POOLE boss Danny Ford wants his side to “hit the ground running” with the defence of their BSN Series title.
The Pirates kick off their season against Oxford in the Southern group tonight (Friday).
Victory in the BSN Series was the Dorset club’s major success of 2023, eventually defeating Glasgow in the final.
Their line-up has been revised for 2024 with Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Sam Hagon and Max Perry all making their first appearances tonight.
The Cheetahs have not won at Wimborne Road since 1999, but they did take part in some titanic battles with the Pirates last year, and they track a familiar line-up with all seven of their riders having been involved in 2023.
Ford said: “This being our first competitive action means we need our new boys to, as they say, hit the ground running, as well as hoping that the guys from last season will provide a solid foundation.
“With Oxford being one of our nearest neighbours then of course there is the element of a local derby and I expect them to have some solid backing on the terraces given this is a holiday meeting.
“So, we have two good sides with loyal supporters getting behind them and that has all the promise to be a humdinger of a season opener for us.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.