FORMER Pirates team manager Neil Street believes Craig Boyce is the greatest Poole rider of all time.

Speaking ahead of Boyce's testimonial meeting at Wimborne Road, the current Australian team boss said: "Craig is the tops, his record over the years proves that."

Boyce, 36, stages his benefit at Poole tonight (7.30pm) when a world-class field of 16 riders will gather to pay tribute to the Sydneysider.

He first joined Pirates as a novice 20-year-old in 1988 and has gone on to amass an all-time club record of 3,862 league and KO Cup points.

That leaves other loyal Poole servants like Steve Schofield, Pete Smith, Geoff Mudge, Lars Gunnestad, Ken Middleditch, Neil Middleditch, Malcolm Simmons, Kevin Smith and Tony Lewis trailing in his wake.

Street said: "There is no two ways about it. The record speaks for itself.

"Craig has amassed the most points for Poole and that makes him their top rider of all time."

Street, who discovered Boyce's talent for speedway 16 years ago and has nurtured it ever since, added: "Craig was also number three in the last one-off World Final in Vojens in 1994.

"And not many riders can say they have finished on the podium during their career.

"I remember that day very well and Craig really surprised everyone with the way he rode.

"He was in a run-off to win the title with Tony Rickardsson and Hans Nielsen and the winner of that race would lift the trophy.

"Craig was that close to being World champion. He was that good in his prime. Apart from being brilliantly consistent for Poole, he has scored lots of points in internationals and he has been Australian champion three times.

"For a long, long time Boycie was the backbone of the team.

"We had a lot of good riders at Poole during the late 80s and early to mid-90s but Boycie stood out above all of them.

"Steve Schofield was at Poole at the same time so in that period when Poole were very successful we had the club's two highest points scorers over the years.

"Winning then was down to the example set by the best riders like Craig and Steve. The whole team played a part but Boycie topped the averages for many years.

"He was one of the riders you could count on to get the points in the vital races because he could rattle up big scores on any track, home or away."

Street, who will be at Wimborne Road tonight, is delighted with the way Boyce's racing career has panned out.

He said: "That's why I wouldn't miss Craig's big night for the world. He is one of my favourite sons. It's as simple as that. He is almost like a member of my own family."

Fourteen current or former Grand Prix riders are in the 16-strong field competing for the top prize of a V8 motorbike lift worth £1,000.

It includes four world champions in Rickardsson, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Sam Ermolenko.

A bumper crowd is expected tonight and supporters are urged to arrive early.

Gates open at 6.30pm and admission is adults £12, concessions and OAPs £9 and accompanied children £1.

There is children's entertainment before the meeting and live music in the bar afterwards.

The full line-up is Jason Crump, Leigh Adams, Ryan Sullivan, Lee Richardson, Scott Nicholls, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill, Tony Rickardsson, Joe Screen, Jason Lyons, Todd Wiltshire, Sam Ermolenko, Kelvin Tatum, Shane Parker, Steve Johnston, Craig Boyce.

Antonio Lindback has confirmed he will ride for Pirates against Team Great Britain at Poole on Wednesday, September 3.

The Poole line-up is 1 Adams, 2 Bjarne Pedersen, 3 Magnus Zetterstrom, 4 David Ruud, 5 Tony Rickardsson, 6 Krzysztof Kasprzak, 7 Antonio Lindback.