JOSH Grajczonek has revealed that employing a full-time mechanic stopped speedway controlling his life and credited Joe Haines as being key to his formidable form.

The 24-year-old Pirates star has made a flying start to the Elite League campaign and insisted that linking up with Haines had benefited his career hugely.

Having invited the former British Under-21 champion on board following his retirement aged 21 in August, Grajczonek’s performances improved.

That upward curve continued in 2014, with the Manchester-based rider being arguably Pirates’ stand-out performer from the number two position.

Grajczonek told the Daily Echo: “Last year speedway was controlling my life at some points. I was getting home at 3am, getting up at 7am to wash bikes and then heading off to a meeting at lunchtime.

“Of course it’s good because you’re riding but it just takes its toll and I needed a break.

"When Joe came on board for the last month and a half of the season it was a lot better. That helped my end-of-year performances and this year it has been the same thing.

“He’s only 20 minutes from me so he picks me up on the way to meetings and drops me back home afterwards, so I don’t see the bikes during the week, I just leave it to him and he gets it all sorted.

“Now I’ve got time to rest after meetings and go to the gym three or four times a week. Last year I didn’t really do any of that because I had a lot of meetings and didn’t have the time.”

Grajczonek has played an important role in Pirates’ strong start to the season which has seen the reigning Elite League champions win three out of three at Wimborne Road, in addition to one win and one defeat away.

The former Belle Vue charger admits that Poole are hoping to keep their 100 per cent home winning record intact throughout the year and is confident that this is possible.

He continued: “Our aim is to win every home meeting this year and if we can do that, we’re going to be up at the top end come the end of the season.

“There are a few good teams that are going to run us hard, but we’ve got good riders who are quick around Poole, so it’s going to be tough for teams coming here.

“We all know the track pretty well so that’s a big advantage for us. Poole has a few holes around it which is to our advantage because we’re used to riding it every week, whereas away teams aren’t ready for it.”