JAY Herne is eager to mark the end of an era by claiming a podium place for Buccaneers in the National League Riders’ Championship at Rye House tonight (7pm).

The Australian ace, who finished third last year at Hoddesdon, lines up alongside his Bournemouth Castle Cover team-mate Mark Baseby.

But it could be the last time Buccaneers’ race jackets are worn as the team is unlikely to continue next year for financial reasons.

Promoter Matt Ford has said he is almost certain to pull the plug on the third-tier outfit, the nursery side of Elite League Knockout Cup winners Poole.

Herne said: “It’s sad that it looks like Bournemouth are not going to run next year.

“Losing any track is not good for speedway and with doubts over Weymouth and Mildenhall, the future of the National League is a bit up in the air.

“We haven’t had a good year at Bournemouth, with injuries and some of the rules going against us. In fact, we haven’t had any good luck. It all seems to have been bad.

“Tonight’s the last time Mark Baseby and I will be riding with a Buccaneers race jacket on and it would be great if one, if not both of us, could finish on the podium.

“We’ll do our best to make sure Bournemouth’s name goes out with a bang and the fans have something special to celebrate after a hard year.”

Herne has also endured a tough time in 2010, injuring his knee in a track spill in Australia last winter and then sustaining a career-threatening back problem in Britain while riding for Somerset.

It meant he had to sit out most of the season, losing his Bournemouth team spot in the process.

But the Aussie has vowed to return to Britain next year and double up in the Premier and National leagues.

Herne said: “I’d like to do both. I’ve got a 3.80 average in the Premier and can put at least two points on that. My National League average is over 10, but with some of the other top riders not able to return to the third tier because their Premier averages are above four, I’m hoping it will leave more spots open for me.

“I haven’t ridden in as many meetings as I would have liked this year, probably only about 10.

“Hopefully, this has been my bad year for injuries and it won’t happen again during the rest of my career.”