M.D

Yeah, I would imagine he will be a squad rider if things are consistent with the leagues next season..

Could be a tight one this, R/R for Georgie made us stronger away but we will be a lot poorer at home without him. Charlie Brooks at 8?

I would imagine that Eastbourne built the team way before it was confirmed they had joined the CL, its building a cost effective side over a season or so that will challenge..

I get what you're saying about Georgie Wood and his set up. Drew Kemp is mentally fragile, technically good, but question marks remain about him and if he will fulfil his potential..

Eastbourne have been poor away from Arlington so far this season so it should be an easy win for the steel men. However, Eastbourne's top end will do damage and Georgie Wood may be a trump card as a former tiger with a point to prove.. I will still go with a Sheffield win but with a few scares for Sheffield as they will need to work for the result..

Totally agree, An area that's being worked on along with machinery.

Georgie Wood has just got back his engines from the tuners, interesting to see how the Eagles go...

Big meeting for Eastbourne tonight and Georgie Wood, could be a season defining moment for both..Eastbourne need to bounce back with some good performances needed from a few riders and Georgie has got 3 engines back from having work done (Which has showed with his IOW results this week) Points needed from both club and a few riders..

Fair point MD, its going to take Eastbourne a while to build again and the loss of Tom is a massive blow. I don't think we are a bad side, slightly unbalanced but the club is trying to move forward on and off the track so time will tell if we will get it right long term...

Awful news about Tom, I wish him well like we all do, a fantastic prospect for British speedway.. With regards to Eastbourne, Georgie Wood with a full 15 pointer for the IOW tonight and Ben Morley with a paid 15 pointer will give them both a confidence boost to take forward..

Eastbourne really remind me of 1985 when they entered the second tier of British speedway, It took us half a year to build and from then on we dominated the league until we moved up to the top flight again. The team is built to win and entertain at home with the hope that the top three can carry the side away from home with the hope of picking up the odd point here and there. It's very much a club that's building for a very bright future, give us a season and we will be both winning and even more entertaining on the road..

Its good to see Cookie and the club so upbeat again, its like a phoenix rising from the ashes...

Rain all day, attack the track time..

Old Bob.. I remember you well from your views on the Lakeside Hammers forum, your negativity about the sport and Jon Cook in particular was renowned. Im glad to see you bring that to Eastbourne threads on this site now, please keep posting though, all views are valid..

Ron had it all. from the gate, from behind, inside and outside.. In the one season at Eastbourne he outshone both Gordon Kennett and Kelly Moran, that took some doing around Arlington in those days..

Ron Preston.. 1979..Poole..32..139..277..21..8.58..4F..2P1980..Poole..23..101..214..16..9.11..1F..1P1981..Poole..12..62..110..9..7.68..1F1982..Eastbourne..38..162..354..18..9.18..5F..3P World U21 champion in 1979, quit the sport half injured aged about 24

15 today, Wood on 9+1 from 4..

I think we are just about to mirror 1985 onwards.. It could take us half a season to get going, the experienced top end is there and the youth is certainly coming through, we will be the stand out team second half of this season and then dominate thereafter..

I would think that's a given..

The Eagles have added to their asset base with Daniel and Ethan Spiller

The way it looks to me is.. Martin Dugard and Jon Cook now lease the stadium from the Dugard family, they both have control over the venue and can promote what they want having payed the lease on the venue to the owners. Eastbourne Speedway have moved up to the championship under the management of Jon Cook and Ian Jordan. I would think that Dugard/Cook are going to promote the stadium, stock cars, speedway and what ever they want to do so they can fund speedway, which at this present time is not really sustainable.

I did have a few concerns about the viability of the speedway team moving up but this explains a lot, Jon Cook and Martin Dugard are not naive are they...

I think the website is a good source of information and is getting updated fairly regularly. Ian Jordan is doing a fantastic job on social media keeping the fans informed and making it feel like we have a direct line to the management at Eastbourne. Social media and the website are separate items though, he can interact on social media in a way you can't on a website.

There is a lot more interest from fans this season than before, I would expect a spike in attendance to begin with and with a good team around Arlington I would think they can build on crowds..

Does Steen still ride? that was a while back..