Eastbourne fans have been denied the chance of seeing Grand Prix man of the moment Jason Crump in action tonight because of a club versus country clash.

Crump, winner of last week's Polish GP and currently No. 2 in the world rankings, should have been riding for King's Lynn against Eagles at Arlington.

But he won't be there because he will be back in Poland representing Australia in a Test match.

Eastbourne boss Jon Cook said: "The Australians have broken an agreement with the British Speedway Promoters' Association."

The move has infuriated the BSPA, who pick up the tab for the Australian riders to come to Europe.

Cook explained: "We pay for them to come over here in the first place."

It is another example of British speedway being sidetracked by an ever growing international programme.

"It seems to be the season for this sort of dispute, and something needs to be sorted out before next year," said Cook.

Crump's absence might help Eagles end a four-match losing sequence, but that is hardly the point.

Eastbourne have also been beaten in three of their last four home matches, and Crump's appearance at the tail-end of a season which is going nowhere would have been something of a crowdpuller Fans sidetracked over Crumpcrowdpuller after his victory at Bydgoszcz put him in line to finish in the top three in the world championship for the first time.