Kelsey Dugard has challenged one of his former Eastbourne Eagles team mates to a fight.

But his set-to with Ben Hopwood at Arlington Stadium will not join the list of on-track brawls in speedway’s recent history.

The two members of Eagles’ treble-winning team last year will meet in the boxing ring in the centre green as part of a fund-raiser to help injured riders.

Dugard, left out of Eastbourne’s team for 2016, will tackle Hopwood, who joined in mid-season 2015 and has been retained for the coming campaign.

Their bout tops the bill of three contests between National League speedway riders.

Brandon Freemantle will be on home ground when he faces Isle of Wight’s new signing Brendan Johnson, the man controversially axed before last season started.

There will also be a showdown between Nick Laurence, who rode for Mildenhall last season, and Kent racer Danny Ayres.

Dugard is the brains behind the event, which takes place in March and will raise funds for badly injured racer Ricky Ashworth and the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.

But he accepts he has given himself a major challenge by taking on keen boxer Hopwood.

Dugard told The Argus: “I’ve been training every other day. Ben has been training every other day or every day.

The Argus:

Treble winners Kelsey Dugard, left, and Ben Hopwood will meet in the ring

“It was my idea to do it. The truth is Ben kept going on all last season about how good he was at boxing. He went on and on and on.

“So I said ‘Why don’t I give you a boxing match and give the money we raise to Ricky Ashworth?’ “Ben is good friends with Ricky and he said ‘Kelsey, I think that’s the best idea you have ever had’.

 

“Ben has done some boxing but I’ve got no experience at all. The most fighting experience I’ve done is with (his brother) Connor!

“I’ve got myself a boxing coach and my cousin’s boyfriend used to do boxing so I’ve got good background.”

Word of the boxing challenge spread on Facebook and other riders were interested in joining in.

Dugard said: “Me and Ben thought we should make it into a really good boxing event and attract more people.

“We’ve got three fights and I think we will keep it at three.”

A date for the event has not yet been set. Weather forecasts will be taken into account to help attract a sizeable crowd.

Dugard has stressed those who pay their money will see proper contests.

And he has piled the pressure on his opponent in the run-up to the bout.

He said: “There won’t be any messing about. It will be me and him going at it.

“I’m not nervous at all. I’m the underdog in this. I’ve got no nerves whatsoever.

“It’s Ben who should be worried. He has got everything lose and I’ve got nothing to lose.”