WIMBORNE Road chief Matt Ford says Pirates are desperate to land the Elite League title – for injured Leigh Adams.

Adams, the speedway legend who retired from the sport last season, is recovering after being involved in a serious crash during practice for the annual Finke Desert race last week.

The ex-Grand Prix star, who rode for Pirates in 1989 and 2003, sustained multiple injuries including several fractured vertebrae, extensive spinal cord damage, punctured lungs, broken ribs, a broken scapula and a small fracture in his neck.

A number of pages in Pirates’ official programme for Wednesday’s meeting against Eastbourne were dedicated to well wishes and messages of support for the Australian.

Poole have four Aussies in their 2011 team – Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Davey Watt and Jason Doyle – and Ford says they are determined to bring home the silverware for Adams.

In his programme notes, Ford wrote: “There is no question that despite spending the majority of his career at Swindon, Leigh has a huge soft spot for Poole Speedway. This is where he started in British speedway and I know without doubt that he would have stayed here in 2004 – even with Swindon back in the Elite League – because he loved his season here. He also understood that with Tony Rickard-sson at the club, our loyalty was with the rider who had been here longer.

“But now I would love nothing better than for this Pirates team – underpinned with the Australian influence – to go out and win the Elite League title.

“I know all the boys would say they would dedicate the triumph to the mercurial little Milduran who was the perfect example to any youngster starting out in the sport of what I would call the model speedway rider.

“Poole Speedway has a special place for Leigh Adams. We will do everything we can to bring home silverware this season as a moving tribute because I know that would be Leigh’s advice to all of us.”