POOLE Pirates rider Dakota North is looking forward to getting back on a bike but is not concerned that he will be facing his former employer.

The 23-year-old was a key member of the Robins side that reached the Elite League play-off semi-finals last term, with his arrival seemingly sparking a turn-around in the Wiltshire side’s fortunes.

Swindon Robins manager Alun Rossiter had hoped to get the Aussie rider back for another season but those plans were scuppered when he signed on the dotted line for the Dorset outfit in November.

Now North is fully focused on the meeting in hand and will be approaching it like any other race.

“It’s just going to be a normal match for me - I won’t look at it any different to any other one,” he said.

“I will be preparing for it like any other match. It is an early start but I won’t be doing anything special.

“I can’t wait to get the season underway. I am a bit sick of sitting around at the moment.

“I have been here about a month now and have ridden a few times and had a few goods meetings, so I am looking forward to getting the season going.

“I’ve still got heaps left in me and I am still learning and still young, so hopefully it is still a good year of learning.”

North will be lining up against some familiar faces today but don’t be fooled into thinking that has been on his mind.

When asked what he thought of the team Rossiter had assembled this season, he replied: “I haven’t even looked at it. I wouldn’t have a clue who was riding. I know Troy and Nick are there but that is it.

“I race against them in other leagues and it will be no different. They are good friends and it will be nice to see them both and to race against them.

“Going as an away rider is a little bit different but hopefully if the track is the same as it was last year, then I will have a set up and I could help the rest of the boys out.

“I am not a track expert so I am not looking at it as a huge advantage.”