THE first meeting at Wimborne Road since Darcy Ward’s terrible accident was never going to be anything less than hugely significant.

For once, speedway itself was not foremost in fans’ minds, a fact evident around the stadium as thousands flocked to show their support for the stricken star.

In his programme notes, Pirates promoter Matt Ford wrote movingly of the “genius” of Ward and of the efforts made by some of his closest allies – Chris Holder, Neil Middleditch, Davey Watt and Mark Lemon – in providing crucial support at a desperate time.

Banners emblazoned with Ward’s name adorned the fence around the track and a book of friendship was available for supporters to pen personal messages, while posters featuring the two-time world under-21 champion were also on sale – every penny going towards his treatment.

Ford also revealed a fundraising meeting would take place at Wimborne Road later this season with the aim of raising further cash for the popular Pirates asset.

The phrase ‘speedway family’ is regularly used and this was it in action, an unerring show of support from all quarters for a rider dear to the shale sport. It was a heartening sight and one from which, many will hope, Ward can draw some strength.

Then there was the racing. Holder and Watt got the hosts off an ideal – and emotional – start when they roared to a maximum in heat one, both riders enjoying a huge ovation as they popped wheelies on their celebration lap.

Stars guest Josh Bates profited from a decent start to the first reserves’ outing but was pushed all the way by Kyle Newman, who found plenty of speed in the latter half of the race, while Dakota North needed all of his powers to negotiate a route past Kenneth Bjerre for a point in heat three.

Kacper Gomolski and Newman teamed up to great effect in heat four, racking up a second maximum to send Pirates into the first track grading with terrific momentum.

That showed no signs of halting after the break. First Paul Starke nipped past Bates for third and the hard-charging Watt stole victory in thrilling style after Nicklas Porsing had lifted in the closing metres.

With his team 12 points adrift, Stars boss Rob Lyon put Niels-Kristian Iversen on a tactical and the Grand Prix charger gated well, only to be undone by a sensational move from Gomolski, the Pole threading the eye of the needle on the first turn before holding on for victory.

Honours were shared next time out as Janowski and Holder were restricted to the central placings, before Newman and Gomolski gave the home faithful cause for concern despite their dominance of heat eight, the latter nearly making contact with his team-mate on more than one occasion.

Nevertheless, Gomolski maintained his flawless card, a feat replicated by Watt in heat nine as he once again stayed unbeaten, and did so in style to help the home side extend to 16 points their lead.

North was once again in battling mood in heat 10 and it paid off for the Victorian as he roared past Iversen on the home straight to set up a 5-1 maximum, with Janowski untouchable out front.

Maximum number five followed in heat 11 courtesy of Holder and Watt, who were inspired in tandem, with Newman and Watt then drawing on similar magic as they extended to 26 points the advantage.

Holder and Janowski bossed heat 13 with consummate ease and even a spill suffered by North did not cause significant problems, Gomolski blasting to second behind Robert Lambert as King’s Lynn claimed only their second heat advantage.

Middleditch elected to hand heat-15 roles to Janowski and Gomolski and the Polish duo repaid their team manager’s faith with a scintillating display, ensuring Pirates hit the 60-point mark and strengthened their grip on top spot in the Elite League.

Pirates travel to Leicester for their penultimate meeting of the regular season tomorrow night and are set to track an unchanged side.

Lions, who won at King’s Lynn on Tuesday, are without Sam Masters and Josh Auty with Nicolai Klindt and Carl Wilkinson set to deputise.

RIDERS' SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Pirates 62: 1 Chris Holder (3-1*-3-3) 10+1, 2 Davey Watt (2*-3-3-2*) 10+2, 3 Dakota North (1-0-2*-fx) 3+1, 4 Kacper Gomolski (3-3-3-2-2*) 13+1, 5 Maciej Janowski (3-2-3-2*-3) 13+1, 6 Paul Starke (1*-1-1-1) 4+1, 7 Kyle Newman (2-2*-2*-3) 9+2. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Stars 30: 1 Niels-Kristian Iversen (1-4^-1-1-0) 7, 2 Nicklas Porsing (0-2-1-0) 3, 3 Robert Lambert (2-0-1-3) 6, 4 Richard Lawson, guest (1-3-2-1-1) 8, 5 Kenneth Bjerre (0-1*-0-0) 1+1, 6 Josh Bates, guest (3-0-0-0) 3, 7 Ashley Morris (0-0-0-2) 2. Team manager: Rob Lyon.

Ht 1: Holder, Watt, Iversen, Porsing, 59.75 (5-1)

Ht 2 (re-run): Bates, Newman, Starke, Morris, 61.28 (8-4)

Ht 3: Janowski, Lambert, North, Bjerre, 59.69 (12-6)

Ht 4: Gomolski, Newman, Lawson, Morris, 61.60 (17-7)

Ht 5: Watt, Porsing, Starke, Bates, 60.47 (21-9)

Ht 6: Gomolski, Iversen (tactical), Bjerre, North, 60.60 (24-14)

Ht 7: Lawson, Janowski, Holder, Lambert, 60.09 (27-17)

Ht 8: Gomolski, Newman, Porsing, Bates, 61.59 (32-18)

Ht 9: Watt, Lawson, Starke, Morris, 60.53 (36-20)

Ht 10: Janowski, North, Iversen, Porsing, 60.28 (41-21)

Ht 11: Holder, Watt, Lambert, Bjerre, 60.28 (46-22)

Ht 12: Newman, Morris, Starke, Bates, 62.00 (50-24)

Ht 13: Holder, Janowski, Iversen, Bjerre, 60.44 (55-25)

Ht 14 (re-run x2): Lambert, Gomolski, Lawson, North (fell/dsq), 61.16 (57-29)

Ht 15: Janowski, Gomolski, Lawson, Iversen, 60.87 (62-30)

ECHO STAR RIDER – KACPER GOMOLSKI

Kacper Gomolski has never been better in Pirates kevlars over the course of a meeting than he was against King’s Lynn tonight.

The Pole was terrific value to watch and pulled off the move of the fixture when he squeezed through the smallest of gaps to charge to the front in heat six.

A deserved recipient of a heat-15 spot, Gomolski showed his efforts had been anything but a flash in the pan as he backed up Janowski superbly in second.

On this showing, the Pirates second-stringer could prove a big player in the end-of-season play-offs.