8:10am Thursday 9th July 2009
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne boss Bob Dugard insists he has no regrets about splashing out on a current Grand Prix rider.
Polish GP man Grzegorz Walasek has agreed to ride for the Eagles for the rest of the Elite League season in place of injured David Norris.
Dugard was last night waiting for Walasek’s manager to rubber-stamp the deal but expects to track the experienced international in Eagles’ next match, at Belle Vue a week on Monday.
Walasek will continue to ride for his Polish club Zielona Gora on Sundays and Swedish outfit Indianerna on Tuesdays.
Eagles do not have to pay Zielona Gora to use him but wages and other expenses, including a mechanic, will total about £15,000.
Dugard plans to step down as promoter at the end of the season and his Eastbourne side are virtually out of the play-off race after picking up just one point from their last six meetings, all of which have been lost.
However he insisted: “If I don’t keep giving it everything people will say I wasn’t interested any more.
“I’ve had three promoters ask why am I bothering with this signing but I want to give it every chance. I also think if we turn things around it will get some enthusiasm going for someone to take over the club next season.
“We have been running rider-replacement for David but that wasn’t really working. This gives us more stability.
“The big carrot for the rider is we go to Coventry on August 31 and he has the GP qualifying final there soon after.”
Walasek, who turns 33 next month, is struggling in the current GP series but has a wealth of experience.
The former Poole rider was third in the Polish Championship last year and made the final of the GP qualifiers this time by finishing second in his semi.
Eagles skipper Davey Watt, who rode against Walasek in Sweden on Tuesday, has welcomed the signing.
Watt said: “The only person to beat him in that meeting was Nicki Pedersen. He’s definitely a top rider and I’m definitely happy he is coming.”
Walasek can get to the vast majority of Eagles’ remaining meetings, though he expects to miss the next home clash when Lakeside visit on July 25.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk