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Thought I would start this up seeing as no-one else has. Hope I have done it right! Not sure that the Eagles will be as rampant as they were at Arlington but just maybe this is our best chance of a home win in some time!! However, I will predict a win by Kent by 6 points. Hopefully David and Bradley will be fit. What sort of reception will David get from the home fans? Also, just wondering. I went to the first Kent match when they opened up and had to park around half a mile from the stadium. Is that likely on Monday or should I get in the car park easy enough? Good luck to both teams and hoping for an Eastbourne win!

Great night, and not just because of the result. Track was slimey at the start and some struggled, not much racing. I am sure had it been Elite league we would have had the usual cluster of riders after heat 1 kicking the dirt at turn 2, ref called down, meeting off but no the lads went out to ride. I loved the fact that the Eagles looked delighted to be there. They looked so god dam happy at the start of the meeting and even happier after. The three laps of honor was priceless and amusing. Agree with the previous posters about James Shanes. I love his style and he never gives up. A right royal pain in the arse when you are cheering on your own team!! I have been following EB for 45 years and I cant say how much of a thrill it was seeing a rider with 'Dugard' written on his back storm to 3 rides and 3 wins. I really didn't know what to expect from Bradley WD. Wow, he did not disappoint did he? what a find I did know what to expect from mark Owen and he delivered, get in there Some storming points from Georgie and great guest by Dan. Mmm, Could we end up having the two best reserves in the league with David Mason and Danny Warwick! For once I thing strength in depth could be a winner for Eastbourne, I really do. Okay, its early days I know. But the excitement has built all through the off season and we fans could have so easily been disappointed last night but it lived up to what we wanted. Roll on Monday, lets get a point or 2!!

I dont think it will be one sided. With ben back in, I will revise my 10 point win to 6 or so.

Thanks for the update, makes me feel a bit better. Here in Hastings, its not exactly raining but a constant drizzle and its just dam right wet!!!

I am going to be so gutted if the rain stops this tonight. After all the off season excitement it will be a real blow for this to be off. Martin seems quite confident and believes the track had been prepared to take some rain but its fingers crossed I guess

How frustrating that on the first match we have both number ones missing! We should be talking about the excitement of a real local Derby but instead its all about missing riders. I do think this helps Eastbourne and its a real shame Kent cant use a guest. No-one really knows how Eastbourne are going to go but I think that, with all the practice they have had, we will see a home win by 10 points. COME EASTBOURNE!

Ben is not named in Redcar's team for Friday on their website. I think he will be riding for Kent

Makes sense to me. They obviously think he is a potential prospect so they sign him as an asset. If the get an injured or underperforming rider they can use him or they can loan him out and get a loan fee. Its the sort of thing Eastbourne have been moaned at for NOT doing over recent years.

Yes, I noticed that comment from Connor and I really think he is hooked up in the excitement of the new Eastbourne. I am sure it was meant more as a positive thing to Eastbourne than a negative thing against Kent.

My bet is that we will still see Bob on the tractor and I hope we do! I never have had a problem with the length of our meetings. I even like unsatisfactory starts! Fact is, we get 15 heats per meeting so the odd re-start just give better value for money. I even enjoy the 'gardening at the tapes' just build the excitement for me. I am damned if I want to go and see 15 min's of racing done in about 40 min's!

Everything they have been doing over the last few months have been brilliant. they have gone from a club that treated social media and the internet as a necessary evil to embracing it and using it. They are actually caring about the fans and wanting to involve them. Not just tell them that its their fault if the club goes down because they did turn up at race meetings. This is like a completely new club now and being run brilliantly. I hope the riders back them up on track and the fans back them up track side!

As I have said before, no-one really knows how teams are going to do, they all start off pretty much the same on paper. BTW, I think it was a bit unnecessary being so hard on two guys that did not really understand how the averages work, They looked like they lacked a bit of knowledge to me, that doesn't make them nobs! What I like about the team is the unknowns, BWD, Kelsey Dugard and Georgie Wood are the keys. If they do nothing, then the team will not do great but if one or two of them excel and the rest of the team hold or improve their averages we will be right up there. And what I really like is the back up and support they will get. Connor and Martin are building bikes for some of these guys! If they struggle at all they will have full support and help with set up and making changes/ I really think they will have support in the pits that is second to none and that could be the difference with this team. There is a new regime in place and I truly believe they what success like never before. I like what I have been seeing.

I am not sure david Mason was that much off the pace, if at all. I stood at the tapes for a while and was timing the laps and I was surprised that Davids were pretty much on a par with the others yet he LOOKED slow. I have not really seen him ride before so maybe that's his style.

I am so impressed with the new set up. I was gutted when ut really did look like the end last season and although I was chuffed about keeping it going, NL did not capture my imagination. Well it has now!! Connor and Martin are doing all the right things and we have a great mix in the team from the experience of David Mason backed up in the heat leader roles by Danny and Mark. Then we have the unknowns of the grass trackers and the exciting new boys.I am looking forwards to cheering on a Dugard again for sure. The riders all look pretty quick and there are plenty of smiling faces in the pits. They are all so approachable as well. I cannot wait and I hope the fans turn out a support this team

I am guessing he is part British so I assume that would get him over any visa issues. Great news he is confirmed at last, it looks like the Dugards really rate him.

latest from official website On the 20th March 2015 Eastbourne will hold there press and practice day in which the timings have changed. The public will now be allowed to enter the stadium from 11AM but will not be admitted to the corporate event however they can gain a pass to the event upstairs for a small fee of £5 where they can meet business and network with a buffet upstairs in the bar.

I think that Connor and Martin are doing great things. I have an invite to the company networking part and looking forwards to it. Would be interested to know what company your friend comes from as we are also Hastings based, Triangle Fire Systems. PM me if you like and I will say hi to her. 16,000? more like 1600 I would have thought with maybe 160 turning up. No way could they cater sandwiches etc for 1600. Really looking forwards to the season now.

I asked Connor. I think they will be practicing most weekends now the track has dried out. Keep an eye of facebook and twitter.

Good to see some of the boys practicing today. Richard Andrews, Kelsey Dugard and Georgie Wood all looking good

He is mentioned in the last line. 'There are four more riders to be named, one of whom will Eastbourne’s seventh team member, yet to be officially named' If the rumours are right then he is the yet to be officially named rider.

I hate the use of the word Journeyman in speedway. It is often used to describe someone who rides/plays for lots of different clubs but had no loyalty. That may be the case with Brendan but in speedway, the reason riders ride for lots of different clubs is because the are consistently dropped, not always because of their lack of performances but because of the averages, so I think its unfair to label a rider this unless they are consistently leaving a club that wants them, looking for a better deal. I don't think that Is the case with Brendan.

Not all of us. I am delighted that he has been signed and think that Eastbourne have done a great job bringing him in and I look forwards to seeing him ride. As far as I am concerned he has as much right to ride as any other British rider.

I have to admit, I am a bit excited about the season. When I was asked last year what I would think if Eastbourne went NL my reply was, I would go to Lakeside. But the excitement has slowly built. No-one knows if the team is going to win but then that's speedway! The fact is, all teams pretty much stat with and equal team and you look to riders that can improve and having unknowns like Wilson-Dean (if that rumour is true) Georgie Wood and Kelsey in the team make it exciting because they are the unknowns. Yes, they may fail but they could also be a great success. The Dugards have been slated for dropping a rider before the season starts but they have explained why. Whether its the right decision or not, time will tell but its funny that they get slated for doing the very thing they used to get slated for not doing and that is not being cut throat and making hard decisions. Its a real shame they had to do it but they have shown they WILL make difficult decisions for the team. GREAT! I like the look of the team and I am genuinely looking forward to the season more than the last few!

I would hate to be management. You get moaned at if you put together an average team. You bring in an exciting new teenage New Zealander to compliment your team of new and young Brits to reliable experienced ones and that's wrong!