RUSHEN READY FOR STEP UP

POOLE co-promoter Dan Ford has no concerns over the ability of British Under-21 Champion Cooper Rushen to handle the step up into the main body of the team.

Rushen commenced his debut Cab Direct Championship season with an assessed 2.00 average, but that has now shot up to 6.17 after a string of impressive displays.

It means he moves out of the Pirates’ reserve berths ahead of Wednesday’s BSN Series semi-final against Edinburgh, where the visitors hold a narrow two-point advantage from the first leg.

Ford said: “I don’t think it is a case of being surprised that Cooper has moved into the main body of the side, but maybe at the speed in which he has done so. But it showed at Redcar on Sunday that he has talent and titles in him.

“With Cooper moving up, it means that Kyle Newman drops into the reserve berth, and that is no indication as to how Kyle has been riding.

“He maintains an average of over five points and so, more than anything else, it shows the strength in depth that this team has.”

Photo credit: COLIN POOLE