KLINDT: PIRATES IN HIGH SPIRITS

Nicolai Klindt believes team bonding will again be essential if the No1 Carpet Cleaning Pirates are to continue the club’s remarkable run of success.

Klindt came into the 2018 Pirates one-to-seven in June as a replacement for injury victim Stefan Nielsen and immediately made an impact.

And after Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris came into the Pirates line-up in July, the team went on to secure an against-all-odds Premiership title – the club’s eighth top-flight crown under Matt Ford’s stewardship.

Klindt was again instrumental when the Pirates got their 2019 campaign under way with a 50-40 triumph at King’s Lynn in the first leg of the Premiership Shield on Monday.

The Dane bagged two crucial heat wins as the visitors secured a 10-point advantage going into tomorrow’s second leg at Wimborne Road (7.30pm).

And the 30-year-old believes the same team spirit that helped secure the 2018 Premiership title is evident in the Class of 2019.

Klindt said: “Team bonding is crucial in any sport and I think the bond we had last year was one of the main reasons we won the title.

“This year is more or less the same team, with Nico and Nikolaj new and Jack who rode here two years ago, so everyone knows each other and gets on and that will be another big thing.”

Klindt would arguably have started the Pirates’ 2018 campaign had averages not worked against him alongside his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained in Latvia in June 2017.

The Outrup-born racer added: “It’s going to be a big year for me. After coming back from injury in 2018 I had to take a step back, but ended up having a really good season with Poole and Workington and the main difference was my consistency.
“Last year my bad meetings were six points so if I can up those bad meetings to seven or eight points, it will be an improvement.

“I’m riding in three leagues abroad and one in the UK so it’s important to have enough equipment to cover yourself. I’ve invested in machinery this year and everything feels good.”

Both sides are at full strength for tomorrow’s clash on Dorset shale.

Pirates: Jack Holder, Josh Grajczonek, Nicolai Klindt, Richie Worrall, Brady Kurtz, Nico Covatti, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen.

Stars: Robert Lambert, Erik Riss, Ty Proctor, Lewis Kerr, Thomas Jorgensen, Michael Palm Toft, Kasper Andersen.