KAROL Zabik has revealed yoga will play a major part in his preparation for Pirates meetings next year.

The young Pole is one of a new breed of rider who believe in alternative methods of maintaining tip-top condition.

So much so that he stresses a "clear mind", "sleep" and "relaxation" can help him reach the top for Poole Castle Cover.

Zabik, winner of the World under-21 title last year, is intelligent, articulate, educated and well dressed.

In fact, mentally he resembles ex-Pirates rider Krzysztof Cegielski, who is also as sharp as a tack.

University educated, Cegielski was all set to become a serious contender for the world crown before he was permanently disabled in a track spill in Sweden several years ago.

The Pole stood out from the crowd when he joined Poole in 2001, and, so it seems, does his compatriot Zabik.

Talking about how he will cope with the demands of flying all over Europe to race speedway in 2008, the 21-year-old said: "I do yoga, and have done so for two years.

"It helps me to be more supple, so that you are not just using your muscles when you ride. It helps me to keep my weight in good condition.

"I don't like to go to the gym because you don't have to have big muscles to be a speedway rider.

"You only have to look at Leigh Adams, how slim he is, to see that.

"Relaxation is necessary. You have to have a clear mind throughout the season. Don't think about too many other things the day of a meeting.

"You have to have a free mind. You have to sleep a lot, especially between meetings, even on the plane.

"Last year, I was even sleeping on a bench at Heathrow for four hours. I was there in the morning.

"I woke up and saw an Iranian guy next to me, and a Chinese guy. I was surprised I slept that long, but it just shows that if your mind is clear you can relax anywhere."

Zabik, who plans to line up in the Swedish and Polish league next year as well as the Grand Prix qualifiers, is following in his father Jan's tyre treads by riding for an English club.

Jan, a tidy rider, impressed with an average of 4.37 in 26 league and cup matches for Sheffield in 1980 in the old British League.

Karol said: "My father just rode in England that year, he even lived in England and didn't ride in Poland."

Jan's experience certainly fuelled Karol's ambitions, and the youngsters said: "My dad is like a mentor to me.

"Without his help, I probably wouldn't be in the place I am now.

"But I don't want to talk about being here for one year. I want to be here for many more years, like Leigh."

Jan, who enjoyed a long racing career with Torun, has helped his son's progress on the track via his current role as the Polish club's junior trainer.

However, Karol's preparations to ride in England began 13 years ago while he was sat in front of the television.

Aware at a young age that speaking English would help him enormously, he said: "I first spoke English when I was eight.

"I learnt it from watching cartoons in English.

"When I went to my first English lesson at school, the teacher asked me my name in English, not expecting me to understand.

"I simply said to her 'my name is Karol and I'm eight years of age'.

"She was amazed because I'd had no proper tuition before then. I'd learnt it watching cartoons in English.

"After that, I was always top of the class in English at school.

"In my last exam, the equivalent of your A level, I had the maximum marks I could get."