GIVEN the choice, if you are going to break a 35-year-old record, then you would ideally want to do it in style. (June 16)

That's precisely what new-look Pirates did last night.

Not only did they hammer title rivals Wolves by 14 points to create a new club best run of 26 successive home league wins in the top flight.

But Ryan Sullivan scorched to a new track record of 57.06 seconds on his way to winning heat four on a new engine.

And Poole RIAS new boys Krzysztof Kasprzak and Matej Ferjan - brought in to replace Davey Watt and Jason Lyons respectively - enjoyed impressive Pirates comebacks, while Magnus Zetterstrom returned to something like his best home form.

Fair enough, Wolves arrived at Wimborne Road without Chris Neath, who has glandular fever, and injured Daniel Nermark.

They were also hampered as Fredrik Lindgren rode with a heavily strapped shoulder injury.

This was, however, still a top class performance by Poole, who looked far stronger than in recent weeks racing in front of their home fans.

And they had sewn up victory on the night in front of a healthy 3,500 crowd with two races to spare, and the bonus point 103-81 on aggregate.

Those three points propelled revamped Pirates 10 points clear at the top of the Elite League table.

And it also reaffirmed the Dorset club as favourites to lift the crown at the end of the title play-offs.

Antonio Lindback got the ball rolling with a thrilling heat one triumph over Mikael Max in 57.72 secs, the fastest time of the season up until then.

Kasprzak, who has rejoined Poole from Swindon, cut across Lindgren going into the first turn to mark his Wimborne Road comeback with a win in heat two.

Then Ferjan swept outside of Adam Skornicki on the fourth bend to grab second place in heat three on his return to Pirates colours following a five-year gap.

Sullivan, though, stole the limelight by smashing Leigh Adams' previous track record of 57.13 secs as he scorched to a lightning quick tapes-to-flag success in heat four.

The Australian, who has impressed for Poole since he replaced Tony Rickardsson seven weeks ago, got out of the gate in front and roared on to win in 57.06 seconds.

That clipped 0.07 seconds off Adams' time, set on September 15 last year when Pirates beat Oxford 56-34 in the Knockout Cup.

Kasprzak drove inside Skornicki and Sam Ermolenko coming off the second bend to grab second behind Sullivan in heat four as Poole led 16-8.

Wolves' hopes of getting back into contention disappeared when Max finished last after starting 15 metres back as a tactical rider double points scorer in heat eight.

Although Lindgren trapped first to go on and win, Zetterstrom and Kasprzak, in particular, didn't panic and the Pole pegged Max behind him superbly, showing that he is not just a quick gater, but also that he can ride the whole track impressively as well. Ferjan starred in the best race of the night, when he outgated double points man Lindgren in heat nine. The Wolves rider put Ferjan under a lot of pressure, but the Slovenian held off Lindgren's surging last-lap charge to partner race winner Bjarne Pedersen to a 5-1. There was no coming back for Wolves.

The icing on the cake for Poole fans came after Lindback and Zetterstrom had stormed to another 5-1 over David Howe in heat 10.

Zorro somehow persuaded Lindback to join him in his celebration dance on their victory lap, although it was clear the younger Swede needs more practice at it if he is to be as good a jigger as Zetterstrom!

HEAT DETAILS Pirates: 1 Antonio Lindback (3-3-3-3-1) 13, 2 Magnus Zetterstrom (1-2*-2-2*) 7+2, 3 Matej Ferjan (2-0-2*-2) 6+1, 4 Bjarne Pedersen (1*-2-3-1) 7+1, 5 Ryan Sullivan (3-3-3-1-3) 13, 6 Daniel Davidsson (1-1-0-0) 2, 7 Krzysztof Kasprzak (3-2*-1*-0) 6+2. Team manager: Neil Middleditch. Wolves: 1 Mikael Max (2-3-0-2-0-2) 9, 2 Eric Carrillo (0-1-1*) 2+1, 3 Rider replacement for Daniel Nermark, 4 David Howe (3-2-1-6-3-0) 15, 5 Sam Ermolenko (1-1-0-2) 4, 6 Fredrik Lindgren (2-0-fell-3-2-1-2*) 10+1, 7 Adam Skornicki (0-fell-ret-0) 0. Team manager: Peter Adams. Referee: Dave Dowling. Ht 1: Lindback, Max, Zetterstrom, Carrillo, 57.72 (4-2). Ht 2: Kasprzak, Lindgren, Davidsson, Skornicki, 58.26 (8-4) Ht 3: Howe, Ferjan, Pedersen, Skornicki (fell), 59.52 (11-7). Ht 4: Sullivan, Kasprzak, Ermolenko, Lindgren, 57.06, new track record (16-8). Ht 5: Max, Pedersen, Carrillo, Ferjan, 57.86 (18-12). Ht 6: Lindback, Zetterstrom, Ermolenko (fell remounted), Lindgren (fell), 58.11 (23-13). Ht 7: Sullivan, Howe, Davidsson, Skornicki (retired), 58.22 (27-15). Ht 8: Lindgren, Zetterstrom, Kasprzak, Max (double points, tactical rider, started 15 metres back), 58.21 (30-18). Ht 9: (re-run) Pedersen, Ferjan, Lindgren (double points, tactical rider), Ermolenko, 60.13 (35-20). Ht 10: Lindback, Zetterstrom, Howe, Skornicki, 58.69 (40-21). Ht 11: Sullivan, Max, Carrillo, Davidsson, 58.92 (43-24). Ht 12: Howe (double points, tactical rider), Ferjan, Lindgren, Kasprzak, 58.51 (45-31). Ht 13: Lindback, Ermolenko, Sullivan, Max, 58.71 (49-33). Ht 14: Howe, Lindgren, Pedersen, Davidsson, 59.76 (50-38). Ht 15: Sullivan, Max, Lindback, Howe, 59.17 (54-40). Other Elite League results: Arena-Essex 47 Eastbourne 43.