POOLE boss Danny Ford believes signing Anders Rowe gives them a similar dynamic to the treble-winning side of 2024.
The Swindon-born star returns to Wimborne Road for a second spell with the defending Cab Direct Championship holders next season.
Rowe rode for the Pirates in 2023, averaging just under six, before a stint with Glasgow earlier this year, and he becomes the fifth confirmed signing for the Dorset club.
Ford said: “We never wanted to let Anders go in 2024, but unfortunately he became a victim of the numbers game. Since then, he’s made great strides in his career, improving vastly as a rider.
“Last season we had a strong top four, which made us a formidable force on the track, and bringing Anders back into the fold for 2025 gives us confidence that we can build a similar dynamic.
“We’re thrilled to have him back at Wimborne Road, and we’re excited to see how he will contribute to another strong campaign for the Pirates.
“He had a fantastic year last season, the season just gone and he wanted to come back and we wanted to make it happen. So, delighted to get the deal done.
“And it gives us that strong top four that we had last season back again this coming season.”
Rowe is the fifth rider to be announced for 2025, joining Lewis Kerr as newly announced riders, while No1 Richard Lawson, Dane Tobias Thomsen and new skipper Zach Cook in the Pirates side for the season.
On how his team building is going, Ford said: “I’m very happy.
“Obviously you've got a team last year who won the treble, so any team you put together this year to fit within the points of them, it’s going to look a little bit weaker, that’s just the nature of the beast for speedway.
“You’re kind of penalised for being successful, which we’ve got no complaints about, but that's just the way it is. But our top four will certainly scare a lot of teams.
“It gives us that real strong spearhead. We know how good Toby was at the end of the season as well, so, very happy with the top five we put together so far.
“And we’re just putting this final piece of the puzzle together now.
“We should have the full team confirmed this side of Christmas.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.