American hotshot Chris Kerr has been told he could be riding for an Elite League contract at Sunday's Brighton Bonanza.

Eastbourne Eagles promoter Jon Cook will be keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old from Auburn, California, in the popular indoor event at the Brighton Centre.

The Eagles boss has promised fans he will have an exciting line-up in place, hopefully by Christmas, despite seeing his plans de-railed by new Elite League team-building regulations.

The team can only field riders whose combined averages total 40 points or less. Eagles have been forced to release Davey Watt to Oxford after promoters voted to drop from last season's permitted average of 42.5 points.

But Cook has already shortlisted the men who could partner Nicki Pedersen and Adam Shields, with Kerr one of the candidates.

The Eagles boss said: "I will be running the rule over Chris with a view to offering him a contract for next year.

"I am confident our team will be known before Christmas.

"There will be a change from last year's line-up but we will be competitive and there will be an influx of riders people are familiar with plus new exciting names."

Cook, who opposed the reduction in points limit, is encouraged that Elite League promoters agreed to stick to a 42.5 ceiling for every season when a new club do not enter the division.

This year's reduction is designed to re-invigorate the transfer market as Reading prepare to join the league.

While some mid-ranking riders have seen their values soar, others, like former Eagle Edward Kennett and experienced Belle Vue duo Jason Lyons and Andy Smith, could see their immediate top-flight futures put in jeopardy.

Eagles have signed Australian prospect Trevor Harding as their eighth man and he could ride as a double agent with Kings Lynn if, as expected, he secures a British passport.

Joe Screen has made his move from Sussex to Belle Vue permanent for a five-figure fee.

Meanwhile, Cook has predicted big things for Shields next season after his exciting finale to the 2005 campaign.

The Eagles boss said: "Adam will be a big gun next year.

"This is his year to become an eight-point-plus rider and that is fantastic."

Peterborough remain very active in the transfer market.

The have lost Peter Karlsson to Wolverhampton, Daniel Davidsson to Poole and Henning Bager to Arena-Essex but signed Niels-Kristian Iversen from Swindon.

Renat Gafurov, the Russian who had a brief spell on the Oxford merry-go-round last term, is heading to Swindon while Krzysztof Kasprzak has signed a new deal at Poole.