FORD MOVES FORWARD WITHOUT HOLDER

Matt Ford insists his Volvo Cars Poole Pirates class of 2018 will move forward without Chris Holder after the Australian star confirmed he would not be returning to Wimborne Road this year as first planned. 

Holder was unveiled during press and practice in March and Ford initially booked Peter Kildemand to cover for the 2012 world champion while he resolved some personal issues.
But Ford was forced to draft in Richie Worrall in May, with Holder’s situation unresolved and Kildemand facing fixture clashes with his commitments in Denmark.
Ford said: "The whole situation with Chris has been very frustrating for everyone, nobody more so than Chris himself who was desperate to line up for the Pirates again this season. There's no doubt the situation has affected our start to the season, but now it is out in the open and we know where we are, I hope everyone will get behind the team.
"It's been extremely difficult and not at all how I wanted our platinum season to begin, but there is plenty of track time left in the league this year and I know this team is as determined as I am to ensure we are in the play-off mix come the end of the summer. We are only four points off the play-offs so one big away win wipes that out. This season is far from over."

Ford confirmed he hoped to retain Worrall's services for the remainder of the SGB Premiership campaign, but that he was still in talks with the racer's parent club Belle Vue.

The Pirates return to action after the Speedway of Nations break when they welcome King's Lynn to Wimborne Road on Wednesday night.
Nicolai Klindt takes his place in the Pirates septet having rejoined the club in place of injured Stefan Nielsen, while the Stars will have Danish star Niels-Kristian Iversen available after he took time out to regain full fitness following a shoulder injury.

The Stars also boast Robert Lambert among their ranks, who starred alongside twice world champion Tai Woffinden as Team GB finished second in the Speedway of Nations at the weekend.

Pirates: Brady Kurtz, Linus Sundstrom, Josh Grajczonek, Nicolai Klindt, Richie Worrall, Mateusz Szczepaniak, Kacper Woryna.
Stars: Niels Kristian Iversen, Michael Palm-Toft, Ty Proctor, Thomas Jorgensen, Robert Lambert, Simon Lambert, Lewis Kerr.