The speedway-racing father of Simon Gustafsson has urged Eastbourne fans to keep patience with their teenage reserve.

But Henka Gustafsson, who still rides with his 18-year-old son in the Swedish top flight, admits he would have no objection if the Eagles No. 6 decided to give Elite League action a miss for a while.

Gustafsson senior watched Eagles' win over Lakeside on Monday, in which Simon managed paid five from as many rides.

He reckons travelling between England and Sweden is taking its toll on a rider who has been tipped for big things for some time now.

But he admits Simon is happy to stick with Eagles for the rest of the season.

Henka, the 37-year-old former Swedish international, said: "I just think it's a lot of meetings for him.

"Last year he went over to do the British League when the Swedish League had finished.

"To start with this year it was just the British League. Then the Swedish League and under-21 meetings came along.

"I feel sometimes he is a little bit tired and not really focussed.

"Lots of top riders, even people like Nicki Pedersen and Tony Rickardsson, had a couple of years when they struggled In England.

"It's hard to come in at 17 or 18 and start scoring points straight away.

"You have a couple of bad meetings and that gets in your head. Maybe he should have a few meetings in the lower division here in Sweden, win some races and get some confidence.

"He did that last year but it as too easy for him. I think he dropped three points through the whole season. If he drops down for a couple of meetings, at least he will get that feeling back for winning races.

"But then it's difficult for him to find time to do that as well.

"He will get a couple of weeks to rest during the World Team Cup next month. He will do some practice as well."

Henka's theory about fatigue is supported by the fact his son's best performances for Eagles this season came early in the campaign.

It has been a different story since then. He has struggled in the Elite League and Elitserien and had to settle for a reserve berth at the World Under-21 Championships final after scraping through a race-off in last Sunday's semi at Rye House.

He recently moved into his own apartment in Sweden and passed the written part of his driving test last Friday, though he has yet to attempt the theory section. On-track woes continued on Tuesday when Simon failed to score in three rides and Henka did little better as their Indianerna club crashed 58-38 at high-flying Lejonen.

Simon, who only recently turned 18, was twice beaten by Ricky Kling, the man who also led him home in the reserves' race at Arlington on Monday.

Henka said: "I'm not sure what is best now for Simon.

"Maybe he should take a couple of months off from the British League and concentrate on Sweden and get some heat wins.

"I don't think it would be wrong if he dropped out for a while.

"But it's up to him. He wants to be in England even though it is a lot of meetings.

"When I came over to England I was 20 and had already done the world final so I was a more experienced rider. It was easier for me.

"We were talking about it after our meeting in Sweden on Tuesday. We had a really bad one, both him and me.

"But he wants to stick out in England and I'll support that."

Eagles will hope to be in the last four of the Knockout Cup by Monday night as they face home and away tussles with bottom-of-the-league Wolverhampton in the quarter-finals.

The first leg is at Arlington tomorrow (7.30).

Eagles: Nicholls, Bridger, Richardson, Woodward, Kennett, Gustafsson, Brundle.

Wolves: Lindgren rider-replacement, Dryml, Iversen, Klindt, Howe, Hefenbrock, Hansen.