KEN Middleditch believes Jay Herne’s record run of 36 races unbeaten by an opponent at Poole should be the spur for the Buccaneer to go on and carve out an Elite League career.

Middleditch, a legendary Pirates rider from 1950 to 1962, was big mates with previous record holder Tony Lewis, whose tally of 35 came in the old Provincial League in 1961 and 1962.

Herne, 25, broke the Dorset promotion’s club record when he took the chequered flag in heat 13 of Bournemouth Castle Cover’s 57-39 cup final win over Buxton on October 15.

Lewis sadly died in 1997, but Middleditch – just back in Britain after spending two weeks in Florida celebrating his 84th birthday – said: “Tony would have been the first to congratulate Jay on beating his record.

“He would have applauded Jay’s achievement because it is a great one.

“It should lift his confidence and push him on from the Buccs through the Premier League into the Elite, just like Chris Holder.

“I knew Jay’s dad Phil, who was a great rider, so he has the pedigree to go further.”

Jay’s record run has come in the third tier, while Lewis’ was in the second.

But Middleditch said: “It doesn’t make any difference whether it is in Division One, Two or Three.

“You still have to go out and win races for your team, so Jay should be extremely proud.

“Tony would be chuffed to bits for him. He would have nothing but praise for Jay. Tony was a down-to-earth guy, a real club man through and through.

“He encouraged youngsters in his own quiet way and was a great team man, so he would have been the first to encourage Jay. He would have been right behind him.

“Anyway, records are there to be broken. It gives people an incentive to have a go at something.

“That’s what brings riders on, particularly if they have a professional attitude towards their racing, like Tai Woffinden.”

Jay’s remarkable unbeaten run came to an end when he lost to Buxton’s Craig Cook in heat 15 of the cup final.

Asked if it would take another 47 years for the new record to be overhauled, Middleditch said: “That’s a question I wouldn’t even attempt to answer.

“But I have no doubt someone will come along and beat it.”

Asked if he was surprised a bigger name rider like Tony Rickardsson, Jason Crump, Malcolm Simmons, Mark Loram, Craig Boyce or Bjarne Pedersen hadn’t held the record before, Middleditch replied: “I don’t think anyone can put their finger on why not.

“I can’t comment on Jay, but Tony was a dedicated rider who never worried about winning, although he liked to win.

“He was a hard rider, he wasn’t spectacular, but records like this happen when people don’t realise it.

“They creep up on you quietly and suddenly, boom, there it is.”

Record run of unbeaten races by a home rider at Poole: 1 Jay Herne 36 (2009, Div 3), 2 Tony Lewis 35 (1961-62, Div 2), 3 Martin Yeates 34 (1985, Div 2), 4 Bjarne Pedersen 31 (2006-07, Div 1), 4 Stan Bear 31 (1985, Div 2), 6 Malcolm Simmons 28 (1977, Div 1), 6 Brian Crutcher 28 (1952, Div 2).