SPEEDWAY legend Tony Rickardsson admits he still holds Poole close to his heart – the club and the town.

The six-time world champion, a hugely popular figure at Wimborne Road, is tomorrow due to get back on a bike for the Dorset club's 70th anniversary celebrations.

Swedish star Rickardsson rode for Poole in four straight seasons having joined in 2001 and played a pivotal role in the treble-winning campaign of 2003.

And the 47-year-old, who retired 12 years ago, will turn back the clock when he rides laps at his old haunt to supplement the main individual meeting.

Rickardsson told the Daily Echo: "I am really pumped to come back. I haven't ridden for some years and only three times since I retired, so of course I will feel a bit rusty.

"It was great to race at Poole and I made a lot of friends there, so I have a warm feeling in my heart for the whole area.

"We had some very good successes. During that period, Poole were a very strong club and they remain a major force in British speedway.

"I was lucky to be part of very good teams. Doing it for the people of Poole in 2003 and the whole atmosphere surrounding the club meant it was a fantastic year for us."

In addition to winning the Elite League, Knockout Cup and British League Cup that season, Rickardsson helped Pirates to Craven Shield success in the two preceding campaigns.

The Craven Shield triumph of 2001 was Poole's first trophy of the Matt Ford era and the club's first silverware of any sort in seven years.

Rickardsson began 2004 in superb form but quit British speedway nine fixtures into the league campaign due to family reasons.

It did not throw the club off course, however, and the Dorset side went on to secure a league and Knockout Cup double in his absence.

The ex-Grand Prix star's compatriot Linus Sundstrom has joined Pirates for the upcoming SGB Premiership campaign.

And Rickardsson is hopeful the ex-Peterborough and Ipswich man can flourish in the skull and crossbones.

He added: "I think Linus has developed a lot in the past year. He has always been a good gater and very clever in his riding in the first quarter. But maybe he was lacking a bit of speed.

"I think he has increased his ability to ride more loosely on the bike so he has been able to pick up a lot more drive and speed.

"I feel he has done very good training over the winter and I know he has done a lot of it. If he is well prepared, I wouldn't be surprised if he took a big step this year."

Sundstrom is third reserve for the GP series and has returned to Britain after a five-year absence, Peterborough being his most recent club.

The Avesta-born racer is on the lookout for his first silverware on these shores.