Lawson believes Pirates are finding their form after breezing past Bears

Number one Richard Lawson insisted Poole Pirates were “beginning to hit top gear” as they made light work of the Redcar Bears at Wimborne Road.

Lawson once again showed his class to pick up 13+1 from five rides against the Bears – only being denied a paid maximum by former Poole skipper Danny King in heat 15.

Lewis Kerr (10) also reached double figures as a 51-39 win put Pirates two points clear at the top of the SGB Championship table.

And Lawson insisted his side were starting to perform to their ability, in a bid to capture silverware once again.

He said: "We've had some slow starts to meetings and this was always going to be a tough test.

“We said on the track walk that it doesn't get much tougher than this and in the end we really showed what we can do.

“We set ourselves a very high standard here at Poole and have done for years and years but it's been a kind of slow start for the team this year but, this last week, I feel we are beginning to hit top gear and it’s good to see it."

Lawson was part of the 2022 Pirates double-winning squad, alongside King, who showed he still knew a quick way around Wimborne Road in Redcar colours.

"Good old Danny, you know he's a good racer and it's good to see him back here doing well,” said Lawson.

“But every cloud has a silver lining, it's good for the average! My times were interesting, there was a bit of dirt there on the outside and if you got in and were committed, it would really pull you round but yeah, I just want to say it was a great performance by the lads again."

Next up for Pirates is a home meeting against Berwick on Wednesday (7.30pm).