Eastbourne star David Norris was taken to hospital after a horror smash at Arlington Stadium last night.

The Eagles skipper was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg after being catapulted over the safety fence onto the concrete stockcar track.

Norris, Eastbourne's top rider this season, and his bike finished some 30 to 40 yards away from the point at which he crashed through the fence on the back straight after a collision with Swindon and former Eastbourne rider Peter Ljung.

The crash in heat ten caused a long delay, and there was another lengthy hold-up four races later when two riders were involved in another frightening crash again on the back straight.

Eastbourne's Steen Jensen and Swindon's Oliver Allen crashed through the barrier, demolishing a large section of the fence.

Allen walked away after treatment, but Jensen was taken to hospital with suspected concussion.

The match eventually finished in a 45-45 draw after Eagles clawed their way back from four points behind with two heats left. But there was even more drama to come.

World champion Nicki Pedersen then beat fellow Grand Prix star Leigh Adams in a run-off for the bonus point to boost Eastbourne's play-off hopes.

It was the second time in less than a month that Eagles had finished a home meeting with two of their riders in hospital.

Eastbourne: Nicki Pedersen 14, Adam Shields 10, Joonas Kylmakorpi 8, Edward Kennett 6, David Norris 4, Steen Jensen 3, Adrian Miedzinski 0. Bonus points: Kylmakorpi 1, Norris 1.

Swindon: Leigh Adams 12, Charlie Gjedde 8, Andy Smith 6, David Ruud 5, Oliver Allen 5, Steve Johnston 5, Peter Ljung 4. Bonus points: Smith 2, Johnston 1, Allen 1, Ljung 1.