JAMES Shanes has been poring over the work of renowned psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters in a bid to banish the negative emotions preventing him from unlocking his true potential.

Puddletown-based Shanes was thrown in at the deep end when he signed for Pirates on a 2.00 average at the start of the season, this campaign being his first in the top flight.

The 20-year-old's stated goal was to increase his average, a target he is well on course to meet having added half a point to his total.

However, pushing through low-scoring meetings has been tough for Shanes and he says Peters's book, 'The Chimp Paradox', has helped him get his mind right for racing.

Peters has a long list of high-profile clients including the England football team, six-time Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Chris Hoy and five-time snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

And Poultec trainee Shanes feels Peters's wisdom can aid his drive to produce his best in Pirates colours.

Speaking ahead of tonight's tough trip to Belle Vue, Shanes told the Daily Echo: "I struggle with emotions quite badly, so I've been reading 'The Chimp Paradox'.

"It's about how to deal with your emotions – how to deal with your monkey. I've learned a lot from that and, hopefully, I will be able to channel my emotions and achieve greater things.

"I was involved with a psychologist through Poultec a couple of times last season and that helped me win my first Masters grass track title. I've gone back to it and really looked into it deeply.

"One thing I struggle with is my emotions. If I can channel them and not let them get the better of me, hopefully, I can put the monkey to bed and ride how I can ride."

In the pits, Shanes rests his bikes on mats which bear the slogan 'Keep Calm and Carry On'. And that is a mantra he is attempting to take on board as he grafts behind the scenes and on the track.

He added: "Ability is a very small factor in racing. It's you first – you have to be able to cope with it. There are long hours in the workshop.

"Some days I start at 9am and finish at 9pm because I'm trying to get everything sorted.

"You don't often get a couple of days off. When you do, it's complete switch-off. One day, I didn't get out of bed all day!"

Understandably given his low average, the Dorset charger has yet to score above five points in a league meeting – excluding bonuses – although on his home debut against Wolverhampton in the Elite Shield he bagged an astonishing 12-point paid maximum.

The former Devon rider told before the season of his shock when Pirates chief Matt Ford called to offer him a dream move to his local club.