Martin Dugard believes Eastbourne’s new team are better than he expected – despite having to make a late change.

Eagles have been piling up practice laps ahead their new National League season, which starts at home to Kent on Good Friday.

Fans, sponsors and potential backers saw the team enjoy a skid last Friday at a press and practice day which also included the club’s first ever networking lunch for businesses.

But the riders have also been enjoying private practices as they get to know the best way around their new home circuit.

Bradley Wilson-Dean was straight into the workshop after his gruelling 31-hour flight from New Zealand last week and practised the following day.

And Richard Andrews has been travelling to Arlington from his home in Exeter on days off from his day job as a bus mechanic.

Andrews was brought in as a replacement for experienced Brendan Johnson after Wilson-Dean was allocated an average of 5.00 rather than the anticipated 3.00.

But, after watching them practise, Dugard is convinced the team are progressing ahead of schedule.

The Eastbourne chairman said: “I think we are in a much better situation now than we were.

“Bradley has proved to be a success, Georgie Wood is better than we expected, Kelsey (Dugard) is on par with what we expected.

“Marc Owen is very able, Richie Andrews is much better than we expected, more like a six-pointer than a four-pointer.

“And obviously Dave Mason is very experienced along with Danny Warwick. I think we are looking good.

“The riders have been here to make sure we have got the set-up.

“It is very important that we are switched on from the first couple of meetings.

“We want to prove people we are something to look out for.”

Dugard has been impressed with the attitude of Wilson-Dean, who could be Eagles’ trump card.

Work has been going on almost around the clock to prepare for the new campaign.

He said: “We picked Brad up at 5am last Monday, we went to pick a bike up in London and by the time we got home it was 10am.

“We then worked until 1am making sure his bikes were right.

“Brad had a bit of a lie-in the next day but in the afternoon he came and rode at the track and found he didn’t like a couple of things on his bike which we had to change again.

“We’ve been working from 7am until midnight for the past week.”