Rising star Hagon answers Pirates' call for 2024 campaign

Exciting prospect Sam Hagon became the second signing revealed by Poole Pirates for 2024 - then immediately targeted a rise from reserve.

The 19-year-old, who featured as the club’s number eight on a handful of occasions last season, joins skipper Ben Cook in Poole’s fresh septet.

Hagon, who arrives at reserve on a 2.56 average, helped steer Pirates to a 47-43 victory at Scunthorpe as a guest last season, with an impressive 5+2 haul from four rides.

Speaking to Pirates’ website, Hagon said: "I was delighted to receive a call from Matt (Ford, owner) asking me to join Poole for the 2024 season.

“I have always wanted to ride for Poole as they are a great club and have a great history of winning.

"I would love to hit the ground running and be scoring consistently, with a view to working my way into the main body of the team by the end of the season.”

Hagon is set to continue his development with a spell riding in Australia this winter.

Asked about his latest signing, promoter Danny Ford (pictured above) said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Sam to the team for 2024, he caught our attention a few times last season and it was great to see him in a Poole team environment at Scunthorpe.

“The way he fitted into the team so seamlessly on that occasion, mixing with all the lads was great to see and the whole team were so impressed with him.

“So, when the reduced points limit was finalised Sam was one of our first ports of call as we realised we would be looking for someone with his kind of average at the bottom end of the side and fill a reserve berth.

“I have to say the deal was done quickly and very easy with Sam as he seemed so keen to come to Poole, which is highly encouraging. One thing about Sam is that he is on fantastic equipment, as you would expect being a member of the Hagon dynasty and that is always a positive.

“He is so full of enthusiasm and a real racer and if we can just work with him on his gating skills throughout the year then he is going to be a real force, particularly down at reserve where he will be coming up against riders of a similar level of experience and it wouldn't surprise me if he became the best of them."