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DAVEY WATTNationality: Australian. Born: Queensland, January 6, 1978 Status: On loan from Poole. 2009 starting average: 8.15. Profile: Aussie international brought in this year for a third loan stint, Watt is a big favourite now tackling the dual challenge of being No.1 and team captain for the first time in his career. Rode at reserve when he first joined Eastbourne in 2005. Was back at Arlington in 2007 after a stint at Oxford. Helped Poole win the Elite League last season. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He is Mr Reliable. I love his smooth riding style but I wish he was four or five years younger. Bob Brimson came close to signing him when he was promoter here. Davey is always talking to me about different riders, how we should treat them, what we can do for them. That’s why I made him captain. |
LUKAS DRYMLNationalty: Czech. Born: Pardubice, April 16, 1981 Status: On loan from Peterborough. 2009 starting average: 5.98. Profile: Big track specialist looking to conquer the tighter confines of Arlington. Always a bold racer, Dryml lost his team place at Peterborough last season and was out in the cold until being offered what was initially a six-week deal by Eagles. Was world under-21 champion in 2002 and has won his national title as well as racing in the GP series. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He has all the credentials. He has been on the rostrum at a GP. We saw a shadow of him at Eastbourne at the Dean Barker Farewell but he has all the experience and did not seem concerned by his performance. We signed him short-term but I've told him he's here for the season if he performs. |
DAVID NORRISNationality: English. Born: Eastbourne, August 20, 1972 Status: Eastbourne asset. 2009 starting average: 5.91. Profile: A massive fans' favourite and the highest points scorer in the club's history with almost 5,000. Made his debut way back in 1988 and also rode for Ipswich, Reading, England (21 times) and Great Britain (8) before the latest in a serious of injuries ruled him out in mid-season two years ago. Came out of retirement this year. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He has been out retired for a year-and-a-half but I have no worries about him. He is very fit, a mature, strong bloke so he will cope. Dean Barker said to me in the winter David was aching to ride again and I said 'are you sure?' He was sensational in his first race at the Dean Barker Farewell. |
CAMERON WOODWARDNationality: Australian. Born: Victoria, January 8, 1985 Status: Eastbourne asset. 2009 starting average: 5.41. Profile: Easy-going Aussie signed originally on loan from Edinburgh in 2006, then on a full transfer. Started life in the top flight as a reserve but gradually developed as a senior rider and produced the best form of his still promising career in the first half of 2008. Has plenty of untapped potential to realise this season. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He reminds me of Greg Hancock. Their styles are so similar. Cam has a very fast racing style but his biggest problem is, if he gets behind, he gets impatient and wants to do it all on one corner. He is a typically determined Aussie who could go right to the top. |
LEWIS BRIDGERNationality: English. Born: Hastings, November 4, 1989 Status: Eastbourne asset. 2009 starting average: 5.11. Profile: Tipped as a future world champion by his Weymouth boss as a 15-year-old. Stepped up to the Elite League as soon as he turned 16 and has been a regular for Eastbourne ever since, rising from reserve to heat leader. Now in his fourth season and one of the hottest properties in British speedway. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He could be the critical rider for us. He is the one rider I didn't want to lose this year. We sat down and I told him ‘if you want to go next year just for a season, come back and we'll talk about it’ but I honestly believe he will come on so much as a rider this season he will not want to leave. |
RICKY KLINGNationality: Swedish. Born: Sweden, June 2, 1987 Status: On loan from Lakeside. 2009 starting average: 4.90. Profile: Picked up on loan last winter after falling out of favour at Lakeside. The former Oxford rider was snapped up by Eastbourne largely on the strength of three impressive performances at Arlington for the Hammers last term. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: He concerned me a little bit at Dean Barker's meeting. I thought he would do better but let's put it down to nerves. Some riders take a month to get going and he didn't seem unduly concerned by it. We know he can go well around Eastbourne. |
SIMON GUSTAFSSONNationality: Swedish. Born: Skollersta, May 25, 1990 Status: Eastbourne asset. 2009 starting average: 4.28. Profile: Son of former World Cup star Henka but now a rising star in his own right. Has a super smooth style and showed massive potential in the opening and closing weeks of 2008, his first Elite League season. Watch him go this term. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: Our former rider Olli Tyrvainen made the initial contact for us, my son Martin went out to talk to him and between them they got him to Eastbourne. The idea was for him to go on loan somewhere initially but, from the minute I saw him, I thought how classy he looked so we kept him. |
DENIS GIZATULLINNationality: Russian. Born: Oktyabrsky, March 11, 1983 Status: Eastbourne asset. 2009 starting average: 4.00. Profile: Russian champion forced to wait in the wings after complications with his work permit application. Could yet come in as an intriguing mid-season joker on a low assessed average and add to the one Eagles appearance he made in 2007. Bob Dugard's pre-season verdict: It now looks like he will get his work permit, although it might take five weeks to come through. He is Russian champion, which tells you a lot, on a low average, so we will bring him in and make changes if the team is not performing. |
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