POOLE Pirates charger Kyle Newman revealed all 14 riders had objected to racing having examined the huge hole in the Wimborne Road surface.

The crunch Elite League semi-final second leg against King's Lynn was called off at the 11th hour with Sky Sports cameras and a bumper crowd waiting in vain to watch the action.

Members of both teams had spent considerable time stood round a huge divot between turns one and two where the track base had been damaged during work on the rain-soaked surface.

And while Newman had sympathy for the disappointed supporters who had turned out in force, the popular Dorset-based reserve said there had been little option.

Newman told the Daily Echo: “Unfortunately when the track was being bladed off it pulled up the base with it and there was an area of around five foot area which went about half a foot down.

“It was really soft and you could kick over and move the surface quite easily with your foot which would have been too dangerous for the riders. There wasn't one rider who felt it was safe to ride on, we were all asked and nobody put up their hand.

“There was a lot of pressure to get it on, Sky were here and the supporters that had arrived.

"It was unfair on the paying public but as much as we all want to be kind and treat the fans fairly, we do have to put our foot down if the track isn't safe to race on.

“Nobody wants to see riders crash and get injured and that looked likely so our heads had to rule our hearts this time.

“All in all it wouldn't have gone well for anybody. It would have been a poor show so it was the only call really, it was just a shame it took so long to make the decision.”