BRADY Kurtz blasted to his maiden maximum in the British top flight as Pirates claimed a 56-34 victory at Leicester in their first meeting of the SGB Premiership campaign.

Krzysztof Kasprzak, Hans Andersen and Nicolai Klindt were extremely impressive but it was Kurtz who provided the star turn with an unbeaten 12-point haul.

Poole allowed their hosts just one heat advantage and had victory wrapped up with three races to spare, banishing memories of last night's Knockout Cup loss to Belle Vue.

Team boss Neil Middleditch had a full side available with Lewis Kerr back in the fold.

There was no such luxury for Leicester, who brought in Ipswich's Rory Schlein and Somerset's Jan Graversen in the absence of Josh Bates and Erik Riss due to Championship commitments.

The Lions had made tweaks to their Beaumont Park circuit prior to the season and Kasprzak found them to his liking, setting a new track record of 61.75 in heat one.

Klindt and James Shanes then racked up the first maximum, helped in no small part by Danny Ayres causing Graversen to fall as the home pair gave chase.

Another 5-1 quickly followed, Kurtz and Kerr combining to seal it, before Danny King took the chequered flag ahead of Pirates skipper Andersen.

The visitors were eight points to the good. That their lead was not reduced in heat four came down to the decision of leader Kacper Gomolski to reduce speed, apparently believing the race had been stopped. 

It had not. Schlein spared the Pole's blushes – to an extent – by winning and preventing further damage.

Race six was shared but Kurtz's second victory in a 4-2 with Kerr extended to 10 points the Poole lead.

A Lions maximum changed the complexion momentarily but Andersen, after initially being warned for moving at the start, headed Schlein and Klindt's third place put Middleditch's men on the front foot again.

The on-fire Kurtz blitzed to a third win before Jack Holder was jettisoned in favour of Klindt, the Dane bravely swooping round King as Kasprzak nipped through on the inside.

Overall victory was assured in heat 12 when Klindt re-emerged and linked up with Kerr for a maximum from the gate, blunting Gomolski's tactical ride in the process.

Race 13 developed into a spread-out affair in which honours ended even, with Kurtz then completing his fine night's work with a tapes-to-flag success.

For good measure, Andersen and Kasprzak finished off the meeting with Poole's fifth 5-1.

RIDERS’ SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Leicester 34: 1 Kim Nilsson (2-3-2-3-1) 11, 2 Josh Auty (1*-0-3-1*) 5+2, 3 Kacper Gomolski (1-r-r-1^) 2, 4 Rory Schlein – guest (f-3-2-2) 7, 5 Danny King (3-2-1-0-0) 6, 6 Jan Graversen – guest (1-0-0) 1, 7 Danny Ayres (x-0-2*-0-0) 2+1.

Pirates 56: 1 Krzysztof Kasprzak (3-2-2*-2-2*) 11+2, 2 Jack Holder (r-1*-1) 2+1, 3 Lewis Kerr (2*-1-0-2*) 5+2, 4 Brady Kurtz (3-3-3-3) 12, 5 Hans Andersen (2-2-3-1*-3) 11+1, 6 Nicolai Klindt (3-1*-1-3-3) 11+1, 7 James Shanes (2*-1*-0-1) 4+2.

HT 1: Kasprzak, Nilsson, Auty, Holder (retired), 61.75 (3-3)

HT 2 (re-run): Klindt, Shanes, Graversen (fell), Ayres (dsq), awarded (4-8)

HT 3: Kurtz, Kerr, Gomolski, Schlein (fell), 62.25 (5-13)

HT 4: King, Andersen, Shanes, Ayres, 62.26 (8-16)

HT 5: Schlein, Kasprzak, Holder, Gomolski (retired), 62.81 (11-19)

HT 6: Nilsson, Andersen, Klindt, Auty, 62.12 (14-22)

HT 7: Kurtz, King, Kerr, Graversen, 63.00 (16-26)

HT 8: Auty, Ayres, Holder, Shanes, 62.94 (21-27)

HT 9: Andersen, Schlein, Klindt, Gomolski (retired), 62.94 (23-31)

HT 10: Kurtz, Nilsson, Auty, Kerr, 62.38 (26-34)

HT 11: Klindt, Kasprzak, King, Ayres, 63.18 (27-39)

HT 12: Klindt, Kerr, Gomolski (tactical), Ayres, 63.50 (28-44)

HT 13: Nilsson, Kasprzak, Andersen, King, 62.44 (31-47)

HT 14: Kurtz, Schlein, Shanes, Graversen, 62.91 (33-51)

HT 15: Andersen, Kasprzak, Nilsson, King (retired), 62.69 (34-56)

ECHO STAR RIDER: BRADY KURTZ

NOW in his second full year in the British top flight, Brady Kurtz is discovering his potential at this level.

The former Australian champion was rapid throughout the meeting and deserved a wonderful maximum.

An honourable mention goes to the much-improved Krzysztof Kasprzak, while Hans Andersen and Nicolai Klindt also impressed.