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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Belle Vue have signed top Swede Peter Karlsson to complete a hot cutting edge to their side for the 2010 campaign.
He follows Danish World Cup captain Hans Andersen into the Kirkmanshulme Lane team to leave the club with only the two bottom places in the side to be sorted out.
Karlsson, who captained Wolverhampton to this year's Elite League championship title, was disappointed to be released by the Midland club, who had to reduce their strength to comply with the 40.95 limit on a team's aggregate averages.
He agreed a deal in talks with Aces' chiefs David Gordon and Chris Morton last week but asked for time to think over his strategy for next season before giving his final decision.
Karlsson, who is 40 next week, first rode in British speedway when he joined Wolverhampton in 1990 so he is vastly experienced round all tracks and has a knowledge which will help Belle Vue's younger riders like Patrick Hougaard and James Wright.
Karlsson, a World Cup winner with Sweden, had a spell with the Aces in 2001 when he made such a good impression that the then promoter, John Perrin, tried to bring him back the following season.
He comes in on a figure of 8.66 which means the Aces will not be able to accommodate the return of Dane Ulrich Ostergaard. But they have been told by his parent club, Peterborough, that they might need him next season anyway.
Aces' chief David Gordon said: “We are absolutely delighted to have attracted a rider of Karlsson's calibre and experience to Belle Vue.
“We spoke to him last week and agreed terms but he asked for time to decide whether or not he wanted to continue in the Elite League next season.
“He was disappointed to lose his place at Wolverhampton but, fortunately, he has come to the decision we had been hoping he would make.
“We are sorry that Ostergaard won't be coming back. Peterborough had given us permission to talk to him but that was on the understanding that they might want to use him themselves.
“This will be the first time we have run a side with two such big hitters as Andersen and Karlsson. It could weaken us a little at the bottom end but we have quite a few interesting options for the last two places in the team.”
The Aces have 7.30 points left for their last two riders.
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