RIDERS with the Kingdom's Dunfermline-based cycle speedway team maintained their perfect start to their British title defence with a pair of impressive home victories.

Fife Revolutions, who are based at Queen Anne High School, sit proudly at the top of British Cycling North and Scotland Division Two after successive victories over visiting Hull and Bury Comets.

A 76-44 success over Hull on April 7 was followed on Sunday by a 77-43 win over Bury on Sunday which, added to defeats of both Glasgow and Edinburgh in their season openers, keeps the reigning champions at the summit.

Their win over the Comets, champions in 2016, moved the Revolutions on to eight points – level with Astley and Tyldsley – ahead of two tough away fixtures at Stockport and Sheffield on April 28.

Craig Masson, the team's head coach, commented: "We beat Hull and Bury quite convincingly, which was a surprise.

"For the Bury match, a weakened team came north, whereas we had eight riders to choose from, and we managed to out-power Hull in the end. I'm really pleased with the home wins, which sets us up nicely for our away fixtures with Stockport and Sheffield.

"They will be tough. Stockport, along with Northumbria, is the only track that we've never won at but we only lost by eight points there last season. We hope to turn that around, but it will be tough.

"Then we go to Sheffield and it was really close between their top four riders and ours last year, so it could go either way. We'll see what we can take from it.

"Ourselves and Astley and Tyldsley are at the top with eight points, and Edinburgh have six, so it's a really tight league. All of us, as well as Glasgow, are getting similar scores, so we need to be focused and prepared for every match if we are to have a chance of winning the league.

"It'll come down to minor decisions and luck."

Against Hull and Bury respectively, Masson was able to hand debuts to Dougie Russell and Danny Peoples, and he hopes they can pave the way for more youngsters with an interest in the sport to attend one of their weekly training sessions and join the Revolutions' growing ranks.

"They got involved by coming along to one of our training nights and they have caught the cycle speedway bug, so hopefully they'll stick with it," Masson added.

"It's pleasing and shows that we can build the club, and be more competitive when we, hopefully, move up to Division One. It shows that if you come along, take part and enjoy it, then want to take part in a match, you'll get an opportunity.

"If you impress, you'll keep your place in the team."