PIRATES charger Adam Ellis set his sights on the number one race position at Wimborne Road this season and added: “My goal is to keep progressing every year.”

The 23-year-old represented Birmingham in the spearhead role in the SGB Championship last campaign and comes into the Poole side on a 7.80 average for 2020.

Skipper Danny King (8.45) is set to begin the campaign at number one with Steve Worrall (7.38) making up a power-packed British heat leader line-up.

But Ellis, who last ride for Poole in the Premiership back in 2016, believes the competition between the trio would only make Pirates stronger.

He told Speedway Portal: “We have all got the ability to be a number one – I don’t really know how Matt (Ford, owner) has managed to fit all three of us in the team.

“We had a laugh and a joke about it in France at Matt’s chateau. There are three guys in the team in me, Danny and Stevie who were all number ones last year.

“Obviously, Danny was pretty adamant he wasn’t giving it up but, if I’ve got anything to do with it, he will be going down the pecking order!

“It’s going to be tough to get it because I know Danny is fired up. He is feeling really good after his crash a few years ago where he had some problems with his arm.

“Stevie is always super fit and is more than determined to get back to where he was a few years ago – when he was involved in the World Cup with Team GB.

“It’s not going to be easy but my goal is to keep progressing every year, so obviously that’s staying at number one where I was last year.”

Marmande-born Ellis is back in France amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with the British speedway season set to be suspended until at least June 15.

He was confirmed in Poole’s 2020 septet back in December.

Speaking about the recruitment of the World Cup silver medallist, owner Matt Ford said: “Adam Ellis was the icing on the cake. That came kind of from nowhere.

“But when he became available, that was just brilliant news to me because I was such a big fan of Adam anyway and tried to buy him on more than one occasion.”

He added: “I think we’ve got a good team. I am really impressed with the top three.

“I don’t really see anybody else in the league that have got a better top three than us.”