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Adam Skornicki

MAN-of-the-moment Adam Skornicki has revealed it is "something big for me" after temporarily taking over the Poole captain's armband in place of injured Bjarne Pedersen.

Skornicki, frustratingly denied another bumper score for Pirates last night by heavy rain that washed out the end of the meeting, said: "It was a surprise when they asked me to be skipper because I've only been here a few months.

"I got a text from (co-promoter) Matt Ford and was really surprised.

"It's something new to me in England. It's something big for me. It's given me extra responsibility, plus the chance to toss the coin before meetings.

"I'm pleased to stand in for Bjarne until he is back."

Skornicki was on a paid maximum when the rain came down and probably denied Poole Castle Cover top spot in the Elite League table.

He'd won heat two and bagged second behind Davey Watt in race four to follow up his mammoth 18 paid 19 at Eastbourne during Pirates' 48-41 win on Monday.

After being informed that was the equal seventh-highest performance by a Poole rider since the club was formed in 1948, Skornicki said: "Wow, that's nice, especially for such a long period in time, joint seventh is really good.

"It's nice to go in the history books for Poole.

"I don't think I've scored that many points before, although I got 17 in Poland on Sunday for Poznan at Rybnik.

"Two scores like that in two days. It shows I'm really enjoying my racing.

"Eastbourne was our second away win as a team and we're going up the table.

"That's why it was a shame tonight's meeting was called off. All the team felt good and we believed we would win.

"But it was the right decision. The track was too wet to ride and we didn't know whether it would rain again later on.

"Both captains, team managers and the ref agreed it was too dangerous to carry on.

"They could have done work on the track after the rain had stopped but it would have taken at least 45 minutes.

"You never know how the track would be after that, so it was the right decision."

Pirates team manager Neil Middleditch feels Skornicki, 31, has been riding like an "18-year-old".

Asked why, the experienced Pole said: "It's several things really.

"I just feel I'm more organised this year. I have a good staff around me, and I feel really good at Poole.

"I have some sponsors and good equipment. Everything is just getting better.

"Also we are a very young team that wants to win the league. I'm the oldest bloke, so I have to feel like them.

"I feel like 18. I have too, to keep up with them!"

Jason Crump received a good reception from Poole fans following news of his full transfer back to Belle Vue from the Dorset club.

But he was beaten superbly into third place in heat one by Freddie Eriksson after Krzysztof Kasprzak had got out in front and won.

Crump comprehensively showed young gun Chris Holder his back wheel in heat five, before Eriksson lost out by a tyre's width on race six success to Joe Screen before rain stopped proceedings.

The clash will be re-staged on a new date, and Pirates' announced admission tickets from last night's meeting would gain access to any one of their next four home meetings on May 21, 28, June 4 or 11.

People unable to attend any of those can obtain a refund by sending their ticket/s to The Speedway Office, Poole Stadium, Wimborne Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2BP.

7:00am Thursday 15th May 2008

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