BJARNE Pedersen has warned Elite League bosses that more top riders may quit Britain for Russia if they mess up their 2008 team-building rules.

Pirates' captain, who has ridden in this country for the past eight years, reiterated his "full commitment" to British speedway.

But the Dane, who is not sure whether he will retain his Poole Castle Cover berth for a sev- enth consecutive season, also stressed Russia is where the big money is.

And he admitted its lucrative league racing was a major temptation for riders like him to follow in the tyre treads of Greg Hancock, Ryan Sullivan (both Togliatti) and Lee Richardson (Balakovo).

Pedersen said: "I really hope I know something before the BSPA conference (from November 29 to December 2) because I have a Russian team that wants to sign me up for next season.

"I really like England. I have some really great sponsors around me, and that is a major reason to stay.

"However, there are other countries knocking on the door at the moment like Russia.

"The promoters of British speedway have to be a little bit careful how they set up the rules.

"If they don't get the points limit right in the future riders might consider other countries and leave British tracks."

Four out of 15 Grand Prix riders sat out the whole 2007 British campaign - Tomasz Gollob, Rune Holta, Wieslaw Jagus and Jarek Hampel, while Hancock, Andreas Jonsson and Antonio Lindback only dabbled in it.

Some promoters are believed to want only one GP rider, or only one rider with an average above eight, in each team.

Pedersen said: "If they (the BSPA) bring in funny rules about GP riders they are just kicking themselves especially when you can see in Poland and Sweden there are good riders around."