ROHAN Tungate has revealed his desire to return to Poole Pirates next season and banish the memory of missing this year’s grand final showpiece.

The 23-year-old Australian, an asset at Premier League Ipswich Witches, was one of only two Pirates to retain their place in Poole’s one-to-seven throughout 2013.

However, after missing just four of Poole’s Elite League meetings during his maiden top-flight campaign, Tungate was left crestfallen when head and hand injuries, picked up while riding for Ipswich, ended his season prematurely.

But despite his heartache at missing the semi-final second leg against Swindon and both stages of the decider against Birmingham, Tungate wants to race at Wimborne Road in 2014 and play his part in retaining British speedway’s top honour.

Tungate told the Daily Echo: “I really want to ride at Poole, 100 per cent, but it is not up to me. Nobody really knows what the next few weeks hold and things are pretty quiet at Ipswich too.

“While I would be prepared to ride elsewhere, I really would love the chance to race at Poole again because my first season at Elite League level was great and I was pretty pleased with how it went.

“The support from the club and the people at Poole has been fantastic and riding there again would always be my first choice.”

On his final disappointment, Tungate added: “I had broken my finger and hurt my hand but that wouldn’t have stopped me.

“I was all ready to go but just couldn’t get the all clear for my concussion. I was gutted.

“There was nothing I could do and, at first, I just couldn’t accept it. In the end, I had to, but that was all part of the experience and, hopefully, I might get another shot at it next year.”

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