BJARNE Pedersen has admitted time is running out fast for him if he is to stretch his six-year tenure of a Grand Prix place to seven.

Pirates' captain reached his second semi-final in the six rounds he has contested so far this season with seven points at Daugavpils on Saturday.

But he was forced to go off the outside gate in heat 22 and was unable to add to his qualifying tally after heading six riders who all tied on seven on count back.

It meant Pedersen, who missed two of the opening three rounds through injury, only trimmed his deficit on a top eight place by one point.

The Poole Castle Cover rider has an overall total of 45 points, still 14 adrift of the last automatic re-qualifying spot for 2009 currently filled by Fredrik Lindgren on 59.

Pedersen said: "I made up one point on the top eight but that is not enough. My progress is slow, too slow.

"GPs are running out for me so I have got to start making up some big points now."

Pedersen added: "I made life quite difficult for myself on Saturday starting with no points from my first two rides and struggling to get the set up right.

"I think we found it for my last three heats and I was pretty happy with that.

"But the outside gates were tough and no-one really wanted to be there by choice, that's for sure."

Pedersen, who had scored four, seven, 14, seven and six in his previous GP rounds this term, continued: "I was pleased to make the semi-finals after missing out so many times before.

"However, it was always going to be hard to make much improvement having had last choice of gate.

"The track was tough, there were quite a few stones in it and it felt in places like riding on ice but that isn't an excuse because it is the same for all the riders."

Pedersen will need to repeat the form he displayed in his last three qualifying rides at Daugavpils in Bydgoszcz on September 13 if he is to cut deeper into his top eight deficit.

After running two last places from outside gates, Pirates' skipper burst into life by finishing a close second behind Krzysztof Kasprzak third time out.

Bjarne got out in front of GP leader Nicki Pedersen in heat 16 before being relegated to second on the third and fourth turn.

The Poole man impressively triumphed in race 18 though, ahead of overall podium challengers Greg Hancock and Leigh Adams to take his tally to seven.

A few anxious moments followed before Krzysztof Kasprzak, Scott Nicholls and Hans Andersen faltered in heats 19 and 20, thereby failing to overtake Bjarne for eighth spot.

But he couldn't get round the outside of Nicki, Jason Crump or Andreas Jonsson on the first and second turn in his semi-final so failed to add to his points.

Time is clearly running out for Bjarne in his bid to retain his GP status.

A big performance, like the one he produced at Cardiff earlier this year when only a dreadful refereeing decision denied him a place in the final, is needed fast.

The Pirate clearly hasn't given up the chase though if his plucky Daugavpils performance is anything to go by.

  • Additional reporting by Steve Allen.