PIRATES new boy Adam Ellis revealed how the hospitality of Matt Read had played a pivotal role in his career and admitted the former Somerset star had gone well beyond the call of duty.

Ex-Isle of Wight charger Read has put the 19-year-old Ellis up at his Ringwood home ever since the France-raised teenager arrived in Britain three years ago.

Read, whose riding career was curtailed by an horrific high-speed crash in the Long Track World Championship in 2004, has also performed mechanic and transport duties for the rookie racer.

And Lakeside asset Ellis admitted the kindness of his mentor had proved a priceless commodity as he built a name for himself in England.

Ellis told the Daily Echo: "I came over to England with my dad and when I got some meetings with the Isle of Wight and a Premier League guest booking, Matt Read said to me that I could stay with him for a couple of days.

"He took me to the meetings and ever since then I have been living with him and his wife in Ringwood. They are a racing family so they know what they are doing and I learned a lot from them, especially in the first year.

"Matt used to drive me round and mechanic for me and he still mechanics for me now. I'm surprised he isn't sick of me!

"It's tough to be away from France sometimes but I'm lucky to have good people around me who make me feel at home.

"In my first year over here, I couldn't drive and they were driving me everywhere, so there is no doubt I definitely landed on my feet.

"I do miss home when I'm away but I've got plenty of time between now and the start of next season to catch up.

"I'm pretty lucky that my family and friends aren't in Australia. If I want to go back for a week then I can just jump on a plane and the journey isn't too far."

Ellis, who was born in Marmande to British parents, is not the only rider from that part of the world as David Bellego and Dimitri Berge also hail from the French town.

The Poole reserve continued: "They only live 10 minutes up the road from me in France so I don't feel like I'm the odd one out when I ride in Britain.

"I get a lot of people who give me stick and tell me I'm French but I've always thought of myself as British.

"When I had the choice of doing the world under-21 qualifiers for France or Britain, I decided to do it for Team GB."