POOLE Pirates have opted to make an early team change, with Vinnie Foord drafted in to replace the struggling Max Perry.

Despite being just three meetings into the SGB Championship season, Pirates have decided now is the time to try and bolster their ranks.

It has been a near flawless campaign for Poole so far, winning all of their league fixtures and progressing into the semi-finals of both the Knockout Cup and BSN Series.

But reserve Perry has regularly struggled to contribute points along the way, often restricted to just three rides per meeting by team boss Neil Middleditch.

Perry impressed in the National League last season, but suffered an horrific crash in the final meeting of the campaign in October, breaking his wrist and ankle, with surgery required.

In nine meetings for Poole this year, Perry has totalled 9+4 from 30 races.

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And the 17-year-old has now been let go, with Foord, who turns 18 next month, earning his first Championship move.

The Hailsham-born talent rides for Leicester Lion Cubs in the third tier and impressed in the British Under-21 Championship at the weekend, placing sixth overall, ahead of the likes of Nathan Ablitt and Ace Pijper.

Discussing the team change, Pirates promoter Danny Ford told the Daily Echo: “It’s really unfortunate and it’s not something we like to do.

“In the past few years we’ve been the team that’s probably made one of, if not the, fewest changes.

“Max obviously had that horror crash at the end of last season and I think that really has set him back.

“He’s just struggling to find the kind of form he was showing at the end of last season.

“The confidence is a little bit lower, as it is with a lot of riders when they come back from a big injury. It can’t be understated the size of injury he had.

“Things just haven’t worked out at the minute for Max.

“Obviously he’s a two-point rider but he’s achieving around one based on the meetings he’s done for us so far.

“So we felt the time was right for us to make a change.

“Ultimately we’ve got a duty to put out the most competitive field and we feel that bringing in Vinnie Foord will do just that.”

He added: “The door is not closed on Max at Poole.

“We’re going to see how things go with Vinnie, but if Max starts picking up in the National League, there’s no reason why he can’t fight his way back in.

“It can be seen as ruthless, we know. But we didn’t feel that Max having three rides a night and struggling to score was doing his confidence any good at this stage. That can be hard.

“So we’re giving Vinnie a chance and the opportunity is there for him now.

“He’s just got to stamp his authority on that number seven race jacket.

“If he does that, then he’ll be here for the rest of the season and hopefully beyond.”