JERRAN Hart rediscovered his best form as Buccaneers reaffirmed they will be one of the top teams to beat in the National League this year.

An Elite League-sized crowd packed into Poole Stadium to see speedway's newest team, Bournemouth Castle Cover, on the back of promoter Matt Ford's offer of free entry.

And the 2,500 or so supporters, including many newcomers to the sport, can't have helped but enjoy the thrills and spills of the motorbike sport that is renowned as an out-and-out spectacle for the whole family.

Ford, biding to entice new faces to the Dorset speedway track after revealing crowd levels had hit an 11-year all-time low because of Poole Pirates' poor opening to their defence of the Elite League title, will have been pleased so many fans turned out last night.

He will have been even more impressed with the on-track action, which saw Hart scorch to 15 paid 17 from six rides in a lively third-tier, or Division Three if you prefer, clash.

Hart was only beaten by one King's Lynn rider, the impressive Jamie Smith, as he topped the night's score chart.

But, for all the teenager's dynamics, he wasn't involved in the two best races that should have speedway newcomers crying out for more the next time they visit the Wimborne Road venue.

First Luke Priest, who has been troubled by back problems that had forced him to take a two-week lay off, regained his confidence with a thrilling race nine triumph.

Outgated by Barracudas' fast-starting Darren Mallett, Priest - who'd look out of sorts in his opening two rides - blitzed outside the King's Lynn man on the second bend.

The Buccaneer held his nerve to peg Mallett behind him despite coming under strong pressure to take the chequered flag.

Bournemouth's Mark Baseby also stormed outside luckless Mallett on the third lap, before the trio produced a blanket finish with the King's Lynn heat leader never giving up.

Baseby was at it again in heat 14.

Outgated by Smith, he pushed and prodded to find a gap to get past the Barracudas rider, and eventually blasted outside Smith on the back straight of the third lap before going on to claim victory.

The passing move brought the house down.

It was speedway at its best, no matter at what level, first or third tier.

Buccaneers picked up the maximum three league points with their greater strength in depth telling.

They will get tougher tests, but they have now won five out of five and are on a roll.

Buccaneers 57: 1 Jay Herne (3-3-2-2) 10, 2 Andrew Aldridge (0-2*-2*-1*) 5+3, 3 Luke Priest (0-0-3-2*) 5, 4 Mark Baseby (3-2-2*-3-1) 11+1, 5 Kyle Newman (2-2-3-1*) 8+1, 6 Jerran Hart (3-1*-3-2*-3-3) 15+2, 7 Aaron Baseby (2*-ret-1) 3+1.

Team managers: Garry May and Neil Vatcher.

King’s Lynn 39: 1 Adam Allott (2-3-1-6^-0) 12, 2 Scott Campos (1*-1-1-0) 3+1, 3 Adam Lowe (1*-0-0-1) 2+1, 4 Jamie Smith (2-3-6^-2-2) 15, 5 Darren Mallett (3-1-1-0) 5, 6 Rhys Naylor (1) 1, 7 Jake Knight (fell exc-1-0-0-0-0-0) 1.

Team manager: Dale Allitt.

Referee: Christina Turnbull.

Ht 1: Herne, Allott, Campos, Aldridge, 61.68 (3-3).

Ht 2: (2nd re-run) Hart, A Baseby, Naylor (tapes offence, re-started off 15 metres handicap), Knight (fell excluded), 61.89 (8-4).

Ht 3: M Baseby, Smith, Lowe, Priest, 62.10 (11-7).

Ht 4: (re-run) Mallett, Newman, Knight, A Baseby (retired), 62.18 (13-11).

Ht 5: Allott, M Baseby, Campos, Priest, 61.49 (15-15).

Ht 6: Herne, Aldridge, Mallett, Knight, 62.68 (20-16).

Ht 7: Smith, Newman, Hart, Lowe, 62.55 (23-19).

Ht 8: Hart, Aldridge, Campos, Knight, 61.82 (28-20).

Ht 9: Priest, M Baseby, Mallett, Knight, 63.81 (33-21).

Ht 10: Smith^ (tactical rider, double points), Herne, Aldridge, Lowe, 62.87 (36-27).

Ht 11: Newman, Hart, Allott, Campos, 63.18 (41-28).

Ht 12: Hart, Priest, Lowe, Knight, 62.55 (46-29).

Ht 13: Allott^ (tactical rider, double points), Herne, Newman, Mallett, 62.59 (49-35).

Ht 14: M Baseby, Smith, A Baseby, Knight, 62.87 (53-37).

Ht 15: Hart, Smith, M Baseby, Allott, 62.64 (57-39).

Last night’s other results, Elite League: Ipswich 53 Eastbourne 37, Swindon 50 Wolves 42.

Fixtures, tonight, Elite League: Coventry v Eastbourne, Lakeside v Swindon.

National League: King’s Lynn v Rye House, Weymouth v Scunthorpe. Plymouth: Spring Classic Individual.

Tomorrow, Elite League: Eastbourne v Peterborough.

National League: Rye House v Buccaneers.