ROCKET man Richard Lawson ‘felt determination like no other’ coming into the crucial 13th heat in the Championship Grand Final as Pirates overturned a 12-point deficit to take the title against Oxford.

Facing an uphill battle coming into the second leg of the final at Wimborne Road, Lawson got himself off to the worst possible start as the home side looked to close the deficit.

The Pirates rider was excluded from heat one as Oxford extended their lead to 14, but Poole rallied and began chipping away, eventually drawing level on aggregate in the ninth.

From there, the momentum was with the hosts and they secured the title after heat 14, as Lawson dealt what may have been the decisive blow to Oxford’s hopes in the 13th.

(Image: Richard Crease) This heat saw Lawson and Tom Brennan, who also rode well on the night, line up against the dangerous Cheetahs pair of Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls.

It was this pair that had given the visitors such a commanding lead going into the second leg – taking the 13th and 15th heats in the first leg 5-1 to open up their lead.

“I was feeling the pressure and I knew what I needed to do,” Lawson said.

“I just felt like determination like no other. And I thought, this is it. I’ve got to win this one.

“I didn't quite make the start, but I cut back and made it happen.”

Reflecting on the meeting as a whole, Lawson said: “I think that meeting had everything, thrills and spills, and that's what it's all about.

“To come back, twelve down at your home track, with that crowd, it was just unbelievable.”

(Image: Richard Crease) Lawson said the best bit of the night was when Zach Cook secured the mathematical victory in the 14th.

“He knew what he needed to do, the pressure was on and he delivered,” he said.

“And as did Tobias. Tobias rode his socks off tonight. And like everyone said, it's a team effort.

“When it comes off like that, it’s just awesome.”