TRICK'S FINAL WIMBORNE ROAD MAXIMUM

Viewers of our streamed re-run of the 2003 Grand Final play-off second leg will have witnessed Tony Rickardsson go through the card unbeaten.

Those present live on that October night would not have known that they had seen the legend's last Wimborne Road maximum.

For whilst Tony returned in 2004, at least for the start of it, and claimed three away maximums, the nearest he came to a perfect performance in Dorset was  against Peterborough on March 24th when he was beaten by Lukas Dryml in heat 15. Despite the Czech rider's victory  it was the Pirates, for whom Dryml was a member of the previous season, who ran out convincing 58-37 winners.

Rickardsson became a sensational signing by Matt Ford in 2001 to replace the globally-popular Mark Loram who at the time was world champion. Looking back on those days, Ford's son Danny admitted "I don't know how Dad managed to do it to be honest. He lost the services of the reigning world champion but replaced him with a three-time world champion (at the time) who went on to win further titles, three in total and two of those as a Poole rider. Tony must surely go down in history as one of the most professional riders of all time. He was always immaculately turned out, with his equipment in tip-top condition and when out on track was an absolute pleasure to watch."

In his Poole career Tony recorded 1,339 points plus 56 bonus for the club from 570 rides in 103 matches, a statistic that presently sees him in 23rd place in the all-time points scores.