PIRATES number one Richard Lawson labelled his side’s convincing win over Oxford Cheetahs as a “dream start” to the 2024 campaign.

Poole were rampant to start their defence of the BSN series, dropping just one race as they ended 61-29 winners over the Cheetahs.

Lawson led the way with a full house, winning all five of his entered races.

Speaking after the meeting, Lawson shared: “It was a dream start, I still can't quite believe it.

“Just everything went - well apart from my start in heat one - kind of to plan.

“That was true for all the boys.

“We all just clicked and you can't ask for much more.

“I didn't expect that score against Oxford.

“I had them tipped as one of the top teams so we definitely laid down a marker tonight.

A lot had been made in the build-up of Pirates’ new look track, with Poole importing excess shale from Wolverhampton Wolves to improve the Wimborne Road surface.

Lawson continued: “The track was well prepared.

“It's not massively different to last year and I thought it rode really well.

“The track guys here do a real good job and they listen to what we want.”