M.D

As I only picked one rider I will go with another four with my Eastbourne bias... Dean Barker, great team rider that had way to many injuries that held him back, but on his day could beat the best. David Norris, natural talent that only really showed it consistently away from Arlington for the odd season Adam Shields, underrated himself. Martin Dugard but only at World level. He went back to Eastbourne after Oxford to to fulfil his Grandfathers wish to see him back before he passed away and never seemed to have the desire to complete at world level until he thought he was facing a ban in 2000 and went out to prove a point in the British GP.. Sorry, I did say it was Eastbourne bias and based on my experience..

Ron Preston

I would also like to point out that in the early years at Eastbourne we had the late Arthur Nutley who took I keen interest in the junior grass track scene in Kent, extremely vibrant in those days. He found the likes of Dave Jessup, the Kennett's, Roger Johns Paul Woods to name but a few. Eastbourne could offer good training facilities on the main track and this tempted a lot of riders to join the Eagles. When Martin and Paul Dugard came along, Bob Dugard built the junior track and Peter Johns built scaled down bikes for them with smaller engines and the Eastbourne schoolboys club was born. This gave many riders lots of track time moving up to 500's and then onto the Senior Circuit. In both cases, whether it was junior grass track or junior speedway, by the time the kids got to the age of 16 they all had many years experience of riding/racing so a lot hit the ground running. This shows the importance of a vibrant youth system for kids to move up into a professional sport, something the swedes and poles latched onto years ago while we have slipped down a bit but as I previously said, a lot of this goes down to owning the stadium. The poles and Swedes have this luxury too.

Part of this in the latter years especially, must go down to the fact that The Dugard family own the stadium and could build a junior track and practise pretty much when they wanted. Many riders that didn't start thier careers at Eastbourne, riders like Mark Loram, took advantage of the facility's, sadly its a luxury not many British clubs have..

For Eastbourne, the following riders have been missed out: Dean Barker David Norris Dean Standing Paul Dugard

It is pouring down here in the Deep South... Richard's post can be put down as subtle humour on the cricket season staring...

Andy Buck is now a policeman living up north somewhere..

Pedantic really Baldyman, I just pointed out a few weeks ago Seth is riding in the UK this year and I got the class he was riding in wrong, my bad..

OK you guys win, Seth isn't riding in the Uk this year then?

What I got correct was that Seth is riding in the BSB class this year in the UK..

He's riding in the BSB supersport 300 class this year..

Seth..

RIP Danny, such a shock and a true loss to the sport..

Sounds like Gordon Kennett may have a spin at Arlington on a Weslake upright engine with the old GK red and black colours, bike sorted by Gordon and Steve Weatherly. Great to see the master have a few laps again if it can be sorted..

Drew Kemp will be taken into the Eagles nest and treated as part of the family, nurtured, looked after and sent on his way to a good career in the sport..

What you trying to say?

I agree and should improve on away form, a side that has pretty much already gelled.. That top line says a lot about the side when you look at it. Strong enough to let Tom Brennan ease back but I very much doubt he will need time. Team spirit will be high as its only really Drew Kemp as a newbe, the Eagles will build and fly high this year..

I was thinking of Ben, my bad and my age!

Agree, as a kid I watched many a rider grow up on that track and watched Kelly Moran, Erik Gundersen, Shawn Moran ride it to name a few for fun. The likes of Paul and Martin Dugard, David Norris, Mark Loram, The Standings, David Howe all grew up riding that track, a conveyer belt for a few riders..

Looking at other teams I would say top six easily. Lots of scope for improvement and most importantly the team has gelled already, on and off the track.

I like the look of this team, its well put together with a solid look and bags of potential. Far more balanced than last year and could be a force away from Arlo but of course we are yet to see other teams.

'Its very exciting news"

It could be Spiller, with the BSPA ratifying his starting average, hence the delay..

Doubt Georgie will be back but I could be wrong of course..