CHRIS Harris revealed his fears for speedway’s future and warned the authorities they would need to “make a drastic change”.

The Great Britain international, a driving force behind Pirates’ SGB Premiership title win last week, admits rising equipment costs are making the sport “a hard slog” for riders.

Fans’ favourite Harris was left without a job in the top flight following the closure of Rye House in July and came close to quitting the sport altogether.

However, Poole boss Matt Ford was able to accommodate Harris and the 35-year-old inspired the Dorset club to 70th anniversary success.

Now Bomber is hoping the British Speedway Promoters’ Association can make speedway more financially viable for riders ahead of next season.

Harris, who is eyeing a return to Wimborne Road, told the Daily Echo: “Given the way speedway is going, it’s getting expensive.

“With Rye House closing and owing me for nine meetings, it does hit you financially.

“Everything is going up with things like engine bills. Promoters are struggling to pay the riders what we need to be paid and it is a hard slog at the minute.

“It is a concern. But I’m not starting off in the sport. I was lucky and came in at the right time. Hopefully, it will pick up, you never know.

“They need to make a drastic change in the winter. I don’t know what they can do but something needs to be done.

“I’ve said to Matt that I would like to come back but it all comes down to averages, what happens at the AGM and whether he wants me back.”

Pirates’ aggregate victory over King’s Lynn in the play-off final gave Harris his fourth top-flight league title.

“It was a great feeling. It was touch and go but the boys pulled it out of the bag,” he said.

“It’s all about the team effort and that’s what we delivered in the final.

“It’s a different feeling to win the league with Poole – I spent many years at Coventry but this one is just as important to me as those three titles.

“I came to Poole and felt wanted and that makes you give that bit extra.

“The fans have always been nice to me and I’ve always enjoyed the track. It was nice that this time I could repay them with a title.”

Harris’s last-to-first charge in heat 15 of the second leg of the semi-final against Somerset will go down as one of the all-time great races at Wimborne Road.

The Truro charger blasted past 2017 world champion Jason Doyle with two turns remaining to propel Pirates into the final.

Harris, who 11 years ago won the British Grand Prix in Cardiff in spectacular style, added: “It was probably the best race of the year – it’s definitely going to stick in my mind for a while!

“It would be up there. Cardiff is the one but that would be one of my top five.”