SPEEDWAY wonderkid and Poole Pirates target Brady Kurtz admits the chance to emulate childhood heroes Leigh Adams and Jason Crump would be "like a dream come true".
The 18-year-old Australian charger has taken the Premier League by storm, establishing himself as number one at parent club Somerset Rebels with a hefty average of 8.62.
In a Daily Echo exclusive, Pirates promoter Matt Ford last month lauded Kurtz as an "outstanding talent" that "every single club wants to snap up as an asset".
Despite his rapid rise to prominence, Poole-based Kurtz revealed he would be unlikely to bring forward his plan for an Elite League debut in 2016 but that a Wimborne Road berth tops his wish list.
Kurtz told the Daily Echo: "I have been looking up to the Poole Pirates since I was seven years old and used to watch them on TV all the time. To have Matt Ford looking at me and saying those things is like a dream come true.
"I am living down in Poole now and I think that was a good move for me this year. It would be awesome to get a team spot down there with all the Aussie boys and the team spirit they have.
"Leigh and Jason were the top guys when I was growing up and Chris (Holder) has taken that on since I came here.
"I am best friends with his brother Jack, so I'm always buzzing around Chris's house and in a way, it is weird that one of my heroes is now one of my mates."
Kurtz began following in the footsteps of his idols by winning the prestigious New South Wales Championship in the past two years, a title won by Poole legends Craig Boyce, Holder and Darcy Ward during their early careers.
The emerging talent, sponsored by Poole company Wessex Marine, made an immediate impact in the second flight last year with an average of 7.54 before further pushing the boundaries this time round. But Kurtz insists he will not rush his introduction to Britain's top table.
"I am having a really good season and have a few offers but would be hesitant about taking anything in the Elite League right now," he added.
"With a lot of bookings in the Premier League and the World Under-21 Championship coming up, I don't think there is any rush. Time is on my side and if I wait until the end of the year to move up, I think it will be better for me.
"Next season, I definitely want to be in the Elite League. It is more than likely that I will double up but we will have to see what happens.
"With the reserve rules as they are, it is tough for us Aussies to step up and improving your average creates its own problems.
"It has to be the right offer from the right team and I want to have everything set up for it to work out on the track."
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