DAVID Norris gave a stunning display as Eastbourne beat Wolverhampton and the weather to go top of the Elite League.

Eagles won 43-29, with the match being abandoned after heat 12 because of heavy rain. The result will stand.

Norris, who lives in Hailsham, was in the action from heat four when he was penalised for hitting the tapes and started the re-run off a 15 metre handicap.

He still helped his is partner, guest Lawrence Hare, complete a 5-1 which gave the Yang Eagles an eight point lead.

Norris committed a similar offence in heat seven but then produced two of the hottest laps you are ever likely to see at Arlington as he stormed from last to first.

He went between the two visitors and took the race by more than 15 metres.

Fall

The Eastbourne team fired on all fronts while the visitors struggled, with the exception of ex-Eagle Roman Povazhny, who seemed to delight in the wet conditions and top scored scored with eight points, one of his best returns at Arlington.

Povazhny has taken part in three of the last four meetings at Eastbourne for different clubs; Oxford, Coventry and now for his new club, Wolverhampton.

Rain was falling by the time Wolverhampton had their only win of the night in heat 12, helped by a slithering fall for Petri Kokko when he was leading for Eagles.

Referee Chris Gay consulted with the team managers and captains and quickly ruled the track was unfit to continue racing. Eastbourne's reign as league leaders may be short-lived. The Eagles are at Coventry today while their nearest rivals, King's Lynn, have a home fixture against Oxford.

On Saturday the club announced the signing of 13-year-old Edward Kennett, who co-promoter Jon Cook called an "incredible talent."

He is the youngest rider to sign for Eastbourne and possibly the youngest ever to sign for a British club.

Kennett has his eyes set on the Conference League next season and a year later he could become a member of the Eastbourne Elite League team or go on to a Premier League track.

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