PIRATES ON TRACK THIS WEEK

The No.1 Carpet Cleaning Pirates head into action for the first time this Wednesday when they help Somerset speedway celebrate their 20 years anniversary.

The Pirates will be without new signing Nico Covatti for this meeting as he sticks with the Rebels, with whom he joined mid-term in 2018 and became an instant hit with Rebels supporters. To cover for Nico's absence the hosts have loaned Poole the services of their new reserve, Anders Rowe, a rider previously seen at Wimborne Road several years ago as a very young lad. Rowe, 16, has been riding for Kent for the past two seasons and joined Somerset over the winter.

The Anniversary Meeting at the OakTree Arena will feature many riders who have ridden for both clubs during their career. Poole's Jack Holder returns after a term with the Rebels last season. Josh Grajczonek, Brady Kurtz and Richie Worrall have also ridden plenty of races in their time at the Somerset venue whilst the 2018 Pirate that broke Rebels' hearts in the SGB Premiership play-off semi-final, Chris Harris, has during the winter linked up with Garry May's team and indeed will captain the Rebels this season.

Somerset's step-back to the SGB Championship has forced them to put together virtually a completely new set of riders, only Covatti was retained from last year and headlining the Rebels side this year is Rory Schlein.

The Pirates though have a more familiar feel about them with Nicolai Klindt retained (along with Kurtz and Grajczonek) and Poole's three 'Nics' is completed by Nikolai Busk Jakobsen.

The meeting at Somerset preceeds the Pirates' official Press and Practice Day this Thursday (4th April).