SERGEY Darkin has admitted he is not angry at being dropped by Pirates so early in the season.

He added it was also his own fault because he hadn't been able to put in the necessary on-track practice time before tapes went up on the campaign.

The Russian, who looked well off the pace again on Wednesday night in his third meeting after visa problems had delayed his entry into Britain, has made the worst start ever by a Poole rider in the club's 59-year history.

Speaking exclusively to the Echo, Darkin said: "I'm not angry because I understand that I didn't score any points here.

"After the meeting at Peterbor-ough, I will go back to Poland, have two weeks training with my club there and if I get in good condition maybe I will come back here. The accident I had in Russia two years ago hasn't affected me here. I rode in Russia and Poland last year, had many races and went well.

"I've forgotten the accident."

Darkin, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a pile-up in Russia in September 2005, added: "Previously, I have had three or four weeks practice in Poland every pre-season.

"But the visa problem didn't help me, it kept me out of the country and I have come in and found it difficult.

"When I was at Coventry I joined them in July so I had many races under my belt and it was the same when I was at Arena-Essex.

"I have raced for 20 years so I know I can do it well. It's just that everything has gone wrong for me this year."

The 33-year-old, who had been on a life support machine for a week after his Russian crash, continued: "I hope to race in Britain again and for Poole if I get another chance.

"I like the stadium and the track and I can race here and score points for the Poole team. I know I can, so hopefully I will get another chance.

"I believe that when I'm fit I can score points for Poole because if I thought I couldn't do it, I wouldn't have come here in the first place."

Watson, originally sold to Newport from Poole in 2004, did, ironically, also fail to score from four rides on his Pirates debut in 2000, just like Darkin last week.

The Australian said: "I can't wait to get started for Poole because it was unfortunate I was left without a team at the start of the season.

"I couldn't have joined a better team. If there was a track with a place available I could have chosen, then it was always going to be Poole."

Poole go with the same seven as Wednesday night at Peterborough on Thursday.