CHAMPIONS Poole gave the nation a bold statement of their ambitions to win a fourth straight Elite League title after pummelling King’s Lynn at Wimborne Road tonight.

With the Sky cameras in attendance and title rivals Belle Vue and Wolves watching from afar, Pirates were determined to inflict maximum pain on a Stars side they battered 65-25 on August 10.

With only home meetings remaining for the Aces and Wolves, it’s likely Pirates will still need maximum points at Belle Vue on Monday and King’s Lynn on Tuesday to snatch top spot in the Elite League and first choice of opponents for the play-off semi-finals on September 21 and 26.

This will be no easy task with their current injury woes. Poole No.1 Chris Holder missed Monday’s trip to Wolverhampton with a wrist problem, but bounced back with a terrific 12-point maximum.

Pirates remained without skipper Hans Andersen, who is waiting for surgery on a broken finger, and Krzysztof Buczkowski, who has a wrist injury. Former Poole pair Rohan Tungate and Edward Kennett stepped in as guests.

Their patched up side started in superb style, though, with Holder jetting away to win heat one, with Great Britain star Adam Ellis fending off compatriot and Stars guest Chris Harris for a superb second place to complete the maximum.

Another 5-1 followed for Poole in heat two, with acting skipper Bjarne Pedersen slowing up Michael Palm Toft to allow Kyle Newman to roar around the outside for victory.

Tungate was leading the charge in heat three, but packed up at the end of lap three, allowing Stars hero Robert Lambert through for victory, with Kennett passing Troy Batchelor on turn four, as King’s Lynn grabbed a 4-2.

Brady Kurtz triumphed ahead of Kai Huckenbeck in race four, with Newman delightfully dive-bombing Stars reserve Carl Wilkinson for third on bend four as Poole restored their eight-point lead.

Pirates surged 12 up with a 5-1 from Ellis and Pedersen in heat five, prompting stand-in Stars team manager Garry May to send Harris out for a tactical ride in race six.

Poole were more than up to the challenge as Kurtz quickly took charge on turn two. Harris piled the pressure on Kennett, but the Lakeside racer showed superb composure to fend him off for second and deny him double points.

With Stars 16 adrift and their black-and-white ride wasted, Poole stepped up their victory surge in heat seven with a maximum from Holder and Tungate, who ruthlessly barged Huckenbeck aside to defend second spot on turn four.

Pirates appeared to be on course for another 5-1 until Palm Toft stunned Kurtz and Newman with the ride of the night in race eight.

He blasted under the Aussie superbly on lap four, bend two, before rounding Newman on the final corner to steal victory by a bike length to earn a standing ovation from the home fans.

The Dane repeated the trick in race nine. First he hunted down Ellis, diving under him on lap three, bend two, before forcing his way under Pedersen a lap later for another superb win to share the race.

So good were his efforts that May gave him a third straight ride in heat 10. But he had no answer by a superb move from Kennett on bend two as the Brit showed his class around Wimborne Road with a fantastic victory.

After three straight shared races, Holder hit the gas for Poole with a clear win in race 11, while Ellis nipped past Batchelor on turn two for third.

Pirates went 48-24 up with a 4-2 led by Pedersen in heat 12, with Palm Toft gliding past Newman for second.

Former Bournemouth Buccaneers boss May is known for being ultra-ruthless when it comes to making changes, and he took full advantage of MPT’s fine form by axing former SGP rider Batchelor from race 13.

It was an inspired move as the Dane dive-bombed Tungate for second on turn two, restricting Poole to a 4-2 as Holder made it four wins from four.

Kennett capped off a stunning night’s work by blazing under Kurtz, Lambert and Huckenbeck on the back straight in race 14, with the Aussie champ barging the German wide on turn four to join him on a 5-1.

And Kurtz rounded off a sensational night with victory ahead of Lambert in the nominated race as Pirates broke the 60 barrier.