Bridger contemplates future ahead of Arlington return
Lewis Bridger wants to be mixing it with the top riders from the best leagues twice a week next season.
Now the Eastbourne Eagles teenager has the chance to show his worth in such exalted company and get his home fans cheering again in the process.
Bridger gets his first Arlington outing for five weeks as he partners Davey Watt in the Elite League Pairs tomorrow (7.30pm).
There were boos from some fans when his name was read out ahead of the recent win over Lakeside, for which he was suspended.
Bridger, still a big favourite for many fans, insists he is not worried about being jeered again.
But he would get locals cheering if he could help Eastbourne win a meeting being staged to celebrate the track’s 80th anniversary.
Bridger has some serious thinking to do about where his career goes next and the highly competitive Polish and Swedish leagues play a big part in his plans.
He said: “I need to be doing Poland and Sweden every week, no matter what it takes.
“I’ll have to sit down with everyone and sort out what I’m going to do.
“I don’t know what that means yet for my plans here.”
Bridger practised at Lydd in Kent during his two-week ban and rode in the Midlands Open at Wolverhampton on Monday.
In typically bullish style, he says the quality of the Pairs offers no fears.
He added: “Of course there will be good riders there.
“I’ll be looking for Davey, he’ll look for me, but basically we have just got to ride the best we can.”
Bridger picked out Swindon as the team to beat after they named Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar as their duo.
Since then Zagar has been replaced by Simon Stead, who does not tend to do particularly well at the Sussex circuit.
Eastbourne manager Trevor Geer tipped Poole to be a major threat and their combination of Hans Andersen and Chris Holder look a potent force.
Holder is joint record holder at Arlington, along with Jason Crump.
But what about Peter Karlsson and Freddie Lindgren, both Arlington specialists, of Wolves?
Who can forget five-win paid maximums by Lee Richardson and Krzysztof Kasprzak at the track this year?
Adam Shields is ruled out by injury. If he were fit to partner Richardson, Lakeside would probably be favourites.
As it is Coventry, with British champion Chris Harris and local boy Edward Kennett, look strong.
And don’t write Peterborough fof as dark horses.
It would be big ask for the Eagles pair to score a memorable win.
But Bridger has the ability to silence the boos.
“I’m not too fussed if they boo me,” he said: “I missed four meetings in four years so they can’t take it too badly.”
Line-up: Lee Richardson and Jonas Davidsson (Lakeside), Freddie Lindgren and Peter Karlsson (Wolves), Chris Harris and Edward Kennett (Coventry), Krzysztof Kasprzak and Morten Risager (Belle Vue), Niels Kristian Iversen and Kenneth Bjerre (Peterborough), Hans Andersen and Chris Holder (Poole), Lewis Bridger and Davey Watt (Eastbourne), Scott Nicholls and Troy Batchelor (Ipswich), Leigh Adams and Simon Stead (Swindon).
Format: Eighteen heats plus semis and final, from 7.30pm.
Extra touches: Brighton band The Move-ons will play live in the hour ahead of tapes up. The first 2,000 fans through the gates receive a replica of the programme for the first Arlington meeting in 1929. _________________ click here for the latest front page news
Fully agree with SAS the Band was also excellent, would def go see them again. Was told that the crowd size was 1700 - not sure if thats the offical 'size' or BD's 'size' !!
A brilliant advert for speedway, and a terrific meeting. Congrats to Poole, but also well done to Davey and Lewis. How many people thought we would be in the final, especially with the likes of Coventry, Wolves and Swindon. It was good to hear the commentators say how good the track was (watching the repeat on Sunday). Proves that if you have a well prepared track you get excellent racing. Olsen take note. As season ticket holders it did not cost my husband and I much. For this we would like to thank BD who put his hands in his pocket to make up the difference. _________________ Supporting the Eagles through the good times as well as the bad
michelle, parker could probably tell you what the attendance was . most packed i have seen it in the last 2/3 years . would estimate myself around 2,000 at least .people round parts of the track that are usually fairly empty , from the starting gate to the end of the grandstand really almost full , as it appeared on tv . feel sorry for any aces fans who travelled . be intresting to see if kaszprzak has recovered for polish meeting today or aces v coventry tomorrow .
Having now watched the meeting courtesy of Sky, working on saturday night, it certainly looked a good 'un.
Track looked fine, some good racing, and a decent crowd, certainly looked more than 1700, perhaps that is the figure for "tax" purposes
Well, if BD wanted to present the club in a good light, he certainly did a good job.
Would like to know the gate numbers as we were there early and did not recieve a souvenier programme as stated they would be given to the first 2 000 people.
I recorded the meeting on Sunday morning from 11 o'clock. This way I could cut out the adverts. It was a good advertisement for BD, and the racing was excellent. I did feel sorry for Belle Vue, who were completely out of their depth, but they did manage to put things right yesterday evening by beating Coventry. The was the first time I have willed a team to win. I think most people had Coventry down to win. _________________ Supporting the Eagles through the good times as well as the bad
well you know who to ask , but will you get a reply? . always remember some seasons ago several of us saw " him " burning unsold programmes in one of the empty oil drums outside the pits .surely better things to do with these , even salvage . think we all know he gets these mood swings and acts accordingly . worth contacting speedway office though zena , promises should be honoured .wonder how many fans also lost out .
see kasprazak recovered to ride for aces last night , will see in speedway star if he rode sunday . also if birmingham's pole got in trouble riding for his british team on a sunday . tomas piscz , probably spelt it wrong .
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I think most people had Coventry down to win. 
