MARK Lemon's greater experience of top-level racing was the deciding factor when Pirates chief Matt Ford chose to switch number eight riders.

The 35-year-old Australian, who stars for Reading in the Premier League, has been called up to take youngster Jordan Frampton's place by Poole Castle Cover.

Ford, whose table-topping side are chasing their first championship crown since 2004, said: "Lemo has a greater level of Elite League experience.

"The move to bring him on board has been done partly with that in mind."

Ford completed the paperwork for the switch over the weekend to beat the September 1 squad changes deadline.

He said: "Mark started the season on a 8.82 average for Reading in the Premier and his average has dropped to 7.62 which equates to a 3.81 Elite figure, so we can now bring him in.

"We can do it because 3.81 is below our reserve Freddie Eriksson (5.26) but more importantly Daniel Davidsson (4.16), our lowest averaged rider as the rules dictate a number eight has to be.

"Initially, when we spoke to Jordan at start of this season it was on the understanding we may possibly look to bring in a more experienced rider later on and he was aware of that as we told the press at the time.

"However, Jordan has also come on in leaps and bounds and continues to improve and I truly hope after one or two more years maximum in the Premier, then Jordan will be ready to step up into the Elite.

"Hopefully he will do that with his hometown club here at Poole.

"You can't take anyone with a Premier nine-point-plus average as your number eight so I was keeping an eye on who was available once we knew Daniel's average for September.

"There was one other rider I would have very much liked to work with but at this stage Mark's experience on Elite tracks was the deciding factor.

"Particularly over the last couple of years when he has been asked to step up for one-off meetings as guests he has done exceptionally well.

"He was full-time at Reading in the Premier last year but I can remember he scored paid 13 points in one meeting for them in the Elite League play-offs in 2006.

"He was outstanding for Reading in the run-in that year when he joined them as their number eight. and hopefully he will do that with his parent club here at Poole.

"Mark knows he might end up as number eight only in name and we might not need to use him, but he's excited about being signed and can't wait to ride for us if he is required.

"We're planning to stage a four-team tournament at Poole on September 17 and we've asked Mark to take part so he gets a meeting in here before the play-offs, which is important."

Poole's new averages from September 1: Bjarne Pedersen 8.84, Chris Holder 8.61, 3 Davey Watt 8.33, Magnus Zetterstrom 6.24, Adam Skornicki 5.74, Freddie Eriksson 5.26, Daniel Davidsson 4.16, Mark Lemon 3.81.