POOLE boss Danny Ford has vowed that Max Perry is “head and shoulders above” other Brit kids.
The Berkshire born hot prospect could well become the youngest Pirate reserve ever at 16-years-old.
Perry will form a fascinating and precocious pairing with 19-year-old Sam Hagon at Wimborne Road.
Ford told the Daily Echo: “We were looking for a two-pointer, the way the team was shaping up. "No matter which way the team was going to go, we were always going to need a two-pointer. “You start doing your research on the National League riders, who is the best around, and Max was head and shoulders above the ones who were available.
“We spoke at length with Stewart Dickson about him, having been at Leicester last season riding for the Leicester Cubs National League team and he was really impressive there. His National League average reflects that and his scores in that league.
“Obviously I know he picked up an injury in the last fixture of the season at Oxford, which was very unfortunate and a big crash.
“I know he’s recovering well. People see it as a big risk, going with two young teenagers at reserve. But for the most part, everyone has got that inexperience at reserve.
“Okay, Plymouth have got Joe Thompson, but Joe is only 19. He is probably one of the more experienced ones.
“Then Glasgow have got Ace Pijper at reserve, who has had one full season in the Championship.
“But beyond that, everyone will be having those young lads at reserve, by the nature of the lower points limit.
“As long as our guys are beating those young lads then they’re doing their job.”
“I reckon it’s probably the only 16-year-old we’ve ever had, to be honest.
“It would be before my time if we have. That’s the youngest you can ride at in this league. He might be the youngest ever.”
Perry sustained a broken ankle and bruised lungs in a crash suffered during Leicester Lion Cubs’ final meeting of last season, but the teenager is expected to be available to ride from the start of the 2024 campaign.
Ford continued: “It was just a case of communicating with him and his dad, to be honest. We touched based with them early on.
“We can only go off what the medical professionals are saying and he said he should be fine come the new year.
“He’s recovering well, he’s starting weight training now, so that shows things are getting better. He’s hoping to be back on the bike in February.
“We were obviously slightly concerned initially when it happened, but we touched base with him the day after it happened and we were given the reassurances that come March he will be back to where he was.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.