Photo gallery: Elite League: King’s Lynn Stars 60, Eastbourne Eagles 32
Robert Lambert was given the bumps at the end of heat 15. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: IAN BURT
The celebratory bumps for Robert Lambert said it all as he bagged his first Elite League paid maximum during the Stars' latest demolition job.
Riders and fans alike were absolutely ecstatic that Lynn's talented teenager went through the card unbeaten to show why many expect him to become a future world champion. And the huge points haul was the least the Norfolk ace deserved for a debut top-flight term that has been packed with progression and bravery.
While he could have taken a reserve berth, the 16-year-old – who this summer has been taking his GCSE exams – went into the main body of the team. It was a confident outlook that has paid off in a side that looks unstoppable.
Lambert's gating was the best it had been all term tonight as the Stars roared into another unassailable lead on their own shale. But it didn't matter when he finally made a mess of one start in the 14th and looked set to ruin the evening's talking point. The homegrown hero kept his cool but stayed red hot as he shot from third to first in the blink of an eye. The kid is born to race and entertain.
There were worries that being selected in heat 15, the nominated ride, could be the end of a historical night. And it certainly looked that way as while number one Niels-Kristian Iversen, on his way to a paid max of his own, was out front, his team-mate was left trailing the experienced Bjarne Pedersen.
One place behind the Eastbourne man and 21 years his junior, surely there was no way for the Foulsham hot-shot to get by him? However, for what he lacked in age, Lambert made up in sheer ability by scything underneath him to put the gloss on an outstanding victory.
Iversen's paid max may have been expected but second-string Lambert's full house was the headline-grabbing moment from another night to remember at the Norfolk Arena. It was an occasion where a Star was perhaps not born, but maybe started to shine that little bit brighter.
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The duo, who scored 27 paid 30 between them, were well supported by all of their team-mates who were simply too good for third-placed Eastbourne. To be fair, they've been too good for almost everyone as Lynn's march to the play-off continues.
Decent guest performances from Josh Auty and Simon Lambert were backed up well by Rory Schlein, Kenneth Bjerre and Lewis Rose. The home side's seven riders were so dominant that the visitors could only claim one heat advantage – and that came as a result of a tactical ride where Mikkel Michelsen went for double points.
Seven maximum 5-1s rammed home the league leaders' superiority and maintained their 100pc Saddlebow Road record this term. And it extended the Eagles' miserably away run which has seen them lose all seven of their meetings on the road. The men from the south coast will need to buck their ideas up away from Arlington – where they also have not tasted defeat – because they couldn't live with the Stars – who perform wherever they ride right now.
Especially Iversen and a man who could one day be as good as him – young Mr Robert Lambert.
Lynn: N-K Iversen 14+1, J Auty 5+2, R Schlein 6+2, R Lambert 13+2, K Bjerre 8, S Lambert 8+3, L Rose 6+1
Eastbourne: B Pedersen 7+1, T Lahti 2, J Kylmakorpi 3+1, C Woodward 6+1, M Michelsen 8+1, K Newman 6, D Halsey 0