CHRIS Holder hit back at suggestions Poole Pirates had been hiding behind a troublesome track and suggested a lasting solution would represent “a miracle”.

The 2012 world champion has been among the riders criticised by fans on the back of the team’s stuttering start to the campaign and losing 0.73 from his own green sheet average.

Promoter Matt Ford called for his charges to “stop living on excuses” after the Wimborne Road surface came under scrutiny following the 49-41 home defeat to Belle Vue seven days ago.

A resurgent Holder responded with an 11-point return having been restored to the number-one berth on Monday, inspiring a 46-44 victory at in-form Swindon.

Responding to recent gripes, the Aussie ace insisted he had been more than happy to take his share of the flak but argued Poole’s riders deserved a more sympathetic ear over the home surface.

Holder told the Daily Echo: “Matt answered it for us I guess. It is not going to change, we just have to get on with it and do our best.

“Belle Vue got the win but they only have to come to us a couple of times a year. It is easier for them to ride a bumpy track now and again than having to do it every Wednesday.

“We just want it changed so we can have better racing and to give us a chance if we are behind. Hopefully, a miracle will happen, the track will be good tonight and we will be laughing.

“Poole is a successful team and you are there to win. When you’re losing and riders are not scoring, of course it is not going to be so good.

“It is pretty standard to be getting a bit of stick at those times. I have no worries about that but sometimes, there is something behind it when we’re complaining about things. We’re not just saying it because we like the sound of our own voices.

“You have to feel comfortable at your home track. We want it set up so it works well for everybody, it needs some give and take from both sides but things are going okay. It is early in the season and we have just beaten Swindon away so we can’t be too unhappy.”

And Holder hopes his improved showing at Blunsdon will mark the end of any equipment niggles with the Robins heading to Dorset tonight (7.30pm).

“It is a totally different type of racing,” he added.

“Here, it is more survival than anything. Most of the tracks are pretty old and worn out so it is more about how you start races.

“It is harder to make passes. In Poland and Sweden, you get better surfaces that you can race on. The bikes are different out there and the tracks are bigger and faster.

“My stuff is good. Things were going well but all of a sudden, it dropped off. I got the engines fixed but it was only on Monday where this engine felt pretty good again.

“I’ll try it again tonight and hopefully, we will get another good performance out of it.”