The scoreline indicates the totally one-sided nature of this Premier League encounter with the Hammers enjoying their biggest win since returning to senior league racing in 1997.

While there was much to enjoy as Arena totally obliterated a poor Exeter side, the most exciting performance came from reserve Jason King.

The 17-year-old recorded his first paid maximum in this level of racing, reeling off three second places in maximum heats before completing his night with a traps to line win in his fourth outing.

That provided the Hammers with another 5-1 heat win, one of eight such advantages enjoyed by a rampant home side.

With skipper Kelvin Tatum being declared fit to ride after sustaining a wrist injury the previous week, the meeting opened with a shared heat as the Falcons Mark Simmonds made a speedy exit from the gate to dictate the pace.

But reserve duo Andy Galvin and King responded with a heat maximum in the next and two successive 5-1's followed including a victory and a new track record time of 59.3 seconds in heat three for Henning Bager.

The Hammers continued their total superiority to lead 32-10 after seven heats with their run of six consecutive heat advantages only halted in heat eight by tactical substitute Simmonds who again outgated his rivals.

Joonas Kylmakorpi was denied points when a jubilee clip snapped on his fuel pipes and whilst Tatum made it third time lucky when winning heat ten, after steady third and second places in his opening two rides, Lanham's winning run came to an end against Simmonds who gated ahead of the Hammer to lead throughout.

But the 43-17 scores ensured that the Hammers were already assured of victory with five heats still remaining.

Published Monday, April 7 , 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo

Brought to you by the Evening Echo