PIRATES chief Matt Ford has highlighted Birmingham and Lakeside as major threats to Poole’s status as top dogs of the Elite League.

Ford is expecting an open battle for honours when the Coastal Aluminium Pirates launch their title defence in 2012.

The Dorset outfit dominated the 2011 season to add the league, Knockout Cup and Best Pairs trophies to the Wimborne Road treasure chest.

Ford believes his new-look team – captained by Grand Prix star Chris Holder – will face a stern examination of their credentials from a competitive field of opponents in the top-flight of domestic speedway this term.

He believes Lakeside, one of last season’s losing play-off semi-finalists, will prove particularly strong, with experienced trio Peter Karlsson, Lee Richardson and ex-Poole skipper Davey Watt at the top of Hammers’ line-up.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “Apart from possibly one or two exceptions who, perhaps, don’t look quite as strong on paper as one or two of the other teams, I think it is truly going to be an open league.

“You will see one or two teams hit form and put a bit of a gap between themselves and another club at some point in the season.

“My early points are that I like the look of the Birmingham team and I think Lakeside are going to be a tremendous handful. I believe Lakeside will probably go the season at home without getting beaten.

“Richardson, Karlsson and Watt are all good small-track riders, yet all are good away from home as well.

“I think Jon Cook (Lakeside co-promoter) and Neil Vatcher (Lakeside team manager) will be rubbing their hands.”