Glasgow V The Eagles. Meeting Preview
Eastbourne Eagles head to Glasgow tonight (June 25) believing they can upset the high-flying Tigers.
The return at Arlington Stadium is just nine days later (Sunday, July 4) and is eagerly awaited by fans after the drama of the 2019 fixture.
Tickets are already selling fast.
The Sussex side are buoyed by the return of captain Lewi Kerr from a broken collarbone.
He was injured during the HG Aerospace Eagle’s victory in the first leg of the KO Cup tie against Kent on June 6.
Within days he had surgery and was back on the bike just over a week later scoring six points in a Grand Prix qualifier at Glasgow.
Kerr admitted he had faded after a bright start but battled through the pain barrier.
He rode for his Premiership team King’s Lynn last night (June 24) scoring 5 (+2) whilst Richard Lawson scored 10 (+1) on his Stars debut.
Eastbourne are also encouraged by the form of Tom Brennan at the Glasgow GP qualifier where he scored an impressive nine points from just four completed rides, including the stunning victory over former World Champion Chris Holder.
Richard Lawson is returning to one of his former tracks.
Edward Kennett has had a secret behind-closed-doors practice at Arlington Stadium in an attempt to cure some mechanical and confidence gremlins and will seek to kick start his season.
The Eagles have Jason Edwards at reserve, who will remember his brilliant heat 2 victory on his Championship debut for the Eagles at Glasgow in the Shield semi-final in 2019.
On that occasion, a superb all round team performance saw Eastbourne go down by just four points to set up the never-to-be-forgotten second leg at Arlington where the Eagles mastered their opponents for a famous victory on a tumultuous and incident packed night that enthralled a big and passionate home crowd.
Kyle Newman returns to action after the heartbreak of his engine failing when two laps from securing the Eagles a last-gasp win in their home match against Edinburgh.
The Eagles are forced in to one enforced change with Drew Kemp representing GB in an U-19 European qualifying event at the weekend in Divišov in the Czech Republic.
Eastbourne junior Nathan Ablitt has also been named for this meeting.
Eastbourne bring in their No 1 rider from the National Development League (NDL) Eastbourne Seagulls side, Jake Knight, to replace Kemp at Glasgow.
Live Stream
The meeting is available to view as a live stream direct from Glasgow. Click here for full information and to purchase.
Team manager Trevor Geer said: “We remain confident that we have a team capable of winning the league and the cup competitions this year.
“With the Play Off format that we see in so many sports now, it’s not always how you start, it’s how you finish.
“I feel sure that the team will click very soon as most have already shown excellent form at one point or another and we can lay down a marker in our next two away fixtures at Glasgow and Redcar that we can and will peak at the right time.”
Co-promoter Lee Kilby is also looking forwards with positivity to the next few weeks with the tough away trips to Glasgow and Redcar (on July 2), followed by two of possibly the biggest matches of the Championship season anywhere.
He reminds supporters that the home match against Glasgow on Sunday July 4, at 3.30pm is an ALL TICKET affair.
He said tickets are selling fast and are available online at the club website and supporters are encouraged to purchase tickets soon as a 1,000 Covid-19 crowd limit sell-out is anticipated.
Click on the image below to purchase.
The club will then eagerly look forward to the following week’s (Sunday, July 11) double header at Arlington when the Eagles take on Leicester Lions (Championship) and the Seagulls the Leicester Lions Cubs (NDL).
Tickets will be on sale next week.
The club will also announce initial plans next week for the eagerly awaited and Covid delayed 90th anniversary celebration at Arlington Stadium which is due to take place on Sunday, September 26.
A bumper crowd is anticipated to see legends of the club’s past, current stars and prospects of the future in a fantastic planned three-hour spectacular event tracing the Speedway history of the Eagles and Arlington Stadium back from its opening in 1929.
Image credit: Neil Garrett Photography