Lewis Bridger admits he has a bit to prove to his growing army of critics as he looks to end a turbulent week on a high note.

But the teenage Eastbourne Eagles tearaway insists he will not be ditching the mates with whom he ended up in court pleading guilty to an assault charge.

He also says a decision to attend a grasstrack meeting wearing a T-shirt with what appeared to be a swear word on the front was a bit of fun which was taken too seriously in some quarters.

Eastbourne do not agree with that. In fact former star rider Martin Dugard, who is still heavily involved with the day-to-day running of the club, went on to a website and posted what amounted to an apology for Bridger's choice of attire.

The club insist they will keep faith with the rider, who is clearly talented but appears to struggle with the rapid transition from child prodigy to mature sportsman at times.

Bridger was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £500 compensation after admitting throwing a punch during a nightclub fracas.

He said: "The court case is over and done with. It was blown out of proportion.

"I told them how much I earn and I got a big fine because I couldn't do community service.

"What happened wasn't during the speedway season. It was four weeks before I stopped drinking and got focussed.

"I don't do that sort of thing during the season. I might pop out if we haven't got a meeting in the next few days but that's just now and then.

"I'm 18 years old. I suppose we were idiots but it's the sort of thing that can happen. It happens every single night of the week."

Eagles did not punish Bridger for the incident which led to his arrest and co-promoter Bob Dugard insists there is no chance the rider will be forced out of the club.

However the veteran Arlington chief admits Bridger must sharpen up his act.

He said: "We cannot approve of what Lewis has done and I think he got off lightly.

"We are supportive of him and always will be. He's a young lad but he should know better.

"There are several aspects we need to help Lewis tighten up on.

"But he is a huge talent and it would be a very sorry day for Eastbourne speedway if he left us."

So the court case, which has been hanging over Bridger since pre-season, is over and done with.

But what the club could not have expected was that another row, this time over that T-shirt, would flare the day before their rider was due up for sentence.

It was typical Bridger. Intentionally or not, there are things he says or does which tend to spark a reaction.

The choice of four-letter word on this particular garment, worn as a joke, did not go down well with some race-goers.

Which is why Martin Dugard went online to put the club's point of view.

He later said: "We were starting to get a bit of stick from people who were saying they would not come and support Eastbourne.

"It was a big grasstrack meeting and you cannot walk around wearing a T-shirt with something like that on it.

"Lewis needs some guidance. He's an uncontrollable talent at the moment.

"If only he combined that talent with the professional approach of Lee Richardson then we would have the next Tony Rickardsson on our hands.

"He's got one part of it. Lee conducts himself properly.

"Lewis was silly to wear the T-shirt. And it's not the sort of thing that's going to attract sponsors."

Nor was it the backdrop Bridger might want as he heads to a World Under-21 Championship qualifier in Slovakia this weekend and contemplates next Thursday's British Final.

He reckons he can come through it. But he also seems to recognise things have changed somewhat over the last week.

He said: "I think maybe now I've got a point to prove.

"Up until now I don't think I did. The T-shirt thing was a joke. It was funny and everyone had a laugh.

"Maybe I should not have been so stupid but really I didn't think it would be such a problem."

Has Lewis Bridger overstepped the mark?