Eastbourne legend David Norris reckons team mate Lewis Bridger can be part of a bright future for British speedway.

And Eagles’ record points scorer is measuring that future not in months or years but weeks.

Bridger, still only 19, has been on fire so far this season and will aim for two more big hauls as his side face their traditional Good Friday double-header with arch rivals Poole Pirates.

The sides meet this morning (11am) at Wimborne Road, scene of Bridger’s four-ride full maximum in the recent Elite Shield success.

Then it is all back to Arlington for this evening’s return fixture (7.30pm) as Eagles look to make it four home wins out of four this season.

Bridger has always been known as an aggressive character capable of lighting up a race, often working his way through the field after a bad start.

Now, though, he has matured as a rider and a person and Norris believes the national team can benefit.

The 37-year-old former Great Britain and England regular said: “Lewis’s riding speaks for itself but it’s not that, it’s him.

“You used to get disappointed with some of the things he did but this year he is a pleasure to be around. He’s a different bloke. Hopefully he has matured.

“His racing is what you know he can do and more and most of that is just him calming down, looking and being a bit quieter.”

Bridger will head off to Czestochowa in Poland this weekend, somewhat belatedly after a delay in paperwork.

His Ekstraliga track are in disarray after losing major sponsorship and seeing Nicki Pedersen and possibly Greg Hancock leave the club after being offered reduced terms.

That could yet open the chance for Bridger to shine alongside his former Eastbourne skipper Lee Richardson, who is staying after agreeing to take a 20% pay cut.

Extra top-flight exposure in still the top league in the world can only benefit young Brits like Bridger and Tai Woffinden.

Norris, who was in the running for the Team GB manager’s job before deciding to return to the track, said: “Lewis prefers to be in Poland rather than in England like the top boys do.

“There are a lot of English riders who just can’t do it and won’t do it.

“He only sees being the world’s best whereas I had family, I thought I’d done my job for the week by riding here.

“Him and Tai will be everything that (GB manager) Rob Lyon wants.

“Rob should be at home thanking his lucky stars because he’s going to look a hero as well.

“You’ve got Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris, I’d say Lewis and Tai and you’ve got a nice top four.

“You then pick out who’s going to go best at whatever circuit you are at.

“Ollie Allen maybe in England, Simon Stead abroad, whatever.

“You go to Poland and Lee Richardson is top Brit out there so you say to Lee ‘can you do a job?’”

Bridger admits trips to Poole this season have a special significance as he warms up for the British Final at the Dorset track next month.

He also loves to measure himself against Pirates’ rising Aussie star Chris Holder, a rider for whom he makes no secret of his admiration.

Eastbourne are in the rare situation of boasting a two-match unbeaten run at Poole.

Their latest visits have seen them return home with silverware each time, having drawn 45-45 in the second leg of the KO Cup final last October, then won 49-43 in the return meetiing of the Elite Shield this term.

This time they will meet a revamped Poole side after Paul Hurry and Lukasz Jankowski were drafted in to replace injured Jason Doyle and Kyle Legault. New No.8 Chris Neath is due to ride at reserve today.

Eastbourne will hope their firepower down the order, not least through Simon Gustafsson at reserve, and a happy knack of avoiding last places will help them to the lion’s share of the points.

Belle Vue had eight heat wins out of 15 at Arlington last Saturday but the fact Eastbourne had just three scoreless rides to the Aces’ 12 was key to a comfortable victory.

Eagles: Watt, Norris, Bridger, Woodward, Dryml, Kling, Gustafsson.

Poole: (probable) Pedersen, Jankowski, Screen, Davidsson, Holder, Hurry, Neath.