Kyle Hughes will start next season as Eastbourne Eagles’ new No.1.

The experienced 26-year-old, who led Rye House last year, replaces his mate Bradley Wilson-Dean at the top of the order.

Eagles director Connor Dugard is confident Hughes can beat the best in the National League.

Dugard said: “Kyle beat the likes of Adam Ellis [top rider in last year’s league] and Josh Bates last season so he is more than capable of doing the job. Just look at his scores.

“I saw him at Coventry in the National League Fours and he went past Mildenhall’s Jake Kingston like he was standing still.”

Eagles have just one reserve berth to fill in their 2016 line-up.

Dugard added: “We will have Kyle, Ben Hopwood and Jake Knight in the heat-leader positions to begin the season with Georgie Wood and Richard Andrews backing them up.

“Georgie and Richard will want to push on and move up and that’s all for the good.”

Nick Philips will take one of the reserve berths.

Hughes, who finished last season on an average of 8.67, hopes to add at least a point to that figure and hold on to the No.1 spot all season.

He said: “I wanted a shot at winning the league again. I want to get another title to my name.

“When I got the call from Eastbourne, I didn’t take much persuading.”

Hughes hopes to pick up some tips on riding Arlington from Wilson-Dean, who has moved on to Somerset.

He added: “He said he would be up and down to Eastbourne quite a bit this season.”