Mark Loram returned to Eastbourne colours at Arlington Stadium on Saturday and helped spearhead Eagles to a 57-38 victory over Belle Vue Aces.

The win and two points moved the Sussex club up another place in the Elite League to seventh. It also leaves them well placed to at least take the bonus point when they visit the Aces tonight.

Loram proved a shrewd choice of guest to replace world champion Nicki Pedersen, who is at home in Denmark having treatment on his injured wrists.

They were damaged while he was lifting rocks in his parents' garden and he was warned by doctors that if he did not stop riding he faced an operation.

Arena Essex rider Loram, who was forced out of the Eagles' team this year as speedway reorganised to accommodate two more teams in the top flight, was only beaten once. The display followed his 18-point maximum for Eastbourne in the previous evening's match at Oxford.

Loram had to pull out all the stops in heat 11 when he came from third place to first to pass Aces guest Leigh Lanham and then Eagles' old boy Joe Screen to complete a thrilling victory.

Loram was not alone in bringing the crowd to their feet.

Captain David Norris celebrated his wild card call-up to next month's British Grand Prix in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff with a paid 15-point maximum.

Twice he passed world championship leader Jason Crump.

Although it was Norris and Loram who led the Eagles' victory march, they found plenty of support. Newcomer Andrew Moore impressed the fans after being brought in last week when Edward Kennett quit the Eagles.

Eagles: David Norris 14, Mark Loram 14, Joonas Kylmakorpi 8, Adam Shields 6, Ulrich Ostergaard 6, Peter Ljung 5, Andrew Moore 4. Bonus points: Kylmakorpi 2, Shields 1, Ostergaard 1, Norris 1, Moore 1.

Belle Vue: Jason Crump 14, Joe Screen 11, Kenneth Bjerre 6, Leigh Lanham 5, Tomasz Jedrezek 2, Paul Fry 0. Bonus points: Screen 1, Lanham 1, Bjerre 1.