Whereeaglesdaretofly

Trevor Geer has praised the key role played by his reserves after another Eastbourne Eagles away win.

Eagles overcame Belle Vue 48-42 in Manchester on Wednesday to move to within a point of Elite League leaders Swindon, helped by a combined 13 points from Simon Gustafsson and Brent Werner.

Gustafsson made a welcome return to the side with 7+1 (6) and Werner bounced back from some poor recent displays to add 6+1 (3)

Werner's figures would have looked even better had he not been replaced by Gustafsson after touching the tapes at the start of what should have been his third race.

Geer admitted he was delighted but a bit surprised by the American's sudden return to form. The Eagles team boss said: "I thought he might get one or two points for us but he was going really well.

"I think he was so disappointed with the way he had been performing at Eastbourne.

"He had a win and a paid win, then he touched the tapes in what looked an easy race for him. But I have to say the reserves were our matchwinners."

Gustafsson, who turns 18 later this month, has impressed lots of observers around the Elite League. He ended Charlie Gjedde's unbeaten record in Wednesday's match.

Geer said: "Simon didn't start the meeting that well but then he went out and beat Gjedde, who had looked unbeatable."

Aces were hit by injuries and, despite the presence of Jason Crump in their line-up, Geer admitted the meeting was one Eagles had to win if they had serious play-off ambitions.

Lee Richardson is due to have an X-ray on the damaged right wrist which curtailed his contribution to Eagles' second away win of the season.

Richardson suffered the injury when falling in Poland last Thursday, though initially his left hand was causing more concern.

He rode with the wrist heavily strapped against Swindon and then had a five-race paid maximum in Sweden on Tuesday.

The injury affected him at Belle Vue, however, and he pulled out of his last ride after struggling home last in his third race.

Richardson now has four days of rest. Eastbourne return to action at home to Poole on Monday and there is no Polish League action this weekend.

Nicholls shines as Eagles win

Scott Nicholls twice beat two-time world champion Jason Crump as Eastbourne notched their second Elite League away win of the season, beating Belle Vue 48-42.

Nicholls got the Eagles off to a terrific start by heading home Crump in heat one with Lewis Bridger a handy third after he held up Belle Vue's Aussie No. 1 for three laps.

Then Nicholls rounded off the meeting by again getting the better of Crump in heat 15.

Crump, who broke the Arlington track record last month, passed Nicholls in that final race with a daredevil dive going into the first bend on the second lap.

Eagles had clinched victory with a 4-2 from Cameron Woodward and impressive reserve Simon Gustafsson in heat 14.

Solid scoring down the line was the key to their first win in Manchester for four years.

Nicholls was beaten by Crump in heat 13 and also by the faster-starting Charlie Gjedde in heat five.

But, with only the Lee Richardson failing to win a race for the Eagles as he struggled with a troublesome wrist, they had enough strength in depth to counter a mid-meeting revival by the injury-hit Aces, who lost Lukasz Jankowski after just one ride when he aggravated a shoulder injury.

Belle Vue wiped out a six-point deficit to level at 30-30 but successive 4-2s by the Eagles edged them towards the finishing line.

Gustafsson ended Gjedde's maximum hopes with a tapes-to-flag win in heat 12 and fellow reserve Brent Werner's contribution was also crucial.

Werner won the reserves' race and teamed up with Edward Kennett for a 5-1 in heat four when both Eagles passed home skipper Joe Screen, one on either side, coming off the second bend.

Eagles had a touch of bad luck when Woodward stopped on the third lap while challenging Screen for the lead in heat seven.

Belle Vue: Crump 13 (5), Gjedde 12+1 (5), Jankowski 0 (1), Screen 6 (4), Rajkowski 3 (5), Ksiezak 5+2 (6), Proctor 3 (4).

Eagles: Nicholls 13 (5), Bridger 6+1 (4), Richardson 4 (3), Woodward 6+1 (5), Kennett 6+1 (4), Gustafsson 7+1 (6), Werner 6+1 (4)

Eagles ready for more joy on the road By Brian Owen

Trevor Geer has shrugged off criticism of his team's narrow win over Swindon and backed them to follow it up with success on the road.

Eastbourne Eagles chase a second away victory of the season when they go to injury-hit Belle Vue Aces in the Elite League on Wednesday (8pm).

They head north with confidence restored by Saturday's thrilling 46-44 win over the Robins, when they overcame the absence of both first-choice reserves to defeat the league leaders in a dramatic last-heat decider.

Simon Gustfasson returns to the side on Wednesday and will partner Brent Werner at reserve in the continuing absence of the injured James Brundle.

Top scorer Scott Nicholls was first to voice reservations about Eastbourne's latest win, admitting he had expected to beat Swindon more convincingly.

Robins manager Alun Rossiter, known throughout speedway as Roscoe, developed that theme when interviewed on Sky Sports on Monday as he watched his team lose at Poole.

Geer, though, feels his top five should be given plenty of credit for their efforts in what some very experienced Arlington regulars agreed was one of the best meetings at the track for years.

The Eagles team manager said: "Saturday was fantastic. The boys gave 110 per cent and proved what they can do.

"Roscoe was saying on TV about how they came so close at our place but you have to remember we had no reserves.

"It was great to get the result and, now we don't have bonus points, it doesn't really matter how many you win by.

"Now we're going to Belle Vue back more or less to full strength and hopefully everyone is feeling a bit more confident after the weekend.

"The straights are longer than at our place but we should go well around there. If we don't get a result I will be very disappointed."

Although guest Nick Simmons battled hard on Saturday, his two points came against fellow reserve Werner and as a gift when Travis McGowan fell.

Werner, meanwhile, never looked like scoring in four rides and, although the management are not saying too much about their designated No. 8, his efforts as stand-in for Brundle so far must have come as a big disappointment.

Geer added: "You never know with Brent. He could pop up with something somewhere along the line.

"But when you see these others ride it makes you realise how well James has been doing.

"He was in the same class as some of the guests we have brought in, and not even as good as some of them last year, but he has really stepped up a gear.

"He has gone out and won the odd race, he has scored some useful points and even when he hasn't, at least he has been mixing it with them."

Coventry are the latest Elite League team to score an away win after surviving a last-heat decider at Wolves on Monday.

Eagles have lost their last five on the road but will be confident of ending that run tonight.

Belle Vue will operate rider-replacement for Billy Forsberg, who has a broken thumb, and promote No. 8 Robert Kseziak to reserve in place of Steve Boxall, who is awaiting a shoulder operation.

They have named Redcar's promising young Aussie Ty Proctor at No. 8, effectively giving them three reserves, all of whom will take one of Forsberg's rides.

Lukasz Jankowski, who has only just come back from a shoulder injury, can also take an extra ride.

Aces have already lost at home to Swindon and been pushed close by Poole and Lakeside.

Eagles skipper Lee Richardson was in sparkling form in Sweden on Tuesday evening, completing a paid maximum 13+2 (5) to help Elit Vetlanda beat Piraterna 54-42.

Nicholls scored 7+3 (4) as his Hammarby side won 54-42 at home to Lejonen. Nicki Pedersen was the only opponent to beat him.

Belle Vue: Crump, Forsberg rider-replacement, Gjedde, Jankowski, Screen, Kseziak, Rajkowski, Proctor.

Speedway: Woodward fit for Eagles after smash

Cameron Woodward, left, has declared himself fit for Eastbourne action, despite a nasty-looking crash on his German debut.

The Eagles star took a blow to his left hand racing for hosts Pfaffenhofen in a four-way Bundesliga meeting on Sunday.

He is available for Wednesday's Elite League trip to Belle Vue, for which Simon Gustafsson returns at reserve alongside Brent Werner.

Woodward, who scored 7 (5) after a poor start, said: "I banged my left hand and it hurt a bit but I was lucky to get away with it.

"I'm fit enough to ride at Belle Vue and I'm fit enough for Brillo pad duty on the bikes."

Belle Vue have injury problems ahead of the Kirksmanhulme Lane clash with Billy Forsberg (broken thumb) and Steve Boxall (damaged shoulder) both ruled out.

Meanwhile, a league showdown between Lee Richardson and Scott Nicholls in Poland has been put on hold.

The Eastbourne stars were due to face each other in the Ekstraliga on Sunday, with Richardson's team Czestochowa visiting Rzeszow, where Nicholls rides, but the match was rained off.

Eagles pip leaders in thriller By Brian Owen

Eastbourne Eagles are back on course after grabbing a thrilling last-race win over the leaders.

Eagles pipped Swindon Robins 46-44 in an Elite League epic as Edward Kennett passed Travis McGowan to grab the crucial third in heat 15.

Nicholls finished with 14 points, Kennett added paid-11 and Lee Richardson defied a painful wrist injury to notch paid-nine.

Cameron Woodward (eight) and Lewis Bridger (four) also had key heat wins as Eagles, missing both their usual reserves, overturned an early four-point deficit.

Eagles skipper: I got off lightly By Brian Owen

Lee Richardson admits he got off lightly in his dramatic Polish smash.

The Eastbourne Eagles skipper suffered a bruised left hand, damaged right wrist and various aches and pains, including in the neck, after coming off in his first ride for Czestochowa against Torun.

He has declared himself fit enough to face his previous club Swindon at Arlington tomorrow night but admits he was shaken up in the four-way crash which also saw team mate Michal Sczczepaniak suffer a broken shoulder.

Richardson said: "It could have been worse. I was extremely lucky to walk away.

"I got away in front and then all I remember was a bang coming in alongside me. My head was spinning after that."

Richardson was taken to hospital in Poland after Thursday's match, which his side lost 50-41.

He was hoping to get more treatment and plenty of rest back in England before taking on the league-leading Robins at Arlington.

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Eagles play down Rico injury fears By Brian Owen

Eastbourne Eagles tonight insisted Lee Richardson WILL ride against the leaders, despite a heavy crash in Poland.

Richardson was forced out of Czestochowa's 50-41 home defeat by Torun in the Ekstraliga and suffered a swollen hand.

The Sussex club's co-promoter Martin Hagon said X-rays after the meeting revealed no break.

Hagon added: "He is a bit battered but the good news is he will ride on Saturday."

Eagles face a key Elite League clash at home to table-topping Swindon on Saturday.

Richardson failed to score in two rides for a Czestochowa side who relied heavily on 20 points from former Eastbourne captain Nicki Pedersen.

Meanwhile, a haul of 10+1 (6) from Scott Nicholls could not save Rzeszow from a 52-39 defeat Zielona Gora.

Leaders fire Arlington warning

Eastbourne Eagles have been warned they could be heading for a first home defeat of the season.

That is the message from rival team manager Alun Rossiter as he prepares his table-topping Swindon Robins for their trip to Sussex on Saturday.

Swindon thumped Eastbourne 56-37 at Blunsdon on Monday night and Rossiter feels the return trip to Arlington, where his side lost in the Craven Shield at the start of the campaign, could not come at a better time. He said: "We've got to be confident we can win there.

"It's going to be a great meeting. Obviously Eastbourne will feel quite scorned and will want to turn us over quite heavily.

"We have got to be on our guard but we are not worried about going down there now.

"Maybe last year or the year before we would be a bit nervous going there but these guys are not worried one little bit. We have won at Belle Vue, we have won at Ipswich. Who says we can't win at Eastbourne?

"I'm not being cocky. It's just the confidence in the camp is sky high at the moment.

Eastbourne co-promoter Bob Dugard is intrigued to see what the leaders are made of.

Dugard said: "Swindon have a big home track advantage. It will be very interesting to see how they perform at Eastbourne.

"If they come up with the goods here we have got to say they are title challengers."

Nicholls calls for calm after big defeat for Eagles By Brian Owen

Scott Nicholls has urged Eastbourne Eagles fans not to panic after seeing their side suffer three heavy defeats.

The early-season leaders have slipped off the pace after double-digit setbacks at Poole and Ipswich last week followed by Monday's 56-37 hammering at leaders Swindon, which was televised live.

Swindon travel to Arlington on Saturday clearly believing they can score another away win.

Nicholls, who lifted Eastbourne spirits at Blunsdon with three classy wins, knows a home victory is essential for his team in what looks to be potentially the best meeting at Arlington so far this season.

He played down the 19-point reverse at a Swindon track which, at 363 metres, offers a different test to tight, tricky Arlington.

Nicholls said: "In some respects I'm not surprised. We know how strong Swindon can be and it's a big home track advantage.

"We haven't got the best record on the road but we aren't going to worry too much. It's still early days in the league.

"It is important to win on the road as well and we've got a couple of tracks coming up that hopefully might suit us better.

"It's just a case of everybody keeping as positive as they can and doing the best they can.

Nicholls insisted he was not surprised to see Swindon, tipped by many to struggle this season, get off to a good start but he warned they might not stay top of the table.

He added: "They have got very good riders. They have got a side who can be very good at home and not so good away.

"I'm not saying they can't perform because every dog has its day and there will always be surprises.

"They have had a good run on the road but I think the way the league is this year everybody will have good and bad moments.

"Hopefully we are having our bad time now and we can shake it off as quickly as possible and get back to winning."

Crushed Eagles told to get their act together By Brian Owen

Trevor Geer has told his Eastbourne Eagles to get their act together after a nightmare hammering by the leaders.

Eagles were routed 56-37 at early season pacesetters Swindon Robins, their third double-digit away defeat in a week.

They now badly need a morale boosting home win when Leigh Adams and his highly-impressive Robins come to Arlington for what should be a cracker of a meeting on Saturday.

Geer was stunned by a result which sent Eastbourne down to third place in the Elite League on points difference and suggested poor preparation was partly to blame.

The team manager admitted: "It's not a good result at all. They have got to sort their equipment out.

"Simon Gustafsson seized his good engine before the meeting started and it was all a bit of a nightmare really.

"We've got a few days off now and they have got to get their equipment sorted out and get back focused."

Apart from three classy Scott Nicholls wins and some determination by Edward Kennett, there was precious little for the visitors to enjoy at the 363-metre Blunsdon circuit.

True, Gustafsson and Cameron Woodward had a heat-14 5-1 but the Sky-televised contest was over by then.

Lee Richardson was the biggest disappointment, scoring just five points from four rides back at his old home circuit before declining the chance of a heat 15 outing.

Disappointing Robins set the tone early as they scorched into a 14-4 lead after three heats with the third of those being the most disappointing from an Eagles viewpoint.

They might have expected at least a share of the spoils but Travis McGowan sped clear and Troy Batchelor withstood a stern Woodward challenge to complete the 5-1 while Richardson trundled around in last place before retiring with a rueful look at his engine.

Eagles reached for white and black as early as heat five and Nicholls duly did the job after fighting his way outside Batchelor going off bend two to lead a 7-2 which halved the arrears.

Kennett, though, was excluded from the next race after losing control in heavy going on bend two and home skipper Adams ushered James Wright around for an easy 5-1 over Gustafsson in the re-run.

Robins enjoyed six 5-1s in all. Yet the race which really killed off any Eastbourne hopes was one in which they shared the spoils.

Richardson and Woodward burst away in heat seven on a potential maximum which would have brought them back within five points of their hosts.

That was when Mads Korneliusson delighted locals on the Abbey Stadium terraces by picking off Woodward with ease and then, after a bit more of a battle, leaving Richardson behind him for the best heat win of the night.

Richardson's bad night was complete when Batchelor cut back inside him on the last lap to win heat 12.

Nicholls denied Adams his maximum with a majestic ride in heat 14 but it was too little to salvage Eastbourne pride.

Bridger involved in spectacular crash as Eagles go down

Eastbourne Eagles were unable to recover from a shaky start and ended well beaten at Foxhall Stadium last night.

It was the first Elite League victory of the season for Ipswich, who had skipper Chris Louis taken to hospital with a suspected broken right arm after a spectacular crash in heat five.

On a track that was tricky to negotiate early on after heavy afternoon rain, Simon Gustafsson was passed by both Ipswich reserves in heat two to give the home side a 5-1.

And things got worse for the Eagles, who had Rye House reserve Paul Betson guesting for the injured James Brundle, in the next race when Cameron Woodward came to grief on the entry to the first bend and Lee Richardson tumbled further round the corner with referee Paul Carrington waiting a while before putting on the red lights. When he did he excluded both visiting riders - leaving Louis and Piotr Swiderski to ride round for a 5-0 in the re-run.

Ten points down going into heat five, team manager Trevor Geer handed the black and white helmet colour to former Ipswich skipper Scott Nicholls, a rider born and bred a mile from Foxhall Stadium.

But the Eastbourne No.1 - riding for double points - was beaten from the gate by Piotr Swiderski and could only manage second place.

The heat ended drawn when Lewis Bridger, who was third, lost control on the final circuit. He crashed into the fence along the back straight with his machine careering across the track. The following Louis had no way of avoiding it travelling at top speed and the impact shot the Witches skipper into the air.

He came down heavily on to his right shoulder and then skidded before coming to a stop close to the wheel of the track tractor. His bike crashed into the tractor parked on the centre green.

An ambulance was called to the incident and Louis was attended to by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

When the meeting carried on after a lengthy delay some of the heart appeared to be taken out of the Witches side and the Eagles pulled back to within six points by the start of heat 11.

Lee Richardson won heats seven and ten with Edward Kennett taking the chequered flag in race nine.

A smart cut back by Nicholls on the first bend saw him win heat 11 before reserve Tobi Kroner came in for the stricken Louis to motor from the gate and win heat 12 ahead of Richardson.

Heat 13 has proved troublesome for Ipswich this season and there was still hope for the Eagles but Hampel flew from the outside gate to win by some distance and keep the eight point lead intact.

When Woodward crashed when third behind Swiderski and Kroner in the penultimate race it effectively confirmed victory for the home side.

They took a 5-1 in the re-run, with the last heat drawn with Richardson the victor ahead of Swiderski, Hampel and Kennett.

Ipswich: Swiderski 12(1), Kroner 11(2), Hampel 10(2), Johnston 7, Miskowiak 4(2), Louis 4, Schramm 3(1).

Eastbourne: Nicholls 12, Richardson 11, Kennett 9(1), Gustafsson 4, Woodward 2, Bridger 1(1), Betson 0.

Brundle hurt in Eagles defeat

Eagles reserve James Brundle was forced out of the 52-41 defeat early through injury as his side missed out on the chance to go back to the top of the Elite League.

The young English rider dislocated his knee, burnt his leg and sustained ankle damage when he couldn't avoid hitting Zibi Suchecki after the Pirate had falling in front of him in heat two.

Suchecki, who broke his thigh above the knee, went down in mid-track after leading out of the traps.

Brundle, in fourth, was directly behind the Pole as he fell and although Simon Gustafsson and Adam Skornicki were able to pass the stricken rider, Brundle wasn't.

Brundle was able to get to his feet after five minutes and limp gingerly back to the pits, but only with the support of his team-mates.

After a 35-minute delay while Suchecki was treated on the track, stretchered into an ambulance and taken to Poole Hospital, Brundle bravely took part in the re-run.

He finished third to pick up a point, but only after finishing almost a lap behind Skornicki and Gustafsson.

The young Eagle was clearly in a lot of pain, and his head was bowed for the final half lap as he dug deep to deal with the pain.

Eagles team manager Trevor Geer said last night: "James' leg took one big whack out there.

"He dislocated his knee and burnt his leg on the exhaust because he was tangled up with his bike and we couldn't get him free.

"It was only adrenaline that kept him going, but after the re-run he couldn't keep going.

Geer added: "It was a completely unavoidable crash. James couldn't miss him (Suchecki).

"It's just one of those things that happens in speedway. It all happened so quickly on the first corner and there was nowhere for James to go."

Geer felt Eastbourne's riders were "a bit lack lustre at times" against Pirates.

He said: "They all had good races and bad races, but Poole are looking very strong at home.

"Skornicki, Eriksson, they all look good around Poole. It will take a very good side with form to come and beat Poole here."

Poole 52: B Pedersen 10, F Eriksson 9+2, C Holder 9, Rider replacement for K Zabik, D Watt 10+1, Z Suchecki 0, A Skornicki 13+2, J Frampton 1.

Eastbourne 41: S Nicholls 14, L Bridger 4, L Richardson 10, C Woodward 3+1, E Kennett 4, S Gustafsson 5+1, J Brundle 1+1.

Lee Richardson is hoping to put the politics and the technical glitches behind him and help Eastbourne to another away win.

The Eagles captain leads his side at Poole tonight and Ipswich tomorrow in a hectic week of Elite League action.

Richardson missed heat 15 in Saturday's defeat of Belle Vue because his bike was playing up.

He had already turned down the chance to make a quick return to his Polish team Czestochowa on Sunday as his dispute with the Ekstraliga outfit rumbles on.

Now the former Pirate admits his team will need to be firing on all cylinders as they tackle much-fancied Poole at Wimborne Road.

Eagles opened the league season with a win at Coventry but suffered narrow defeats at Peterborough and Wolves in the absence of injured Scott Nicholls.

"There's no reason why we can't go away and win. Everyone has got to do their job and make sure they score their points.

"Poole don't seem to be riding that well as a team but it's a derby and they will be up for it.

"Then we go to Ipswich, who will be fired up as well because they lost at home to Swindon last time out."

Richardson admits he struggled against Belle Vue, even though he scored 11 points from a possible 12.

"We checked the electrics, the ignition system, the spark plugs. Then we found a problem in the engine.

"I told them I would have jumped on my spare bike in heat 15 if they needed me to.

"It wasn't necessary but it was still disappointing. I'd have liked to have tried to beat Jason Crump in heat 15 like Scott did."

Richardson withdrew from Czestochowa's trip to Gorzow because he felt it would have been unfair to replace Michal Szczepaniak, his stand-in the previous week.

Czestochowa scored an impressive win at Gorzow but Szczepaniak struggled with two points.

Richardson, who was in Sweden yesterday preparing for his Elitserien season with Elit Vetlanda, said: "It would not have been fair to go straight back in after Michal scored ten points in the previous meeting.

"Morally it's not right. They did the same with Lewis Bridger. He had a good meeting and then they dropped him.

"Czestochowa want me to do the rest of the meetings but I don't know what's going to happen. I'm concentrating on England and Sweden for now."

Pedersen still misses Eagles By Brian Owen

And not just because those extra Elite League and Craven Shield meetings would have got him nicely tuned up for the GP season which starts in Slovenia next weekend.

Pedersen is a massive hit at his new Polish track Czestochowa, where a crowd of 11,000 cheered him to an easy five-win maximum in the 69-23 home romp over Tarnow last Sunday.

It was not really a test though and he will go into his World Championship defence with just three league meetings and a few individual fixtures under his belt.

The star Dane said "I miss Eastbourne because that has been my place for nearly five years.

"I enjoyed myself there. I had a really good set-up, good mechanics. Everything worked the way I wanted it.

"Obviously, though, they changed the points limit and they forced me out of the system without even talking about money or anything."

Pedersen shared a 5-1 with former Eagles colleague Lewis Bridger against Tarnow and reckons the teenager is progressing fast.

"He has grown up and he is still learning and I think now with me and Greg Hancock and Sebastian Ulamek on the Czestochowa team he knows when he has to listen and keep his mouth shut."

Nicholls returns in style for Eagles By Brian Owen

He went out and beat the world title candidate who, earlier in the evening, had produced the fastest set of four laps ever seen at Arlington.

Nicholls' heat-15 defeat of the seemingly invincible Jason Crump offered a fitting finale as Eastbourne Eagles beat Belle Vue 50-40 to maintain their 100 per cent home record this season.

Crump made light of a heavily sawdusted track to win heat one in 54.9sec, two-tenths of a second faster than the track record set by Tony Rickardsson almost five years ago.

Aces led 16-14 after Crump's second outing in heat five but Eagles' strength in depth again paid off and it was a nice touch that James Brundle completed his highest scoring Elite League night with the point which pushed them to the magic 46 in heat 14.

The GB skipper missed the three previous Eastbourne meetings with a hand injury sustained going for a maximum in heat 15 at Coventry when the overall contest had been settled.

That did not stop him going out to spoil what would have been a five-win full-house for Crump, who will be aiming to snatch his world title back off Nicki Pedersen this summer.

Nicholls, himself eyeing the GP series which starts next Saturday, said: "By heat 15 I think I had got myself right again.

"The hand isn't 100 per cent and track conditions were a little bit tricky, not ideal for a comeback.

"In the first few races I eased myself in a little bit, seeing how the hand and wrist would hold up. But as the meeting went on my confidence grew.

"I wanted to stop Jason's maximum in the last one and more importantly I wanted to go home with a good win so I was happy in the end and we had a fantastic result.

"Jason was in fire all night so for me to beat him was a pretty big achievement "It's a long-standing track record but he is not unbeatable and I was pleased to get the win in heat 15."

Crump beat Nicholls in heats one and 13 and, until the nominated race, the only man to really give him a chasing was Edward Kennett in heat 11.

Kennett earned a heat-15 call-up as Lee Richardson, whose only dropped point was to Crump, sorted out some mechanical matters in the pits.

Eagles took command of the meeting with a tapes-to-flag 5-1 for Lewis Bridger and Nicholls over Joe Screen and Michal Rajkowski in heat six, followed by a 4-2 in the next race as Kennett sped clear.

Co-promoter Bob Dugard had a busy evening out on his tractor and earned praise from several riders for the condition of the track following more than half a day of rain.

Crump's heat-one supershow proved the circuit was eminently raceable, even though it looked bizarre before the sawdust had been churned into the red shale.

Inevitably there were a few spills on the fast-drying track, mainly around bends three and four.

Cameron Woodward picked up the rider of the month award for November, then fell twice on his first outing and once more on his second as Crump went past him.

Crump missed the start in that one but had already overhauled Richardson by the time Woodward came to grief. The star visitor won the re-run with ease.

Red-faced Woodward rescued his night with a paid win behind Richardson in a heat-nine 5-1. The Aussie then took heat 14 in style to make victory a certainty.

Bridger, in contrast, started well enough but crashed out of his last two races under no pressure from other riders.

Eagles managed to outscore their guests at reserve, despite the absence of Simon Gustafsson on European under-19 duty.

That was largely down to Brundle, who won two battles for third place against Rajkowski and Tomas Suchanek to earn enthusiastic applause and clinch heat advantages.

The day's bad weather meant Eagles had to settle for a slightly disappointing crowd around the 1,000 mark.

Co-promoter Martin Hagon said: "We worked hard, we wanted the meeting to go ahead. Hopefully now people realise we want to get meetings on."

EAGLES 50 S. Nicholls 2,2*,3,2,3 = 12+1 L. Bridger 1*,3,R,X = 4+1 L. Richardson 3,2,3,3 = 11 C. Woodward R,X,2*,3 = 5+1 E. Kennett 3,3,2,1*,1 = 10+1 B. Werner 1*,1,0 = 2+1 J. Brundle 2,0,2,1,1 = 6.

BELLE VUE 40 J. Crump 3,3,3,3,2 = 14 B. Forsberg 0,1,3,1 = 5 C. Gjedde 2,X,1*,2,0 =5+1 L. Jankowski 1*,2,2,2 = 7+1 J. Screen 2,1,1,0 = 4 M. Rajkowski 3,0,0,0 = 3 T. Suchanek 0,1*,1,0 =2+1

Eagles win depite Crump record By Brian Owent

Eastbourne Eagles made it five home wins from five, despite seeing Jason Crump claim their long-standing track record.

The Belle Vue star took heat one on a heavily sawdusted Arlington circuit in 54.9 seconds but could not prevent Eagles winning 50-40 in their table-topping Elite League clash.

Crump became the first man to ever go under 55 seconds at the East Sussex track as he eclipsed the previous best of 55.1sec set by Tony Rickardsson almost five years ago.

Fit-again Scott Nicholls ended the Aussie star's hopes of a five-ride maximum by beating him in a thrilling heat 15.

Nicholls scored paid 13 from five outings with Crump the only visitor to beat him.

Edward Kennett was paid for 11 from five and Lee Richardson scored 11 from four with Crump the only man to beat him

Kennett determined to beat his best pal By Bruce Talbot

But their friendship will be forgotten - for a couple of hours at least - when early Elite League pacesetters Eastbourne Eagles get down to business against Belle Vue on Saturday (7.30pm).

Aussie Crump, who won his last world title in 2006, is back at his spiritual home after a season with Poole. He is key to Belle Vue's hopes of becoming the first side to win at Arlington this season.

Kennett rode with him for Pirates last year and appreciated the help he gave him on and off the track.

He said: "Not only is he a great rider but Jason is also a fantastic bloke away from the track as well. He would always help me and I'm looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.

"He's going to be a threat because he rides well on any track. We're mates but that will all be forgotten when we get down to business on Saturday."

Kennett was so disappointed with his performance in last Saturday's home win over Wolves that he did not ride in the customary lap of honour which concludes every meeting at Arlington.

But he bounced back at Monmore Green on Monday with ten points including two heat wins in Eagles' 50-39 defeat by Wolverhampton.

He said: "I had been suffering from a migraine throughout Saturday afternoon. I get them occasionally and when he finished all I wanted to do was get home and rest but I felt fine by Sunday.

"I was happy with how I did on Monday. Physically I felt a lot better and I have been working on getting better starts this season and it is starting to pay off."

Eagles share the leadership with Swindon but just three points seperate the top five sides and Kennett believes the league is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years.

"There have already been a few surprises with teams winning away like Swindon and Ipswich and ourselves up at Coventry.

"Lowering the averages this season has definitely made it more competitive and I can't see too much changing - I think it's going to be a very exciting season.

"We have started well and confidence is high and we're coming together as a squad so things are looking good."

Eagles: Nicholls, Bridger, Richardson, Woodward, Kennett, Guest (for Simon Gustafsson), Brundle.

Eagles suffer setback at Wolves

Eastbourne Eagles suffered their second Elite League defeat of the season as Wolverhampton pulled away in the final heats to claim a 50-39 victory last night Eagles showed plenty of spirit despite difficult track conditions and the absence of their No.1 Scott Nicholls to push Wolves close at Monmore Green.

Despite copious attention, the circuit resembled something of a quagmire in the early races due to a pre-meeting downpour.

A premature halt to proceedings looked likely when the rain returned after only two races.

However, both sides conspired to put on a fine show and the lead changed hands twice before Wolves exerted home authority to pull away.

The Eagles clearly missed the towering presence of Nicholls but they coped well with rider replacement amassing nine-points from his four scheduled outings.

The Australian shared in two maximums in the early races as the visitors sneaked into a one-point lead by the end of heat five.

All the Eagles played their part with Edward Kennett picking up two wins in his ten-point haul.

David Howe (13+1) and Fredrick Lindgren (12+1) provided the bulk of the scoring for the home side and their 5-1s in heats 13 and 15 helped Wolves post their slightly flattering final scoreline.

Wolves had hit the ground running with an opening 4-2 and a reserves race 5-1 securing an early 9-3 advantage, however, a third heat 5-0 from Lee Richardson and Woodward after Niels-Kristian Iversen took a tumble drew the Eagles to within a point.

A further home 4-2 extended the margin to three points but Woodward was again instrumental as he shared a fifth heat 5-1 with Lewis Bridger to steer Eagles into a 15-14 lead.

That lead did not last long as Wolves claimed 4-2s in heats six, eight and ten and established a 32-27 advantage.

Eagles did not lie down and a Kennett-inspired 4-2 in the 11th helped them stay in touch but Lee Richardson was unable to stay ahead of Iversen in the race before the interval when a win would have increased the heat further on the hosts.

A brace of 5-1s in two of the final three races by Lindgren and Howe sealed the hosts' success.

Eagles ace settles dispute By Brian Owen

Lee Richardson has been told to expect a quick recall for his title-chasing Polish club.

The Eastbourne Eagles skipper was left out of Czestochowa's line-up on Sunday and missed out on a bumper pay day as they thumped Tarnow 69-23 before 11,000 delighted fans.

Richardson has been in dispute with the club, for whom he is under contract until 2011, after being removed early from the season opener at Leszno the previous week.

However chairman Marian Maslanka insists Czestochowa were encouraged by his efforts in a challenge match against Gdansk on Friday and he is likely to be in the side which goes to Gorzow in the Ekstraliga next Sunday.

Maslanka, speaking after seeing summer signing Nicki Pedersen win five out five against Tarnow, said "We are talking all the time with Lee and his manager John Davis about the future.

"Of course we need Lee for the team, absolutely. But we have special rules from the team manager.

"But I know next meeting it will be welcome back to Lee Richardson. "If he is good then, he will start against Torun at home the next week.

Cam's a belter for Eagles

Elite League leaders Eastbourne Eagles withstood a late rally from Wolves to claim an ultimately comfortable 53-40 win at Arlington Stadium on Saturday.

Eagles raced into a 38-16 lead with only six heats left on the card but Wolves hit back to suggest that they will provide far sterner opposition in June when the two clubs meet again with a Knockout Cup semi-final place at stake.

The injured Scott Nicholls was missing for Eagles after failing to recover from his hand injury while they were further hampered when reserve James Brundle suffered a breakdown en-route to the stadium.

David Mason covered Brundle's absence while Poole's Bjarne Pedersen stepped into the breach in place of Nicholls.

The Dane made a superb paid 10-point contribution to Eagles' success but it was the heroics of Cameron Woodward and Swedish reserve Simon Gustafsson that had the Arlington fans cheering.

Towering The Australian gave another towering display as he shared three 5-1 successes with Eagles skipper Lee Richardson.

Only an exclusion in heat 12 provided a blot on an otherwise unbeaten evening for Richardson.

Woodward's third shared 5-1 success drew the loudest cheers as he blasted past Wolves' David Howe in superb fashion on the run to the line.

Gustafsson won his first outing and then shared in two of Eagles' six maximum 5-1s throughout the night, the first with the impressive Lewis Bridger in the eighth and the second as he combined with Woodward in the penultimate race to halt Wolves' resurgence and wrap up the match.

Wolves could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel after trailing by 22 points at the end of heat nine but four successive heat advantages narrowed the margin to just nine points (45-36) with two races left to run.

They grabbed a 6-3 in the tenth, a 4-2 in race 13 and back-to-back 5-1s as both Fredrik Lindgren and Niels-Kristian Iversen hit the winning groove in heats 11 and 12.

Heat 12 was controversial after home skipper Richardson hit the deck after being passed by Iversen.

Much to the dismay of the previously unbeaten Richardson, he was excluded by referee Dale Entwistle.

Iversen took a tumble in the last race but all four riders were called back and Richardson took the win.

Eagles: Lee Richardson 11+1(5), Cameron Woodward 10+2(5), Simon Gustafsson 10+2(5), Lewis Bridger 9(4), Bjarne Pedersen (Guest for Scott Nicholls) 8+2(4), Edward Kennett 5+1(4), David Mason 0 (3).

Wolves: Niels-Kristian Iversen 13+1(5), Fredrik Lindgren 11(5), David Howe 6(4), Christian Hefenbrock 4+1(4), Ales Dryml 3+1(4), Kenneth Hansen 2+1(4), Nicolai Klindt 1+1(4).

Meanwhile, Lewis Bridger had two impressive paid wins in a 4+2 (3) haul for his Polish track Czestochowa as they beat Tarnow 69-23 on Sunday.

Scott Nicholls has revealed why a spin in his garden could hold the key to Eastbourne Eagles' weekend plans.

The Eagles star is hoping to recover from a hand injury in time for Saturday's home clash with Wolverhampton in the Elite League.

Nicholls missed Tuesday's narrow televised defeat at Peterborough after suffering two broken bones in his left hand.

He will back to face Wolves providing he comes through an informal fitness test at his Suffolk home.

Nicholls, who suffered the injury at Coventry 11 days ago, has been named in the home line-up but admitted: "I'm just a bit concerned. It's not as good as I had hoped it would be yet.

"I don't want to miss meetings because I had a really good start to the season and the team have done really well.

"I've had physio. I'll go out on my motorcross bike and ride around the garden and see how it is with the clutch.

"The clutch is a lot heavier on a speedway bike so if I can't hold that, I can't ride speedway.

Eagles star faces hectic weekend By Brian Owen

Lee Richardson has booked himself a hectic weekend as he aims to sort out his league future in Poland.

The Eastbourne captain is in dispute with Czestochowa, for whom he rides on Sundays, after they pulled him out of a meeting after just two of his five rides.

He has agreed to race in a challenge match against lower-division Gdansk tomorrow.

The Hastings-based rider will fly back on Saturday morning in time for Eagles' home meeting with Wolverhampton.

He will be back en route to Poland early on Sunday hoping to pile up points for Czestochowa at home to weak-looking Tarnow in the Ekstraliga.

Then it is back to England on Monday and straight over to Wolverhampton, where Eagles chase a second away win of the season.

Richardson said: "I've said I'll go and do the challenge meeting but I want a serious talk with the management afterwards.

"It's good in a way because it gives me a chance to test my bikes out. I had two pre-season meetings out there cancelled because of the weather."

Scott Nicholls is doubtful for Eagles' meeting on Saturday. Two broken bones in his left hand and wrist have yet to heal.

Eagles skipper demands a big effort By Brian Owen

Lee Richardson has urged his Eastbourne colleagues to be totally committed when they visit one of the toughest away tracks in the Elite League tonight.

The Eagles captain counts Peterborough among his former clubs and would love to be the first away skipper for 19 months to emerge victorious from the East of England showground.

Panthers' invincible home run almost ended last week when they needed a 5-1 in heat 15 to salvage a 45-45 Craven Shield draw with Lakeside.

Hans Andersen and Danny King came good at the last that night against former Eagles duo Adam Shields and Davey Watt, who was guesting for the injured Andreas Jonsson.

The Panthers management team have since taken it in turns to demand an improvement from their team and Richardson knows they will be fired up to impress in tonight's televised tussle (7.30pm).

The Eagles skipper said: "They will have had a good kick up the backside and will be fired up, especially having seen us win at Coventry. I know a couple of their riders have been struggling but you can't take anything for granted.

"The main focus will be on our third heat leader and second string. We need Ed Kennett, Cameron Woodward and Lewis Bridger to be beating their guys consistently."

Eagles have booked Chris Harris to guest for Scott Nicholls, who has a hand injury.

Richardson added: "It's a big blow to lose Scotty. He has been going really well everywhere.

"It's still possible to win there though, don't get me wrong. Bomber is a good guest and it's up to me and him to try and get a few points off Hans."

Peterborough tend to have a big home advantage around their 336-metre circuit but Richardson said: "I rode there for a year and I thought it was a great track. You need to have the right attitude. There's an art to riding Peterborough.

"You need to ride right on the inside or out on the fence. If you're not committed and try and ride the middle you'll get people coming past on both sides and you'll come away with nothing."

Richardson is free of injury, though fans may have feared otherwise when they saw he only had two rides for his Polish club Czestochowa as they lost at Leszno on Sunday.

His early exit from that meeting was due to a tactical move by the manager. Richardson was unhappy with that decision and talks are planned between his manager John Davis and the Polish club.

There have also been tough messages coming out of Peterborough as they look to raise their game against an Eagles side who hammered them 59-35 at Arlington recently.

Co-promoter Mick Bratley said: "I am hopeful of victory but this depends largely on which Kenneth Bjerre turns up.

"Will it be the supreme gater and stylist from 2007 or will it be the indifferent one from 2008?"

Eagles will meet Wolves, who beat Ipswich last night, in the Knockout Cup quarter-finals.

Peterborough: Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre, Danny King, Morten Risager, Sam Simota, Claus Vissing, Henrik Moller.

Eagles: Chris Harris, Lewis Bridger, Lee Richardson, Cameron Woodward, Edward Kennett, Simon Gustafsson, James Brundle.

Nicholls misses Eagles clash By Brian Owen

The Great Britain captain has been told he has broken two bones in his hand after crashing at Coventry on Monday.

He is out of tomorrow's Elite League Pairs at King's Lynn and also misses Tuesday's league trip to Peterborough, which is live on Sky Sports.

Nicholls is fourth in the early-season Elite League averages and had dropped just 13 points out of 87 ahead of his Coventry smash.

He misses the opening round of Polish fixtures on Sunday but Eagles hope to have him back by the time Wolverhampton visit Arlington a week tomorrow.

Old boy Ollie got super Swede to Arlington By Brian Owen

Bob Dugard has revealed how a modest-scoring Eastbourne rider of the past helped the club sign one of the world's brightest young stars.

Simon Gustafsson impressed plenty of observers in the stand and, judging from comments on the internet, those watching on television as well as he helped Eagles win at champions Coventry on Monday.

Yet the 17-year-old Swede might not have been riding for the home team without the efforts of Olli Tyrvainen, a Finn now based in Rustington, West Sussex.

Tyrvainen rode for Eastbourne in 1980 and again in 1982 and now works as export manager for the Dugard family's successful machine tools business.

He put a word in for Eastbourne when they identified Gustafsson, son of former Sweden star Henka, as one to watch last season.

Both Gustafssons were concentrating on their own domestic league at the time but Simon rode several meetings for Eastbourne once the Swedish season had finished and bonds forged in that time meant he was happy to return to Sussex for his first full Elite League campaign this year, despite interest from Coventry.

Dugard, co-promoter at Eagles, said: "We did our homework fairly well on Simon. Olli telephoned Henka for me originally because they know each other very well.

"Olli suggested the best thing was for Simon to come here because we would treat him like family, which we have done.

"That got things going for us. He didn't do enough meetings at the end of last year to become an Eastbourne asset.

"I know Coventry were desperately trying to get him to go there but he stayed loyal to us. He enjoys the environment here.

"His performance at Coventry really pleased me. He's only 17 and he didn't really know the track but he showed he could really get amongst it.

"His pedigree is fantastic. His father was one of the most natural speedway riders.

"Now Simon is showing maturity way beyond his years. You always feel confident when he is out in front that he will be sensible."

Tyrvainen averaged 3.75 and 4.91 in Eagles teams which finished in the bottom half of the table.

Such is the growing fuss around Gustafsson, however, the Finn might just have made a bigger contribution to the cause than he ever achieved when riding.

Dugard said: "Olli works for me and is a bigger success in business than he was in speedway. He is very intelligent. He speaks six languages and also has a tremendous sense of fun."

Much to their frustration, Eagles have no fixture this weekend due to the Elite League Pairs at King's Lynn.

Lee Richardson partners top scorer Scott Nicholls in a bid to bring the trophy to Eastbourne for the first time.

Nicki Pedersen broke the club's drought at what are now called SuperSeven events in the Elite League Riders Championship by winning it while on loan at Eastbourne in 2005 and 2007.

Pairs and Fours titles, however, have evaded the Sussex club, be it in the top flight or the old second-tier National League.

The former Swindon man has a good record at bigger circuits which bodes well as Eastbourne swap tight 275-metre Arlington for the super-fast 342m Norfolk Arena.

Nicholls, who is confident of overcoming bruising to his right hand in time for the meeting, practised at King's Lynn in pre-season.

Richardson said: "I know Nicki won the Elite League Riders but Eastbourne haven't won the Pairs for I don't know how long.

"It would be nice to win it. I think the way we are riding we've got as good a chance as anyone else there.

"It's a big grippy track which will suit me and I think will suit Scott as well."

The Polish Ekstraliga gets under way this weekendwhich is why the Pairs could not be held on Sunday. Eastbourne wanted it staged last Sunday.

Eagles could cash in

Bob Dugard believes Eastbourne Eagles could cash in on their televised win over the champions.

Eagles' veteran co-promoter has received a bumper crop of emails since the 47-43 success at Coventry on Monday, including approaches from potential advertisers at Arlington Stadium.

Dugard, who watched the win on television, said: "I don't want to say too much yet but we have had three companies, one of them particularly large, enquiring about advertising with us.

"One is a company who have been involved with us before, two are completely new to us.

"I also had about 30 emails from people saying well done'. You get spin-offs. You can't measure what they are worth but it's better to be successful than unsuccessful, that's for sure."

Dugard admits he is "devastated" Eagles cannot build on their TV win by staging a home meeting on Saturday.

Lee Richardson and, subject to a bruised hand clearing up in time, Scott Nicholls will represent Eagles in the Elite League Pairs, an event the Sussex track believe should not be staged on one of their race nights.

Dugard said: "I'm bitter about it. We contacted the BSPA the minute we got the fixtures and said it was ridiculous. Several members of the BSPA wanted to change it but the Pairs date had been announced by then."

Eagles facing selection dilemma

Martin Hagon admits his in-form Eastbourne youngsters might have given the club a selection dilemma.

Eagles plan to send top duo Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson to the Elite League Pairs at King's Lynn on Saturday.

Nicholls is a slight doubt after taking a blow to the hand in a heat-15 smash during Monday's impressive televised win at Coventry.

Co-promoter Hagon said: "We'll be checking on Scott. To be honest, right now I'm hoping not to get a call from him.

"He is quite tough. He could pick things up afterwards and he said he was okay but we'll see.

"If he can't make it, it will be a toss up who comes in. Everybody has been going really well and it would be a hard decision to make.

"Maybe it would be Cameron Woodward at the moment. It was a big crash for Scott and it looked like it hurt.

"But he's a racer. He was in with a couple of top English riders and I think the Coventry pair had a point to prove."

Woodward, 23, is in great form but Edward Kennett, 21, and Lewis Bridger, 18, would also be in contention to partner Richardson at the ultra-fast Lynn circuit.

Simon Gustafsson also crashed at Coventry and had a lucky escape when last-placed Stanislaw Burza somehow managed to avoid riding straight into him as he fell into the home man's path.

"The feedback from Monday has been very positive, no question about that. I've spoken to (co-promoter) Bob Dugard and he is very pleased.

"A lot of people were surprised we won. I thought we could win there but I wasn't sure which way it would go. In the end, it was a good all round performance."

Eagles are on Sky again at Peterborough next Tuesday. The EL Pairs means there is no home fixture this Saturday.