WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST – Spotlight on the Poole Pirates

LINE-UP 1 Chris Holder (9.38) 2 Sam Masters (4.51) 3 Darcy Ward (9.11) 4 Dennis Andersson (5.23) 5 Adrian Miedzinski (5.57) 6 Ricky Kling (4.06) 7 Todd Kurtz (3.00) STAR MEN ‘Turbotwins’ Chris Holder and Darcy Ward are two of the top talents in British speedway.

The two Aussies are best pals off the track and quite superb on it, both racking up averages in excess of nine points.

Holder (24) has already slammed in four maximums this term with Ward (20) lag- ging behind on three.

Ward should be riding with a weight lifted off his shoulders tonight after being found not guilty in a sexual assault trial yesterday. OTHERS TO WATCH The Pirates have four Aussies in all with reservetodd Kurtz and doubling-up man Sam Masters also in the fold.

Masters is declared to ride tonight but he missed a meeting for his Premier League club, Somerset, last night due to a leg problem and Ludvig Lindgren may well get the nod instead.

Poole also boast two Swedes in their side in middle-order man Dennis Andersson (someone who burst onto the British scene last year and who is impressing again) and reserve Ricky Kling (a rider who tends to blow hot and cold).

Polish ace Adrian Miedzinski completes the line-up. He is currently only committed until the end of this month but has hinted he may remain for the whole season due to his friendship with Holder and Ward. The three are also team-mates at Polish clubtorun. TRACK Wimborne Road is sandwiched between a shopping centre and the seaside.

It’s a smidgeon short of 300 metres in length and was navigated by Swede Antonio Lindback in a record time of 56.91 back in 2006. RECENT FORM Poole have been unstoppable so far this season, but they did have a major fright last Wednesday.

They went into the final race of a league clash against Lakeside trailing by two points but a 5-1 from top dogs Holder and Ward ensured they snatched victory. Last five results: v Wolverhampton (a) W54-39 (KOC) v Lakeside (h) W46-44 (EL) v Lakeside (a) W48-42 (EL) v Wolverhampton (a) W47-43 (EL) v Coventry (h) W52-38 (EL) Key: EL = Elite League, KOC = KO Cup LAST TIME THERE Panthers were bashed 55-35 at Poole last August.

Guest number one Kenneth Bjerre scored just three points – the second lowest return of any rider in the city team. He’ll certainly hope for better tonight. Panthers: Troy Batchelor 10, Norbert Kosciuch 6, Dakota North 5+1, Krzysztof Buczkowski 5, Linus Sundstrom 4, Kenneth Bjerre (guest) 3, Kacper Gomolski Panthers sent shockwaves round the top-flight with a 46-44 success at Poole back in June, 2008.

Skipper Hans Andersen led the way with a stunning 16-point haul and reserve Morten Risager had his best meeting in the city club’s colours with 10+1.

It was a brief highlight in a turbulent first half of a season at the end of Colin Horton’s reign as owner of the club. Panthers: Hans Andersen 16, Morten Risager 10+1, Danny King 9+1, Henning Bager 7+1, Claus Vissing 4+1, Ty Proctor 0, rider replacement for Kenneth Bjerre.