THE mystery surrounding Russian Sergey Darkin took another strange twist yesterday when he failed to appear for the Poole Castle Cover Pirates press day after being refused entry to the UK.

Darkin has been detained in Moscow following some red tape concerning his visa and his temporary detention means that the Pirates promoters have little idea when he will arrive in the country.

Co-promoter Mike Golding told the Daily Echo: "We're hoping it's just a small blip.

"We had everything done with his paperwork from this end, but these days it is getting a bit more complicated for the riders.

"We provide a work permit and that original document has to be sent to the rider. But then they have to go the Embassy themselves to get an entry visa. Apparently, they were a little slow in Sergey's application and it has now become bogged down in the paperwork."

Golding, who had been told that Darkin had got to the UK only to be refused entry at the immigration desk, is "certain" that the 33-year-old Uzbekistan-born rider will be in place for Wednesday's Wimborne Road curtain-raiser in the return leg of the Eastbourne challenge fixture.

Golding said: "Although we're not convinced he will be ready to ride in the challenge match at Eastbourne, I'm as certain as I can be that he will be in the line-up next Wednesday."

Meanwhile, co-promoter Matt Ford believes the new season will be one of the most exciting in years for Pirates fans as he counts down the days for the new term to start.

"It has seemed like a long four months," smiled Ford.

"It will be a very exciting year for Pirates fans. What could be better than having the world champion - our own asset - riding for us?"