PIRATES star Grzegorz Wala-sek has set a target of finishing in the top 10 of the overall standings in this year's Grand Prix World Championship series.

The 25-year-old Poole Meri-dian Lifts rider got off to a terrific start when he finished joint 11th in the opening round of the 10-meeting competition in Hamar, Norway, two weeks ago.

And Walasek would like to build on that good start when he takes part in the Polish GP at Bydgoszcz tomorrow (6pm) in a meeting being covered live by Sky Sports.

The Pirate is joint 11th in the standings at the moment alongside the top Pole of the past decade, Tomasz Gollob.

So Walasek is very near to taken over the mantle of the highest placed Pole in the World Championship.

Walasek, who progressed to heat 22 in Hamar after picking up one first and two second placings, said: "I was happy with my performance in Nor-way.

"Now I would like to aim for a top 10 finish overall. I will try hard. I think I have a chance, but I will have to push myself very hard to achieve it."

Walasek lines up in heat four in Bydgoszcz where he comes up against Niklas Klingberg, Sebastian Ulamek and Rune Holta.

The Pole, who had been sidelined with a broken ankle, returned to Pirates colours for the first time in seven weeks on Wednesday when he notched up seven paid eight points from four rides against Wolves.

Poole beat the Midland outfit 48-42 in the Sky Sports Elite League to retain their 100 per cent home winning record in the top flight.

Walasek, speaking through interpreter Wiktor Lewandowski, said: "I was relatively pleased with my performance for Poole on Wednesday.

"But it could have gone a little bit better, especially my race against Peter Karlsson in heat 10 when he got past me on the last lap to grab second place.

"It was my mistake when I came off the second bend on the last lap. I lost a bit of grip when I was expecting the track to be grippier and Peter slipped by me. I tried to correct my mistake but it was too late, he was already past."

Walasek added: "I'm very happy to be back at Poole.

"Now, for the rest of the season, I will try and do a good job, better than last year and im-prove my average.

"I really don't want to get any more injuries. I want to finish the season by being fully fit and not get any more problems like that between now and then.

"I didn't have any special treatment on my ankle. It practically healed itself.

"It was put in a plaster and time completed the job. I went to Brian Simpson in Ipswich so he could have a look at it but then went back to Poland and that was it.

"It's the first time I have broken an ankle but it was not the first time I have suffered an injury like it.

"Very occasionally I can feel some pain, especially if I put too much pressure on my ankle just after I have woken up. But it doesn't hurt or trouble me when I ride."

Walasek had a special word for the Wimborne Road faithful.

He said: "I would like to thank those people who have given me £500 from the Poole Supporters' Club equipment fund. I really appreciate their help. I promise everyone who helped donate the money that it will be used wisely."

l Pirates spearhead and Grand Prix leader Tony Rickardsson goes out first in heat nine in the Polish GP at Bydgoszcz.

Rickardsson comes up against Jason Crump, Leigh Adams and Todd Wiltshire in a race specifically introduced to allow the top eight riders from the previous GP a chance to have a run out on the track before the serious stuff gets underway later.

l Joe Screen (Eastbourne) and Lee Richardson (Coventry) have been nominated for the two wild card entries at the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, June 8.

Great Britain boss Neil Middleditch, who is also Poole's team manager, said: "It's an honour for them both to ride at such a marvellous venue."