Cameron Woodward is hoping his new jet-set lifestyle will propel him into speedway's big league.

He certainly took a big step towards that tonight with an inspired paid-ten contribution as Eastbourne Eagles notched a landmark away win.

Eagles were ultimately comfortable 47-43 victors at champions Coventry Bees, a team who have been virtually invincible around their own Brandon circuit in recent years.

The visitors had the points wrapped up with a race to spare as Scott Nicholls, back on his old home track, won his first four heats and riders down the card chipped in.

Not least Woodward. The under-rated Aussie plans to make a big push this season both in England and Poland and played a big part in his four rides. Compatriot Rory Schlein being the only home man to beat him.

Fittingly, it was his heat-14 ride which made victory a mathematic certainty for the delighted Eagles.

Not bad considering he got a 6am alarm call British time and practised with his Ekstraliga track Rzeszow before flying back to England at lunchtime.

He admitted "I feel a bit knackered but I'm better for the experience. The more riding I do the better I progress and hopefully it showed.

"I practised in the morning and blew the engine up. It is getting better and it should be quicker next time.

"They got me up at 7am their time and we were out practising at eight.

"Then we came to Coventry and to be honest I didn't think we could win.

"I've never had a big score here. I feel I've ridden well but they have always had a strong team so I've struggled to score.

Confident "I wasn't that confident as a team but everybody did their scoring. Now I can't wait to see it on tv."

The fact this meeting was televised live will just add to the impact Eagle's display will have around the Elite League.

They provided the first three heat winners through Nicholls, smooth-gating Simon Gustafsson and Woodward without going ahead overall.

Coventry hit the front in heat four when debutant Simon Stead led Edward Kennett all the way and Stanislaw Burza overhauled James Brundle for the 4-2 after the Eagles reserve made a decent gate.

Eastbourne, though, grabbed the lead three races later as skipper Lee Richardson got another good start, this time rode the challenge of Stead inside him and was followed through by Woodward in some style, tight to the back straight fence to complete a 5-1.

The lead was doubled to four in heat 10, thanks to a 4-2 from Richardson and Woodward.

Then it got even better when Nicholls dominated heat 11 and Lewis Bridger completed the 5-1 to make the score 37-29.

All the time those who have witnessed Eagles' travelling woes since their previous away win in 2006 wondered if it would fall apart.

That might have happened when Gustafsson tumbled with his team on a 4-2 in heat 12. Referee Margaret Vardy ordered a re-run even though Richardson was leading Harris having just entered the final lap.

Harris came back out and made it a 4-2 to Coventry.

Home fans hoped a comeback was on when Stead cut inside Nicholls on bend two in heat 13 and led for a few seconds.

Nicholls though replied in kind on bend four and the 3-3 put Eagles within touching distance of victory.

The three points were in the bank as soon as Woodward powered off the start in heat 14.

Nicholls tumbled on the last lap in heat 15 as he tried to pass Harris and complete a 5-1 win maximum but the resulting 5-1 for the hosts was meaningless.

It was not just about heat advantages. There was a superb ride from Kennett to hold off both Harris and Billy Janniro when Bees looked like they might level the contest.

That summed up the way Eastbourne held their nerve.

Team manager Trevor Geer said "To come to Coventry and win is fantastic. It will make a lot of teams sit up and take notice that we are ready to do the business this year."

COVENTRY BEES 43 Rory Schlein 1* 0 2 1* = 4+2 Oliver Allen 2 3 3 R = 8 Chris Harris 2 2 1* 3 3 = 11+1 Billy Janniro 1* 1* 2 R = 4+2 Simon Stead 3 1 1 2 2* = 9+1 Andreas Messing 1* 0 0 = 1+1 Stanislaw Burza 2 1 0 1 = 4.

EASTBOURNE EAGLES 47 Scott Nicholls 3 3 3 3 X = 12 Lewis Bridger 0 0 1* 2* = 3+2 Lee Richardson 0 3 3 2 1 = 9 Cameron Woodward 3 2* 1 3 = 9+1 Edward Kennett 2 2 3 0 = 7 Simon Gustafsson 3 1* 2 X 1 = 7+1 James Brundle 0 0 0 = 0