PIRATES spearhead Brady Kurtz has given an emphatic thumbs up to the revitalised Wimborne Road track.

Kurtz and team-mates Josh Grajczonek, Chris Holder and James Shanes today practised on Poole shale following extensive work by track expert Glyn Taylor.


The former Leicester boss, who designed and built Somerset and Redcar’s circuits, made a string of changes including major upheaval on bends one and two, moving the start line back six metres and adding more camber to the corners.

And Aussie star Kurtz believes the tweaks – carried out in consultation with Holder – have paid off.

He told the Daily Echo: "It's good. It's definitely way better than it was before. Where it needed to be fixed, it's been fixed so it will, hopefully, be heaps better and there will be more racing lines and more passing.

"The start line will be a big part of why it will be better, especially from gate four. That was always the worst gate here but I think it will be more even.

"The track is so much smoother and I'm looking forward to racing on it. You need it to be smooth to race fast and when you race fast, it's better for the crowd.

"When we race on it, you will be able to see what's different."

Grajczonek, who is set for his fourth spell at Poole, echoed the sentiments of his team-mate.

"The track is good," said the former Somerset skipper. "It is smooth and you don't have to worry about hitting a hole.

"It held up well and there weren't any issues whatsoever. Hopefully, we will get dialled in straight away."

Meanwhile, James Shanes has been confirmed as the final member of the field for Poole's 70th anniversary meeting.

The season-opening bash is due to take place a week on Friday with the likes of Matej Zagar, Niels-Kristian Iversen and Kenneth Bjerre booked to race.

Field: Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre, Nico Covatti, Josh Grajczonek, Chris Holder, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Frederik Jakobsen, Peter Kildemand, Nicolai Klindt, Brady Kurtz, Bjarne Pedersen, James Shanes, Linus Sundstrom, Mateusz Szczepaniak, Kacper Woryna, Matej Zagar.