POLISH PAIR NAMED FOR PIRATES PLATINUM SEASON

THE Volvo Cars Poole Pirates have made a double swoop for Polish stars Kacper Woryna and Mateusz Szczepaniak.

The duo will line up alongside Australian pair Josh Grajczonek and Brady Kurtz in the 2018 Pirates one-to-seven as promoter Matt Ford looks to add a 10th top-flight title to the club's trophy cabinet during its milestone 70th anniversary campaign.

Rybnik-born Woryna follows in the footsteps of his late grandfather Antoni Woryna, who donned the skull and crossbones race jacket between 1973 and 1974.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a spell at Coventry in 2016 and comes into the Poole septet on a 4.65 average.

Szczepaniak was drafted into the Pirates' 2011 line-up but suffered a knee injury on his debut and saw his maiden Elite League season cut short. In 2012, he rode for King's Lynn.

The experienced 30-year-old helped Poland to the world under-21 team championship in 2007 and joins the Pirates on a 4.54 average.

Ford said: "Kacper is an up and coming rider who I think will be perfectly suited to the Poole set-up. We're expecting big things from him, while Mateusz brings bags of European racing experience to the club and that knowledge and know-how will be crucial as we look to secure another league title.

"With four riders now confirmed for next season, our team is really starting to take shape and the prospect of watching these guys race together is hugely exciting."

Both Woryna and Szczepaniak, meanwhile, will be meeting supporters at the Pirates store in Poole's Dolphin Centre between 12pm and 2.30pm on Tuesday, December 12.