King's Lynn Stars finally got their season underway – and in some style.
After a series of meetings lost to bad weather, the Adrian Flux Arena was finally able to witness their heroes in action.
And after nine races when there was hardly anything between the teams, the Stars burst into life, grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck and running away with it.
At the spearhead was the team's new skipper Robert Lambert, who scored a stunning 15-point maximum from his five outings – proving how vital it was for the Stars to keep hold of him after fears he might be looking for pastures new.
Backing up the local rider was Lewis Kerr, with 12 points, with new boy Ty Proctor and number one Niels-Kristian Iversen both adding eight to the Stars' healthy total.
The racing had been preceded by a minute's applause for the legendary New Zealander multiple world champion, and former Belle Vue rider Ivan Mauger, who died earlier this week.
Fast forward to 2018 and it was the Aces' number one Craig Cook who won the opener, with Lewis Rose and Iversen taking Lynn's share of the points.
The Stars took a slim advantage after the third, a 4-2 home win courtesy of Proctor, who won his battle with Lasse Bjerre.
The next four races were shared before Belle Vue levelled it with a 4-2 in the eighth heat.
Proctor got his second win of the night to help Stars take a narrow 28-26 lead into the interval – and that's when things began to change.
The Stars came out firing, scoring a 5-1 success in the 10th heat, Iversen leading Kerr over the line, and followed with another as Lambert saw off Cook, who fell on the last turn of the last lap to gift Kasper Andersen second place.
It gave Lynn a 10-point lead, which was stretched by two more after the 13th, before Lynn finished off with a 5-1 and a shared final heat to round off a good night's work.
King's Lynn Stars: Robert Lambert 15, Lewis Kerr 12+1, Ty Proctor 8+2, Niels Kristian Iversen 8+1, Thomas Jorgensen 6+1, Kasper Andersen 2+1, Lewis Rose 2.
Belle Vue Aces: Dan Bewley 12, Max Fricke 8+2, Craig Cook 7, Lasse Bjerre 4, Rohan Tungate 3+1, Simon Lambert 2+2, Paul Starke 1.
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