Hammers get flying start, Tatum breaks wrist.

The new-look AF Stocktaking Hammers survived a determined fightback from a spirited Isle of Wight Islanders side to claim an opening league victory in a thrilling meeting.

With three debutants - Joonas Kylmakorpi, Henning Bager and Jason King - on display, plus a re-shaped track to contend with, the home side put up a sterling display to win the hearts of their fans.

Victory, though, came at a price when new skipper Kelvin Tatum sustained a broken wrist following a heat ten spill. This, in turn, robbed the Hammers of some scoring power over the course of the final few heats, and allowed the Islanders to place themselves in contention for the aggregate bonus point.

The meeting started in thrilling fashion when Tatum wasted no time in finding new racing lines on the much-altered home circuit. Charging through past Danny Bird to take the chequered flag, Tatum led a 4-2 with the returning Lee Herne backing up his skipper with a determined third place.

Andy Galvin claimed a confidence-boosting win in heat two, with his reserve partner Jason King from Maidstone claiming third place after former Hammers junior Chris Mills was excluded. Another new signing, Dane Henning Bager, quickly endeared himself to the home faithful with a thrilling from-the-back win over Purfleet specialist Ray Morton. Bager's heat-mate Kylmakorpi didn't fare so well, however, suffering an engine failure on the third lap.

It was business as usual for Leigh Lanham in heat four, picking up where he left off in 2002 to claim the notable scalp of Islanders top man Australian Adam Shields. This shared heat kept the Hammers four points in front and the lead was increased in the following heat when Kylmakorpi and Bager team rode in fine style to chalk up the first 5-1 of the new campaign.

Another victory for Tatum in heat six maintained the status quo, although a further point was lost when Lee Herne suffered engine problems. There was disaster, however, for the visitors in heat seven, when Frenchman Sebastian Tressarieu suffered an injury in a first turn tumble, followed by a Morton engine failure in the re-run. This left Lanham and Galvin to cruise to an untroubled 5-0.

This afforded visiting team manager Jed Stone the chance to use his top man Shields as a 'golden double' tactical substitute in heat eight, and he almost managed to pull off a win from a 15-metre handicap. Young Hammers reserve Jason King kept him at bay long enough for his partner Lee Herne to build up a good lead, however, and the Islander was unable to make up the lost ground and had to settle for four points as opposed to the maximum of six available.

It took a battling third place from Kylmakorpi to earn a 3-3 in heat nine and when Tatum crashed out of heat ten following a first turn melee things began to get a little more tense for the home side.

Tatum's accident came as the end result of a crash that also featured Herne and Bird - with the Aussie Hammer having the Purfleet air fence to thank for escaping injury. That incident alone vindicated the decision of the circuit management during the winter to retain the air fence for the 2003 season. Tatum, who was indirectly caught up in the spill, received some off-track assistance before taking a trip to the medical room. He wouldn't ride again, with the wrist injury diagnosis dampening the evening a little. An Isle of Wight 5-1 in the re-run reduced the deficit to nine points at 35-26.

The racing continued to be of top quality with Bager, in particular, endearing himself to the home supporters at this early stage in the season. A couple of shared heats (11 and 12) were followed by another heat advantage for the visitors in heat 13, a race where Tatum had to be replaced by reserve King.

The highlight of the evening came in heat 14, when Bager produced a superlative display to catch and pass the faster-starting Phillips on the inside and, more impressively, Morton on the outside. It was a tremendous display of track craft on a circuit that already appears to be offering up plenty of racing lines. His heroics sealed victory for the Hammers on the night.

Shields showed his class in the final heat to lead home Bager and Lanham, but there is certainly enough reason for the most sceptical home fan to be optimistic at this early stage of the season. The influx of younger, determined riders would appear to be a wise move on the part of promoter Ronnie Russell. The track changes would, to the seasoned fan, appear to be even more beneficial.