POOLE Pirates star Darcy Ward is due to learn his speedway fate when a disciplinary hearing takes place on January 8.

Ward has been suspended since August 28 after he failed an alcohol test at the Latvian Grand Prix earlier that month.

The suspension, issued by Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), cost the Aussie his place in Pirates’ Elite League title-winning team and also resulted in him slipping out of the GP top eight.

The 22-year-old will miss the 2015 world championship altogether as he was not given a reprieve in the form of a wild card.

And Ward has been told by speedway bosses that his case will be dealt with on the second Thursday of the new year.

Pirates team manager Neil Middleditch said: “We’ve heard that the hearing is on January 8. That’s the date he’s been told.

“It’s the day after my birthday so, hopefully, it will be a nice birthday for me next year.”

Meanwhile, Middleditch admitted that tentative plans for Pirates to tour Australia during the British off-season had been mooted.

The idea had been discussed by promoter Matt Ford and assets Ward and Chris Holder, although Middleditch stressed that plans for a tour involving several meetings were at an early stage.

Middleditch said: “It was just a chat over dinner between Chris, Darcy and Matt and they were saying what a good idea it would be.

“Poole has got such a huge tie with Australia given the huge amount of Aussies we’ve had in our team through the last few years.

“Nothing is solid at the moment but it’s something we might look to do at the beginning of 2016.”