Ward excited to make his home bow against Poole

The Aussie speedway star’s home debut is generating plenty of hype and will be televised on Sky Sports. With ticket prices reduced to just £10 and the interest in seeing Ward’s debut there is sure to be a big crowd at the Abbey.

In his comeback meeting after spending 10 months out of the sport following a ban for failing a breathalyser test at the Latvian Grand Prix last August Ward scored 16 paid points. However he could not prevent the Robins from falling to defeat against Leicester Lions at Beaumont Park.

The Robins are in need of wins to get their push for the Elite League play-offs back on track and will need Ward to be at his best to help them do so tonight.

For his part the 23-year-old seems energised by the prospect of riding against the club he joined as a prodigious teenager.

“Monday for sure is going to be an exciting one,” said Ward. “I think there’s a lot to build up around it, being I’m an old Poole rider and still under contract with them and possibly going back next year. It’s a big teaser until then, but I’m looking forward to it.

“Obviously it’s my old team and they are the people who have helped develop my career but it’s 2015 and this is where we’re at now.

“I’m happy to give Swindon that little bit of hype, I’m sure it’s going to be an absolute bumper crowd on Monday with the low prices, TV and my returning.

“It’s exciting I think everyone should look forward to it.”

Ward has never ridden against any of his former clubs or Pirates number one and compatriot Chris Holder before, however he is not fazed by the prospect.

“I never rode against any of them (Piraterna, Torun, Poole) and the only one is King’s Lynn really but they were in the Premier League at the time so it was different. This will be the first time,” he added.

“Me and Chris are always in the same team, it’s true, but I’m sure we’ll both be looking at it in the same way.

“We’re racing six other guys too so it’s no big deal.”