DANNY Ford revealed how the launch of the SGB Championship’s new Summer Series was the brainchild of Pirates owner, his father Matt.

As well as looking to defend their SGB Championship league and Knockout Cup crowns in 2022, the Wimborne Road outfit will be looking to seal a third team prize in the form of the fresh competition.

The Summer Series will involve Championship clubs being split into three regional groups.

They will race over a one-home, one-away format, with the group winners then progressing to a one-off, three-team final to be held over 18 heats on neutral territory at Sheffield.

Asked how the format came about, Danny told the Daily Echo: ““My dad put forward the proposal for it. We were looking for a few more fixtures in our calendar.

“We want to really stack it up and make it a season full of speedway action at Wimborne Road.

“He came up with ideas, went through a few different formats and that’s what he came up with.

“It gives us at least three more home fixtures, which is great for us and works really well.

“It’s the chance for more silverware and in that kind of format, it is really exciting. It could be a real winner.”

Pirates have been placed in a southern section alongside Birmingham, Oxford and Plymouth for the group campaign.

Asked further about Matt Ford’s involvement, Danny said: “He was tasked basically to come up with a way of fitting in a few more fixtures for all the teams.

“Obviously the original intention for 2020, before it got cancelled, was you would go to each Championship team home and away and then we would go to the southern teams again home and away.

“You would have basically a league season and an extra half.

“But a lot of teams weren’t looking for quite that many fixtures and this fit the bill. Every team is getting at least two more home fixtures, which really works quite nicely.

“A three-team final is very exciting and a very new format.

“It’s something a little bit different. It might work, it might not but you’ve got to try these things and I’m really excited by that one.”

Pirates swept the board regarding team titles last season, winning every competition they entered.

And Danny, who oversees the day-to-day running of the club with Matt now based in France, insists they will be looking to do the same again.

“Every season we want to win everything we enter,” he added. “That’s just the make-up and part of the Poole DNA.

“We are looking for that team treble, as well as our riders who enter the riders’ championship and pairs to pick up those honours as well.

“We want to win everything, that’s the goal.”

Pirates have named returning skipper Danny King, Steve Worrall and youngster Nathan Ablitt in their team line-up for the 2022 campaign.