Poole Pirates Announce Signing of Dan Gilkes

Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates are thrilled to confirm the signing of talented British rider Dan Gilkes for the upcoming season

At just 23 years old, Gilkes has already established himself as an exciting prospect in British speedway, with a proven track record in a career that began with the Kent Kings in 2019. Dan's achievements include helping Sheffield secure the Premiership title in 2023 and the Knockout Cup in 2024.

Despite setbacks through injury, Gilkes has shown remarkable resilience and determination, earning respect across the sport for his professionalism and fighting spirit. His signing marks a significant step forward for the Pirates as they strengthen their squad for a competitive campaign in which they are defending a league and cup double.

In a video clip, available on Poole Speedway's social media sites,  that included a homage to recent pre-meeting introductions at Wimborne Road, Gilkes confirmed becoming a 2026 signing with a Pirate joke "why is a Pirate called a Pirate...'cos they aaarrgggh!", before adding "I am really happy to be announced as a shipmate for the 2026 season. Obviously, last season I suffered a knee injury whilst battling with the Pirates but thankfully the recovery is going well." 

That injury was sustained at Wimborne Road on May 7th when, racing for Oxford, he crashed on the fourth turn in heat ten, which curtailed his season.

Poole promoter Dan Ford expressed his delight in securing the signature of Gilkes, claiming:

 "Dan has been a target of ours for quite some time, so to finally be able to welcome him to Poole is something we’re absolutely delighted about. He’s been extremely professional in every interaction so far, and with an injury-free season under his belt we firmly believe he can now push on and reach his full potential. We’re excited to see what he can bring to the team in 2026.”