LEIGH Adams admitted he was disappointed to finish third in the Elite League Riders' Championship at King's Lynn last night.

But the Swindon ace stressed that Nicki Pedersen, who triumphed with a convincing tapes-to-flag triumph in the final, was the right winner.

Adams, who had qualified directly for the final with 13 points, one less than the Dane, chose gate one in the final after having second choice.

But Pedersen, off trap two, was first out and controlled the race, with Chris Harris finishing second and Adams passing Davey Watt on the third lap to grab third.

Adams said: "Third was not what we were after. We were definitely going after the win.

"But we were just lacking a little bit of speed tonight.

"Nicki was making some great starts.

"They were awesome.

"I'm a little bit disappointed, but third is better than finishing fourth."

Adams added: "Again, in the final, Nicki made a great start, clamped me down on the inside and the rest is history.

"That gave the rest the run around on the outside of me on the first and second bend.

"I admit that was always the threat off gate one, but you can't be negative, you have to think positively and think you can make the start.

"I didn't pull it off but third is okay. I have a lot more, hopefully, this year to go for."

It was Adams' equal best performance in the ELRC final following his third place at Bradford in 1996 behind winner Sam Ermolenko and Jason Crump.

QUALIFYING SCORES

Nicki Pedersen (3-3-3-3-2) 14, Leigh Adams (3-3-2-2-3) 13, Davey Watt (3-1-2-3-3) 12, Bjarne Pedersen (1-3-1-3-2) 10, Chris Harris (fell exc-2-3-2-3) 10, Krzysztof Kasprzak (2-2-0-1-3) 8, Troy Batchelor (2-0-3-1-2) 8, Hans Andersen (2-3-0-0-2) 7, Scott Nicholls (0-2-1-3-1) 7, Travis McGowan (3-2-exc two mins-0-1) 6, Rory Schlein (1-1-3-1-0) 6, Adam Shields (ret-1-2-2-1) 6, Fredrik Lindgren (fell exc-1-1-2-1) 5, Tomas Topinka (2-fell exc-2-1-0) 5, Chris Louis (0-0-1-0-0) 1, Chris Mills (1-0-0-0-0) 1.

Referee: Jim McGregor.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1 (re-run): Watt, Batchelor, Lindgren (fell excluded), Harris (fell excluded), 62.65.

Heat 2: Adams, Topinka, Schlein, Shields (fell, remounted, retired), 61.09.

Heat 3: N Pedersen, Kasprzak, B Pedersen, Louis, 62.38.

Heat 4: McGowan, Andersen, Mills, Nicholls (fell remounted), 61.54.

Heat 5 (2nd re-run): Andersen, Kasprzak, Lindgren, Topinka (fell excluded), 62.33.

Heat 6: B Pedersen, Nicholls, Shields, Batchelor, 60.64.

Heat 7: N Pedersen, Harris, Schlein, Mills (fell remounted), 59.59.

Heat 8: Adams, McGowan, Watt, Louis, 59.91.

Heat 9: N Pedersen, Shields, Lindgren, McGowan (excluded two minutes), 59.62.

Heat 10: Batchelor, Topinka, Louis, Mill (fell remounted), 59.69.

Heat 11: Harris, Adams, Nicholls, Kasprzak, 59.62.

Heat 12: Schlein, Watt, B Pedersen, Andersen, 60.52.

Heat 13: Nicholls, Lindgren, Schlein, Louis, 60.00.

Heat 14: N Pedersen, Adams, Batchelor, Andersen, 60.22.

Heat 15: B Pedersen, Harris, Topinka, McGowan, 60.63.

Heat 16: Watts, Shields, Kasprzak, Mills, 60.52.

Heat 17: Adams, B Pedersen, Lindgren, Mills, 60.40.

Heat 18: Kasprzak, Batchelor, McGowan, Schlein, 60.0.

Heat 19: Harris, Andersen, Shields, Louis, 61.78.

Heat 20: Watt, N Pedersen, Nicholls, Topinka, 60.82.

Semi-final Heat 21: Watt, Harris, B Pedersen, Kasprzak, 60.93.

Final Heat 22: N Pedersen, Harris, Adams, Watt, 61.02.