‘It looks stupid!’ – Nicki Pedersen rings referee to protest decision amid Speedway World Cup drama

There was drama at the death of the second Speedway World Cup semi-final in Wroclaw, Poland on Wednesday night as Denmark rider and team manager Nicki Pedersen took it upon himself to ring the referee and protest a decision made against his team.

The Danes held a lead as Heat 17 approached, with a place in Saturday’s final looking theirs for the taking.

But then came an exclusion for Rasmus Jensen, who touched wheels with Finland’s Antti Vuolas.

On viewing the replays, it was controversial but perhaps understandable – however Pedersen did not agree with the verdict, marching over to the phone booth to call the referee.

At first that phone didn’t work, causing more chaos which eventually saw him get in touch via a mobile phone.

“You look a bit stupid if you exclude him for that, they touched and he’s over, he doesn’t crash by himself,” Pedersen told the officials.

“You need to look out for yourself as a referee and a professional. It’s a very wrong decision, I’m sorry it looks stupid my friend.

“Everybody down here can see what happened, but that’s OK it’s your decision.”

Speaking afterwards, Pedersen explained why he had felt compelled to question the decision.

“The language was very polite but I have to as a team manager, I’m fighting for my team and that’s how it is, it’s racing sometimes,” he said.

“We could obviously see on the camera it was the wrong decision but that’s how it is sometimes, we pulled it back and made it to the final and I’m proud of Denmark.”