PIRATES chief Matt Ford has stressed Craig Boyce will have recorded an "exceptional achievement" when he begins his 20th successive British League season on Saturday.

The 39-year-old Poole Castle Cover rider will reach that milestone when he goes to the tapes at Eastbourne on Saturday.

And Ford has added he would back the Sydneysider's claim for a farewell benefit meeting when he does eventually retire from racing because of his "amazing loyalty to British speedway".

Ford said: "Craig has been an exceptional servant to the sport in this country although I'm sure that he himself doesn't realise it is 20 years.

"Otherwise he would have spoken to us or applied to the British Speedway Promoters' Association in November to put on a meeting.

"However, just because you have raced 20 years doesn't mean you will be automatically honoured with a second benefit meeting.

"Craig staged a 10-year testimonial as a Pirates asset at Poole in 2003, so it would be far too soon to be staging another one for people to support this year.

"Perhaps Craig would be wise to apply at this year's BSPA annual conference and bank the meeting when he retires from racing."

Boyce, who was a revelation in the Elite League last year after spending the previous two in the second tier with Isle of Wight, is Pirates' all-time leading points scorer with more than 4,000.

He originally joined the club in 1988 as a teenager and has spent five spells with the outfit, although remaining a Poole asset for most of that period.

The Australian was sold to Oxford in 1991 and also spent a year at Swindon on loan in 1995.

After leaving Pirates at the end of 1998, he rode on loan for Oxford, King's Lynn, Ipswich, Oxford again and Ipswich again in the top flight before dropping down to the Premier Division with Isle of Wight in 2004.

He was also captain of the Poole team that won the British League Cup in 2003, the year he had his benefit at Wimborne Road.

Ford said: "Craig has always been loyal to British speedway from day one and Leigh Adams is probably only a year behind him in those stakes.

"Very few foreign riders last that amount of time in the British League without giving a season a miss here and there, but Boycey has never let British speedway down.

"His is an outstanding achievement. Craig has been a great servant to this club in particular, and to the sport in general.

"When the time is right for him, I'm sure he will look forward to people honouring his 20 years' service and I will be backing his request to stage such a meeting."