Bjerre has spent the last four seasons with Peterborough

King's Lynn Stars have swooped to sign world number seven rider Kenneth Bjerre from Peterborough Panthers.

The Dane, 26, joins fellow ex-Panther Niels Kristian Iversen at the Norfolk Arena as the Stars prepare for their return to Elite League action.

Stars promoter Buster Chapman said: "To be honest it hasn't quite sunk in yet that we have signed Kenneth and Niels."

The news is a further blow to Peterborough who are currently without a league to ride in next season.

The Panthers, along with Coventry Bees, have been omitted from the Elite League after a fall out with the British Speedway Promoters' Association and have now lost their top two riders.

But King's Lynn have capitalised by signing-up the top-flight proven pairing of Bjerre and Iversen ahead of their first season in the Elite League for nine years.

It shows we really mean business this year and have got some extra firepower for heats 13 and 15 as well as the tactical rides King's Lynn manager Rob Lyon

"The last time I was in the Elite League I had the pleasure of signing riders like Henrik Gustaffson and Mark Loram, but for me nothing compares to this," Chapman added.

"I have watched Kenneth race many times and have become a massive fan over the past few seasons, he is so fast and like a tiger when he chases other riders down.

"It puts goosebumps on my skin when I think about the races we have ahead for next season, can you imagine Kenneth and Niels up against Chris Holder and Davey Watt or Freddie Lindgren and Tai Woffinden?"

Bjerre finished the 2010 speedway GP season - his second full campaign - in seventh place and averaged just over 10 points a meeting for the Panthers this year.

Stars manager Rob Lyon added: "It was tough deciding how to build the team but we came to the conclusion that it was right to have one of the best riders in the world at number one.

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"It shows we really mean business this year and have got some extra firepower for heats 13 and 15 as well as the tactical rides."

Bjerre's younger brother, 17-year-old Lasse, is currently a Peterborough asset, having joined the Panthers in November.

But the younger sibling spent time with the Stars last season and is likely to join his brother in Norfolk, potentially in a loan deal.

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