EVEN Darcy Ward’s biggest admirers must be running low on superlatives to describe his breathtaking performances.

It is not just the fact that rival riders simply cannot contain him at Wimborne Road, it is the manner of his victories that are giving speedway observers such pleasure.

Having witnessed many of the sport’s leading names on Dorset shale in recent years, Pirates fans know a high-quality competitor when they see one.

But rarely can they have been treated to such exhilarating displays as the two-times world under-21 champion serves up with daring regularity.

While fellow Australian star Chris Holder rightly takes top billing as the club’s Grand Prix hero, Ward is surely not far off following in his footsteps on the world stage.

Aside from his undoubted potential and class, he deserves to be on the biggest stage on entertainment value alone.

Poole supporters braving the miserable weather were given another reminder of Ward’s rich talents last night.

His exciting style was as evident as ever in heat seven of Pirates’ latest Elite League victory over King’s Lynn Stars.

One of Ward’s trademark moves this year has been to fly around the outside of opponents, maximising every inch of the track in front of the pits. He used this familiar route to perfection to see off the impressive Mads Korneliussen, who had given the Aussie hotshot a taste of his own medicine by making an identical manoeuvre at the start of the heat.

But not one to settle for second place, Ward showed his bravery, determination and daredevil speed to regain top spot. The fast pass was, without question, the most memorable moment of a meeting that saw Pirates record the latest win in their unbeaten home sequence this season.

King’s Lynn arrived on the south coast in fine form themselves. Having earned a point from all of their past four away league matches, Stars have made a fine transition to top-flight speedway and sit in third place.

But they became the latest outfit to have no answer to the league leaders’ dominance at Wimborne Road.

It was a classic example of team riding that set Pirates on their way to an eighth consecutive home league win.

Holder got to the first bend in front and with Dennis Andersson, who looked in much better form following his injury problems of recent weeks, stay ing glued to his back wheel throughout, Kenneth Bjerre never looked like denying the hosts a maximum.

After Filip Sitera had been excluded following an uncomfortable tumble in heat two, Renat Gafurov eased to victory ahead of Lasse Bjerre, who held off Kyle Newman despite appearing to suffer from engine difficulties in the closing stages.

Korneliussen kept his cool under pressure from Davey Watt to claim King’s Lynn’s first success but Ward wasted no time in putting Poole back on the front foot.

Signed from King’s Lynn in 2009 for a Pirates club record transfer fee, Ward reminded his former club of his quality by scorching home ahead of Niels-Kristian Iversen.

Watt and Jason Doyle then combined for a 4-2 heat advantage in race five before Holder was made to work hard for his second win of the evening. Dominant around Wimborne Road this season, he trailed Iversen off the start line and had to bide his time before making his move, flying past his rival on the inside to take the chequered flag.

Then came Ward’s moment of magic. Having been left behind by Korneliussen on the opening circuit, he looked set for a rare defeat. But the young Australian was having none of it and carefully lined up his opponent before producing his party piece.

In a demonstration of speed and bravery, he took the long way round and left the Stars number four with nothing but a cloud of dust.

With the crowd still recovering from Ward’s heroics, they were treated to another exciting performance courtesy of a rejuvenated Andersson. Having patiently trailed Lasse Bjerre, the Pirates prospect timed his move to perfection when he darted up the inside on the final bend to get supporters on their feet once again.

Watt gave Poole that familiar winning feeling with their eighth win in nine outings before Holder led them home in race 10.

Having seen Watt deny tactical rider Iversen in heat nine, Ward did the same to Kenneth Bjerre to claim victory by a mammoth winning margin for his third three-pointer.

Watt won again before even Holder could not get close to Ward as he roared clear to lead home the most comfortable of 5-1s in heat 13.

Korneliussen, the stand-out Stars performer, claimed his and his team’s second win of the meeting in the penultimate race.

But, fittingly, Ward had the final say when he completed a five-ride full house, with second-placed Holder claiming a paid maximum. It was the third home fixture in a row that the pair had not been beaten by an opposition rider.