POOLE Pirates are planning to call on some expert help to try and improve youngster Max Perry’s slow starts to races.

Gating has been holding the 17-year-old back since he joined Pirates this season, an issue he highlighted himself ahead of the campaign as something he had to improve.

In five meetings so far, the young reserve has totalled 6+2 from 16 rides, drawing a first blank in the 45-44 loss at Oxford Cheetahs last time out, the scene of his horror clash last season.

Bournemouth Echo: Danny Ford says Poole Pirates youngster Max Perry is "low on confidence"

Discussing Perry’s start at Poole, promoter Danny Ford told BBC Radio Solent: “Max had a really, really big injury at the end of last year.

“We’d already committed to Max and we didn’t want to go back on that commitment, despite the injury.

“It was in the final meeting of the season, at Oxford. I’m sure that’s got some bad memories and may perhaps have been playing in the back of his mind (last week).

“He’s got the speed, he’s just not getting out the starts.

“We’re going to do some work with him on his starts after the next few meetings, getting some guys who we know locally, a few ex-speedway riders who can perhaps give him some advice.

“I think if he gets out the starts, he’ll pick up points, as simple as that.

“That’s 90 per cent of the battle in speedway. If you make the starts, you’ll make a nuisance of yourself and pick up some points.

“If he does that, he’ll progress.

“At the moment, he’s a bit low on confidence and that all stems from that injury at the end of last season.

“If he starts picking up points, that will soon grow.”

Perry, who also rides in the third tier for Edinburgh, will hope to make his mark when Poole Pirates return to Championship action this evening, hosting Workington Comets (7.30pm).