Three-time speedway world champion Nicki Pederson, will make his first appearance for Sheffield Tigers in March as the club return to the Premiership.

After signing in January for the club, Pederson will race his first heat on the Olwerton track in the Independent Forgings and Alloys Northern Riders’ Championship on Thursday 26 March.

His fellow Danish legend, Bjarne Pederson, a veteran of 71 Grand Prix appearances, will be racing in the Championship too, promising a showdown between Denmark’s greats.

This will be Bjarne’s last ever Owlerton appearance as he heads into retirement.

All of the 2020 Sheffield team will race in the meeting, which is the opening meeting of the season.

This season brings Premiership speedway back to the city, as the newly promoted Sheffield side return to the top league.

The Tigers will kick-start their 2020 league campaign at home, where they will challenge local rivals Belle Vue on 2 April.

Sheffield racer Todd Kurtz will also host his testimonial fixture at Owlerton on Thursday 19 March.

Kurtz’s star-studded line-up includes former world champions Chris Holder and Jason Doyle. As his former Somerset teammate Rory Schlein, Troy Batchelor and Peter Kildemand will appear too.

The tapes will go up at 19:30.

The start of the new season will also see Sheffield newcomer and former Poole Pirates’ racer Jack Holder take to the steel city’s track.

The Premiership season will run from March until October.