Eastbourne Eagles fear Adam Shields' season could be over after he sustained serious injuries riding in Poland.

Shields is known to have suffered a broken hip in a first-bend pile-up riding for Sipma Lublin in their 54-36 defeat at Grudiadz in the First League, effectively Poland's second division, on Monday.

There are reports the damage to the 29-year-old Australian could be even worse.

Eagles promoter Jon Cook said: "All sources say Adam has a broken hip and needs an operation but various other sources say he also suffered a broken femur.

"Until we get a call from Adam himself we can't really say what we are going to do but it looks like his season may be over and we are gutted for him."

Shields had been in great form so far this season, averaging 8.83 for Eagles and scoring 14 points on his debut for Lublin ten days ago.

His absence will be covered by rider-replacement when Eagles host Oxford on Friday.

David Norris, Dean Barker, Andrew Moore and one of the reserves will each take an extra ride.

Nicki Pedersen's Rzeszow lost 53-37 at Tarnow in the top-flight Ekstraliga on Monday.

The Eagles star scored a modest ten points but was happy with his speed out of the starting gate.

Meanwhile, Cook today vowed to keep welcoming fans into the Arlington pits unless his riders ask otherwise.

But Pedersen, the Eastbourne Eagles star who was confronted by an angry Poole Pirates fan shortly after the Elite League derby, has called for riders to be shown respect by all fans.

Friday night's flashpoint, in which a female Poole supporter interrupted media interviews in Pedersen's area of the pits and told him "You're a dangerous driver", is being treated as an isolated incident.

Pedersen was involved in a heated exchange of comments before the supporter was persuaded to move away.

The controversial Danish star had earlier been involved in a clash with Poole skipper Bjarne Pedersen.

Fans are allowed in the pits at Arlington for a 15-minute period before the meeting and again from 15 minutes after the last race.

It is a popular feature and many take the chance to ask their heroes for pictures and autographs.

Cook has pledged to keep the pits open but will ensure security is tightened up in the 15 minutes following heat 15.

The Eagles promoter said: "I've heard about the incident second hand and if we can identify the woman concerned we will ban her from Arlington.

"But we like to have an open pits policy and it would be a shame to change that because of one individual.

"We are one of the few tracks to open our pits to the public and I feel the pros outweigh the cons."

Poole's big travelling support added to a great night at Arlington and some their fans praised Eagles' open-pit policy and Pedersen's willingness to chat. But the Eagles top scorer said: "Incidents like the one on Friday are a bit worrying because I'm just a normal person.

"There's no need for saying it. They go home and look at the replay and see it was Bjarne's own fault. He apologised to me after the meeting.

"Fans only see one side. Riders have to see it from both sides because next time it could be me in Bjarne's position.

"When fans are nasty to me, I'm nasty to them. I'm trying to be calm and professional but when people threaten me that's out of order."

Pedersen was given a berth away from the public gaze at Sunday's Elite League Riders Championship and said he preferred the closed-pits policy in operation at Poole.

Cook, though, believes riders generally enjoy mingling with fans after the action.

He added: "The riders have dangerous jobs and, although they get rewarded, the rewards are not on a par with the risks they are taking.

"If they get a buzz out of having people in the pits I am happy to maintain it.

"I have cut the pre-match opening time to between 6.45pm and 7pm in consultation with my riders.

"But it was such a great night with so many positives we are not going to let one idiot spoil that for us."

Lewis Bridger, who was called in as a reserve for the Elite League Riders Championship, can further enhance his growing reputation.

Bridger competes in the British Under-21 Championship at Kings Lynn.