POOLE youngster James Shanes insists he will take the SGB Premiership campaign step by step.

The 20-year-old has never raced in the top flight before and faces a tough task at reserve.

Shanes, a talented grasstrack rider, told the Daily Echo: "A lot of teams have got riders at the same level as me. To start with, my goal is to beat my opposite number.

"Then I will work on getting closer to the riders at six and two and work on picking everyone off.

"Last year, I was chucked in at the deep end in European grasstrack and came up swimming, so, hopefully, the same will happen with Poole."

Shanes hopes he will be able to take advice from sidelined Pirates vice-captain Kyle Newman, his neighbour in Puddletown.

"I didn't know Kyle before I moved down but over the past couple of years, I've got to know him," said Shanes.

"I've jumped up from the National League this season and it is quite a big gap. He's been in a similar situation before so I hope he will be able to help me."

Shanes has spent the past two years at Kent and has also ridden for Devon and Coventry II.

Aside from Pirates, he is due to race in the Long Track World Championship in 2017.