The legend is back! Kelly Moran roars into town for Sunday's Brighton Bonanza indoor speedway spectacular at the Brighton Centre.

Moran, arguably the most charismatic rider ever to wear the colours of Eastbourne Eagles between 1981 and 1982, is jetting in from the United States tomorrow to line up in a starry international field battling it out for the sport's most unusual title.

The event was first staged in 1997. Now, seven championships on, it is still a unique date in the speedway calendar. And Moran wants a bit of the action.

Promoter Jon Cook said: "How could we refuse when we got a call to say that Kelly was interested in riding in the Brighton classic. He is a legend. The fans loved him back in the Eighties, and they will love him when he turns out at the indoor show."

Moran was the darling of the Arlington crowd when he rode for the Eagles because of his showmanship and hell-raising, dare-devil style honed on the deserts of Los Angeles with the likes of Hollywood star Steve McQueen.

Bob Dugard, who brought the diminutive Californian over to England to ride for Eastbourne, said: "He was the most talented rider I have ever seen. I have no doubt he could have been world champion several times over."

What got in the way was Moran's carefree attitude and lack of discipline. The ultimate party animal, he was never far away from controversy. As far as the fans were concerned, however, he could do no wrong.

Dugard said: "They always forgave him. He was worshipped by the fans."

He will get the biggest cheer of all the riders involved in the Bonanza tournament when he returns to the spotlight on Sunday.

Moran made a track comeback in America this year at the age of 43, featuring in meetings on the East and West Coasts.

His style should be ideally suited to the tight turns of the Brighton mini-circuit, and the fact he has been teamed with another legendary Eastbourne figure, Martin Dugard, in the afternoon pairs event means he has a real chance of some glory.

Mind you, Moran and Dugard will have to get past a couple of other Americans, old war horses Bobby Schwartz and Shawn McConnell, who will be bidding for a phenomenal fourth successive victory.

Dugard is the only previous individual Bonanza champion in the main event being staged in the evening.

Twice winner Paul Hurry is injured, while Brent Werner, Ryan Fisher and 2002 champion Peter Karlsson are all missing. Other surprise absentees are Eastbourne rider David Norris and the hugely popular Magnus Zetterstrom.

Cook said: "We felt it was time to ring the changes a bit and introduce a few new faces."

The line-up does include Billy Janniro, who finished third two years ago, and Schwartz and McConnell, who were second and third last time round.

And if Moran, Schwartz and McConnell, combined age 134 years, are part of speedway history, then the younger brigade are well represented by the likes of David Howe, Chris Neath and the latest Eagles signing, 17-year-old wonder kid Edward Kennett.

Moran apart, the star attraction is British champion and Grand Prix star Scott Nic-holls. There are riders from six nations, including Eastbourne's Australian star Adam Shields and former rider Roman Povazhny, from Russia.

More than 5,000 fans are expected for the two sessions.

Laying the track is a ten-hour operation in-volving 120 tonnes of shale from Arlington and Oxford and a team of helpers working through the night.

There are 21 races during the pairs event, (3.00 start), and another 21 in the individual meeting (7.30).

Pairs: Bobby Schwartz and Shawn McConnell; Billy Janniro and Bryan Yarrow; Martin Dugard and Kelly Moran; Adam Shields and Edward Kennett; David Howe and Chris Neath; Roman Povazhny and Rafael Szomberski; Steve Masters and Ricky Ashworth; Davey Watt and Tomasz Jedresek. Nicholls rides in the individual event instead of Jedresek.