PREVIEW: POOLE v OXFORD (BSN SERIES)

POOLE kick off their defence of the BSN Series as they face Oxford in the Southern group tonight (Friday).

The Pirates were successful in the early-season competition last year, eventually defeating Glasgow in the Final.

Their line-up has been revised for 2024 with Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Sam Hagon and Max Perry all making their first appearances tonight.

The Cheetahs have not won at Wimborne Road since 1999, but they did take part in some titanic battles with the Pirates last year, and they track a familiar line-up with all seven of their riders having been involved in 2023.

Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “This being our first competitive action means we need our new boys to, as they say, hit the ground running, as well as hoping that the guys from last season will provide a solid foundation.

“With Oxford being one of our nearest neighbours then of course there is the element of a local derby and I expect them to have some solid backing on the terraces given this is a holiday meeting.

“So, we have two good sides with loyal supporters getting behind them and that has all the promise to be a humdinger of a season opener for us.”

POOLE: Richard Lawson, Tobias Thomsen, Tom Brennan, Zach Cook, Ben Cook, Sam Hagon, Max Perry.
OXFORD: Sam Masters, Henry Atkins, Cameron Heeps, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls, Luke Killeen, Ashton Boughen.
SCB Referee: Christina Turnbull

*LIVE STREAMING: https://livestream.poole-speedway.com/