NICK Morris could not have hoped for a better start to his 2015 season as he won the individual event and was part of the successful Australia team in the International challenge at the Ben Fund Bonanza.

Returning to the Abbey for his fourth season, the 20-year-old ran away with the individual honours and scored 10 points in helping his country win the season-opening charity event.

“It went really well, it’s always good to ride for a cause,” said Morris.

“I’ve spent some money this year on bikes and invested time in it. I went back to Australia and had break, I’ve got the hunger back and I’m feeling really good now. I just want to step up this year.

“It’s good for the confidence to get a good track time at Swindon, good to get dialled in early with new bikes. It’s good when you put effort in and you get something back, I’m going to be putting in a lot this year.”

The early heats went very much to form, with the Australians racing out to the first three heat wins. Rory Schlein, home favourite Morris and Sam Masters all taking three points apiece.

Ben Barker got England’s first win in the fourth heat, taking his country’s score to seven, to trail Australia by two, with Denmark’s initial quintet riding solidly to sit a point behind England. Poland, ably assisted by Finn Nike Lunna, struggled at the back on just two.

Heat five saw the sight of two Swindon Robins on the track for the first time this season, Kyle Howarth getting the better of teammate Morris to take a heat win for England.

Despite Barker’s best efforts in six he could not find a way past Schlein.

Jorgensen’s win from Newman in the seventh opened the scores right up, Australia on 15 leading England by just one, with Denmark on 10 and Poland back on three.

Poland picked up a second place in the eighth heat, from Bjarne Pederson in first, with Max Clegg trailing at the back.

Gregorz Walasek got the first Polish heat win in but they returned to their usual slot at the back of the pack in the tenth, where veteran Aussie Rusty Harrison took the chequered flag.

England stuttered in the next three heats, failing to score as Denmark overtook the home nation in second place and Australia stretched their lead.

By heat 14 the competition was sewn up, with Rusty Harrison pulling out a wheelie on the back straight to celebrate his heat win and Australians overall victory.

With only second place to race for a second-place for Barker and Howarth’s impressive ride in the final heat meant England took it on 26 by a point from Denmark.

In the individual competition there were no surprises as home favourite Morris won the grand final, with Howarth also making the final four.