TEAM boss Neil Middleditch described the Wimborne Road track as “the best I’ve seen it for a long, long time” after Poole’s 58-32 home success against Newcastle.

A delivery of 28 tonnes of shale from Scotland was brought in to aid Pirates’ home surface, which had to withstand rain throughout the day before racing on Wednesday.

But track man Terry Chrabaszcz and his team were hailed by both the match referee and Middleditch for their efforts in producing a sound surface.

“I was really pleased with the track,” said Middleditch.

“I didn’t get to the practice on Tuesday but it looked really good. The dirt we’d had on there had been ridden so much, it had turned to dust.

“But I think the boys would agree, this has got a bit of bite to it. Even walking round there after the meeting, there is still a bit of dirt in gate four.

“The track is the best I’ve seen it for a long, long time. It’s a good racetrack now – it really is good.”

Pirates are now 22 meetings unbeaten on home shale, a record which stretches back to September 2019.

Asked whether he felt the track improvements could be a benefit to away riders, Middleditch replied: “I think it doesn’t frighten. Poole is such a good-shaped racetrack anyway.

“The classic example was Darcy (Ward), when Darcy left and went to Swindon and came back.

“He said ‘it’s so hard to come here as a visitor because the boys have got it dialled in’.

“There was some great racing and we all know for 15 heats you aren’t going to get excellent races but you are going to get some good races.

“The surface proved to be really good and Terry’s done a great job on the track.”

Pirates are on the road against Redcar Bears in the SGB Championship tomorrow (7.30pm).