WIMBORNE Road chief Matt Ford insists age will be no barrier as Pirates’ young guns aim to fire in the Elite League during 2014.

Poole promoter Ford yesterday completed his team building with the signing of Przemyslaw Pawlicki.

That means the reigning champions will begin their title defence with an average rider age of just 22.

Reserve Lee Smart, 25, is the oldest member of the Pirates line-up, with Vaclav Milik the youngest at 20.

But Ford has no concerns over the youthful nature of his one-to-seven.

He told the Daily Echo: “I have always tried to have young-ish teams.

“Young and hungry riders are hopefully what we have got on board this year.

“Don’t get me wrong, experienced campaigners like last year showed exactly what they were worth to the club in the shape of Greg Hancock and Chris Holder, who has been riding now for a number of years.

“But this is a young team by our standards and I think, during the course of the year, we will benefit from it.”