PIRATES FUME AS BASSO LEAVES

Poole bosses Matt and Dan Ford have expressed their immense disappointment that Dane Benjamin Basso has chosen not to ride for the Pirates in the 2022 season.

Dan admitted "Dad and I can't begin to say how let down we feel that Ben will be in opposition to us as we look to defend the league and cup double, that he played a key part in winning in 2021." 

"When we first approached Ben last season we went through the process of obtaining an 24 month work permit for him, with the view that he would not just be a half a year wonder for us. Indeed we were happy to table a contract to him for 2022, in which we were willing to work around his Danish commitments and even racing on off race nights to accommodate him in our team. We had invested a great deal in time and cost to bring Ben to the UK and it really hurt us personally when he informed us he wouldn't be back in Poole colours. I really do not know what more we could have done to try and keep him. It is a massive kick in the teeth for us"

"I know it will come as a big disappointment to the Poole fans too, as they really took to Ben and I have to say it was brilliant to have a showman in the team. There was a terrific rapport between Ben and the fans and I just want to emphasis that is was not for the want of trying, and it was Ben's decision not to want to ride for us in 2022."

"That said, we remain positive that we will be bringing together a side for the club to be proud of in 2022 and as I have said previously, we expect to be in a position to announce part of the make-up at the very least in the very near future."