Rickardsson quits Poole.

Tony Rickardsson has ended speculation about his future with Poole by confirming his departure from the club. The five-times world champion is quitting British racing for family reasons - but he will stay until the end of the month.

Rickardsson said: "It is the toughest decision I have made in my professional career but I'm sure Poole's great supporters will understand that my wife and children must come first."

Speculation now surrounds who the Pirates' will recruit as a replacement. Obvious names must be former world-champion Billy Hamill and Ryan Sullivan. Both riders were left without a British club under the new team building regulations introduced for the start of the season.