Davidsson inspires Pirates to victory (From Bournemouth Echo)

Davidsson inspires Pirates to victory

12:10am Thursday 19th June 2008 in

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DANIEL Davidsson predicts Pirates still have a tough battle to get into the Knockout Cup semi-final despite inspiring them to a 53-40 home win over Swindon last night.

The young Swede produced an impressive club best 13 paid 14 as Poole Castle Cover built up a healthy lead to take into the quarter-final second leg at Blunsdon tonight (7.30pm).

Asked if he felt that advantage would enable his side to go on and complete an aggregate triumph, Davidsson said: "I don't know.

"It'll be tough because Swindon are a completely different team at home.

"We need to be on it in the second leg because I think on aggregate it will be close."

Davidsson's four race wins equalled the number he'd won from 30 previous heats since rejoining Pirates in early May.

He said: "I'm very happy with it. It isn't going to get any better than that.

"I've worked hard since I came back here. I've been struggling from the starts but tonight I gated. It was no problem.

"For me gating is the key in every meeting because everyone struggles when you don't get out in front.

"It's very important, probably even more so for me.

"I've always been a good gater since a young age and that affects my passing ability, but maybe I'm getting a bit better from behind."

Davidsson, who passed James Wright to grab third in heat 12, added: "I used another engine tonight.

"It's been my second bike. I tried it at Wolves and it didn't work out but I thought at Poole it would be all right and it was.

"Magnus Zetterstrom wasn't here so I had his mechanic. We talked about set ups and it was really good.

"Maybe the last time I was here in 2006 I wouldn't have passed James, so I've improved on that."

With fellow Pirates reserve Zetterstrom sidelined through injury, Davidsson stressed he didn't feel any extra responsibility to perform well.

He said: "People said you have to do it tonight', but I don't care about that.

"I always want to do well whether Zorro's here or not. I just try to do my best every time.

"My neck and shoulder was still sore at Wolves on Monday when I struggled, and after I had crashed at Poole last week, I was thinking This is a big week with lots of meetings but it's not going to be any fun'.

"But it's great."