MATT Ford has questioned Jason Doyle’s temperament – he believes the Aussie cares TOO much.

Doyle has laughed in the face of persistent injury problems to star for Pirates this season, after being drafted into Ford’s one-to-seven in place of Rafal Dobrucki at the start of the campaign.

The Aussie will line up for Poole Castle Cover at home to Wolves in the Elite League tonight (7.30pm), despite dislocating his shoulder when racing for Australia against Team GB at Wimborne Road a week ago.

And Ford believes the 25-year-old is now in the kind of form that could see him target big-money contracts in Poland and Sweden – if he can conquer his emotions.

The Pirates chief told the Echo: “I think Jason has something that works from the gate. I was talking to Chris Holder and Darcy Ward recently and I said if they were looking at a trapper in the team, Jason would be it. His gating is the best in the whole team.

“He probably now needs that extra one mile per hour in some races and that is the difference between the level he is at now and the level Chris is at. He is so close to doing it and he is one hell of a talent, but he gets too emotional on the bike.

“He comes into the pits when he hasn’t won and chucks his helmet around and he is very emotional in there. If he can just calm down a tiny little bit, he could go to the very top.”

Doyle first climbed into Pirates kevlars full-time in 2007, with the Dorset side eventually finishing pot-less despite a season that promised much under the guidance of then world champion Jason Crump.

Doyle returned to the Pirates fold in 2010 after missing the previous season due to injury – a campaign in which Ford had felt the Newcastle-born rider would have been the ‘special ingredient’.

Ford added: “His form in our league is as good as his form in the league below this season, so he has been outstanding and has been a pleasure to work with this year.

“Jason has taken his chance and you have to say that he has been immense for the team this year. Long may it continue, because he could be the one rider who could make a difference when it comes to the play-offs at the end of the season.

“He’s now starting to achieve what he has always wanted to and so it makes him so easy to control. It is so satisfying to see him doing well.

“He is different this year – my phone is not constantly ringing with moans from the other end!

“But in all seriousness, he really is looking the part now. There is proper money in speedway now, particularly in Poland and Sweden.

“And I think he is looking at what some of the other lads are doing, he has seen Chris buy a house and I think he wants some of that.”

Tai Woffinden looks set to miss out for Wolves after coming a cropper during the British final at Monmore Green on Monday night.

Pirates: Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Davey Watt, Jason Doyle, Dennis Andersson, Christian Hefenbrock, Renat Gafurov.

Wolves: Freddie Lindgren, Ty Proctor, Ludvig Lindgren, R/R or Tai Woffinden, Peter Karlsson, Tyson Burmeister, Ricky Wells.