GARRY May believes disillusioned Mark Baseby is too good to give up the shale game.

At the same time, May, who team managed Buccaneers this year, says he fully understands it’s a personal decision that only the Poole asset can make.

Baseby, 22, has been one of Bournemouth’s top stars in the third tier over the past two seasons.

However, he’s currently considering whether to quit racing after publicly admitting he’d become disheartened with speedway earlier this month.

It’s almost certain Buccaneers won’t run next year for financial reasons, while Baseby may choose not to carry on riding for the same reason as well.

May said: “It’s Mark’s personal decision. It’s no good me telling him to spend thousands of pounds on machinery.

“He’s an exciting rider. When he’s on it, he’s on it. When he misses the gate, he passes people, and when he makes the gate not many people catch him.

“But he’s thinking about quitting because he doesn’t get the chance to move up to the Premier League.

“It costs him a lot of money and time off from his day job as an electrician to ride National League. He’s a great rider, but he just needs a chance and someone willing to give it to him at Premier level.

“Then he has to make up his mind whether to give up his day job and give it a real go, or wave goodbye to speedway and go grass-tracking.

“It’s sad because Mark has plenty to offer speedway, but it’s down to what he feels.”

With Bournemouth extremely unlikely to get a dramatic 11th-hour reprieve to carry on racing from Wimborne Road supremo Matt Ford, May hopes to continue in the sport next year as Somer-set’s assistant team manager.

It’s a role he has successfully combined with running Buccaneers.

May said: “Bournemouth riders like Mark, Kyle Howarth, Aaron Baseby, Jay Herne, Daniel Halsey and John Resch are all still Poole assets. So, if Buccaneers don’t run, I’ll help them find other clubs if I can, although promoters who are interested in any of them would have to talk to Matt first.”