DAVID Bellego says a confidence in the Abbey Stadium track was the catalyst for Swindon Robins keeping their push to reach the SGB Premiership play-offs alive.

Swindon were 47-42 winners over Poole Pirates at Blunsdon on Bank Holiday Monday, having been beaten on their previous meeting on home shale by Belle Vue Aces back on August 16.

That was just the second of two home losses suffered by Alun Rossiter’s side in 2018, whereas by contrast, they have only won twice on their travels all year.

The win over the Pirates means Swindon remain in the hunt to achieve a top-four finish in the league heading into the final week of the season.

Frenchman Bellego top scored for the Robins against Poole with 10 points, and says the team proved what they are capable of when they are racing on a surface they are familiar with and have faith in.

“We won and that’s important, but what is really important for us when we are on the bike is that the track is really consistent, and it was a good track on Monday,” said Bellego.

“At the end of the day, when we are at home, we have to be confident in the track.

“When we go to away meetings, we find the tracks a bit hard at times and we are not really confident, but when you come home, you need to know what you are going to get.

“Fair play to the staff and to Rosco with the work they did to the first corner. On Monday, you could see that we could race the track properly, and that is what it is about.”

Bellego’s heroics against Poole came despite a failure to register a point in his opening ride.

The Frenchman quickly put that behind him to win each of his next three outings before delivering a third-placed finish after being entrusted with a key ride in heat 15.

“I had a tough start to the meeting, but I didn’t really do anything after the first ride,” said Bellego.

“I am really pleased with how I did after that. The team did really well and hopefully we can keep going now.”