BUCCANEERS boss Garry May labelled maximum man James Brundle’s performance “awesome” following his brilliant 15-pointer in their crucial 48-42 triumph at Rye House.

Brundle became the first Bournemouth Castle Cover rider to go through the card from five rides this season as they swept to victory at Hoddesdon on Saturday.

Victory boosted the Dorset side’s hopes of bagging a National League top four spot and title play-off place.

May said: “James was awesome. He’s too good for this league, but the rules say I can use him, so I use him.

“No-one really got near him at all. His gating and first bends were terrific.

“That’s what got him his maximum and the rest of the boys got it together to help us over the line.”

Brundle, who is Peterborough rider Troy Batchelor’s full-time mechanic in Britain, took some persuading to join Buccaneers as a replacement for former number one Chris Mills, particularly after he’d spent a long time on the sidelines.

But once he signed, Brundle plundered 13 paid 14 on his Buccaneers’ bow in their 50-40 home win over King’s Lynn earlier this month and followed that with an impressive 10 paid 11 at Weymouth in a 46-44 league triumph.

May said: “James is enjoying his racing. He’s getting into it again. We look after him at Bournemouth and he’s happy to race for us.

“His form is really great. He has come and filled Chris Mills’s role perfectly.

“He’s been excellent and I’m glad he joined us. He’s doing the job for us that Chris did. They’re both superb riders at this level.

“Chris was an out and out number one and so is James. He can challenge most other number ones.”

May added: “It was a nail-biter at Rye House. We threw away some points. Daniel Halsey was leading and dropped it, while Karl Mason had engine trouble.

“He had to go out on his second bike and conceded a 5-1 as Rye House went 37-35 in front.

“James Sarjeant guested for John Resch and was on the pace, but he had a huge crash.

“He had another big crash and then went out on Kyle Howarth’s bike in the second re-run of heat two to get some points after Shane Hazelden had already been excluded.

“We had some luck with Cobras losing Ben Morley to an ankle injury, but still deserved our win.”