockout Cup.

Arena-Essex open the Sky Sports Elite League campaign on Monday 29th March when the 2003 Triple Champions, the Poole Pirates, visit Purfleet. This match has been chosen by Sky Sports to open their live coverage of Speedway in 2004.