Pirates' Holder urges clubs to invest in track covers (From Thisisdorset)

Pirates' Holder urges clubs to invest in track covers

9:49pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Latest Sport By Ian Wadley

PIRATES captain Chris Holder believes British clubs should invest in track covers in a bid to battle their weather woes.

Holder was speaking after Poole had tonight suffered their 11th rain-off of the 2012 season when the Elite League grand final again bit the dust.

Having seen the original date washed out on Wednesday, Pirates and Swindon will try again on Monday after tonight's downpour in Dorset.

The postponement of the second leg showdown at Wimborne Road continued what has been a miserable year for tracks up and down the country.

Although the use of protective sheets could not save tonight's clash, Holder thinks track covers could provide a solution in some situations.

The world champion told the Daily Echo: “The weather has been shocking and a lot of people have said it is probably the worst it has ever been since they can remember.

“No one can do much about that apart from just being prepared. If we could get covers next year, that would be a step in the right direction.

“But when it is raining like this, you probably couldn’t do too much anyway.”

Holder, who highlighted the importance of considering rider safety, added: “Half the time, the rain could stop but the damage has already been done. If the track is covered, we would have a chance of racing on it.”

Australian Holder and his fellow riders never looked likely to take to the shale last night as soon as drizzle had turned into a heavy and prolonged shower within two hours of the scheduled start.

Pirates chief Matt Ford bemoaned the incorrect weather forecasts which had predicted a clear evening from around 6pm.

He said: “Speedway tracks just can’t take weather like this.

“The covers were on until this morning but, then, you had some parts that were dry and some that were patchy. That makes it awkward in itself.

“Unfortunately, a decision was made to take off the sheets at that point in time but I don’t know if it would have really helped too much anyway.”

Pirates’ Knockout Cup semi-final clash at Peterborough, originally scheduled for Monday, has been moved to Friday, with Wednesday’s Wimborne Road fixture becoming the first leg.