PIRATES mascot Brendan Johnson plans to join the Conference League full-time next term, despite making a strong senior debut at Weymouth last Friday.

The 15-year-old scored three paid five from five outings in the Wessex Best Pairs event at Radipole Lane.

Johnson, teaming up with experienced Wildcats skipper David Mason, showed great maturity and skill to grab three third places.

He did well to hold his nerve in front of Sam Martin in heat one and Andre Cross in race five, despite both looking quicker.

The teenager's performance was enough to ensure Johnson will be one of the first names Wildcats call if they are short at reserve this season.

And the youngster is determined to better his pairs performance, if offered an opportunity in a league fixture.

Reflecting on his big night, Johnson said: "I made a few gates at Weymouth but my bikes weren't quite up to scratch.

"I would have liked to have scored a few more points but last Friday was really just to break me into senior racing.

"Going into it, I knew it was only an open meeting and not a Conference League match.

"So I wasn't really nervous and I felt better as the meeting went on.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to do better in any guest bookings than I did in the pairs.

"There will be more pressure if I race in a Conference team because I know that they'll expect me to score points."

Under the rules, Johnson is allowed six guest bookings for any third tier track, not including open meetings.

But having committed to the Poole and Somerset academy sides, the teenager is determined to honour these fixtures, rather than join the third tier full-time this year.

Johnson added: "I can ride in the Conference now but I don't know where I am going to ride yet.

"I'm riding for the academy teams this year and they have a lot of fixtures, which might clash with the Conference.

"So I'll probably do some guest bookings this year and move into the Conference League next year."