PIRATES chief Matt Ford has welcomed the Speedway Control Bureau’s swift decision to investigate the controversial postponement at Belle Vue.

The Aces called off their Monday night meeting against Pirates after reporting that a burst water pipe had caused flooding at Kirkmanshulme Lane.

Pirates captain and world champion Chris Holder led the inquest as a number of Poole’s riders questioned the reasons behind the move.

Belle Vue had already confirmed that Artur Mroczka had withdrawn from the meeting due to injury and Holder later alleged, via social networking website Twitter, that two other Aces stars, rumoured to be Matej Zagar and Magnus Zetter-strom, had missed their flights to the UK from Poland.

Holder said he felt there had been a “bit more to it than the track”, while the Echo was unable to contact Belle Vue operations director Chris Morton.

The heated fall-out led the SCB to look into the postponement and the sport’s bosses quickly announced they would be holding a “full investigation”.

Pirates promoter Ford (pictured) told the Daily Echo: “It is now in good hands and the SCB will hold a full investigation into what has actually gone on.

“I would suggest to everybody that while there is a good amount of rumour, substantiated or not, let’s give the SCB our full support. We will now let the SCB make their thorough investigation.”

Meanwhile, Pirates will be hoping to improve on their poor start to the Elite League campaign when they host Eastbourne tonight (7.30pm).

Poole have lost four of their opening five league meetings, including a rare home defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton.

Pirates will be bidding to avoid suffering consecutive Wimborne Road defeats for the first time since August 2009 when they entertain the Eagles, while the Dorset outfit will also be keen to gain revenge for their 53-42 setback at Eastbourne on Saturday.

Ford said: “Now is the time to take up the challenge and begin to climb the Elite League table.

“It is no fun being in the lower part of the table. We should be up challenging the likes of Wolverhampton and King’s Lynn – starting tonight.”

Pirates legend Bjarne Pedersen will be back on familiar territory as the club’s second highest all-time points scorer leads the Eagles’ challenge.

Pirates: 1 Ward, 2 Stachyra, 3 Holder, 4 Andersson, 5 Janowski, 6 Howarth, 7 Tungate.

Eastbourne: (from) L Dryml, Gizatullin, Gustafsson, Lahti, Pedersen, Shields, Woodward.

  • Pirates’ in-form reserve Kyle Howarth has been named in Great Britain’s initial World Under-21 Team Cup squad for the semi-final in Gdansk on May 25.