Martin Dugard has been handed the chance to bury his Grand Prix nightmare.

The Eastbourne Eagles' skipper is a wild card entry in the British GP on July 29 at Coventry, the same track where his only previous Grand Prix appearance ended in disaster two years ago.

Dugard crashed out on that occasion after just two rides, finishing last in his opening race and then blowing an engine when leading in his second heat.

It's not an experience he wants to repeat when he tangles with the big boys on the international stage, including Eastbourne team-mate Joe Screen, in two weeks' time.

The fact that Dugard will be there at all is testimony to his current stature in the sport because he has often been sidetracked in similar circumstances in the past.

Said Dugard: "I'm happy I've been selected, but I think it speaks for itself so far as my consistency this season is concerned. I think lot of questions would have been asked if I had been overlooked this time."

The Sussex star will be joined in the British GP by another "outsider," Lee Richardson, the Hastings-born world under-21 champion who currently rides for Coventry.

Meanwhile, Elite League champions Peterborough pose a double threat to title-chasing Eagles this weekend.

The Panthers are first up as the Sussex squad embark on a spell of six matches in 11 days.

Eagles go to Peterborough tonight, while the teams meet again at Arlington Stadium tomorrow night. Then come trips to Coventry and Ipswich, Oxford at home and Wolverhampton away.

Eagles have not won away since they beat Peterborough 49-41 two months ago.

Panthers are nothing like the force they were last year, when they snatched the title from Poole in dramatic style in the last race of the season.

Eastbourne's chances of completing an important double will be boosted by the absence of recent Peterborough capture Peter Karlsson, who is riding for Sweden in the World Team Cup and will miss both matches.

Karlsson, an Arlington track specialist, is one of the most feared men in the league and was linked with Eastbourne at one stage during the winter.

Peterborough, who will include in-form Grand Prix man Ryan Sullivan and former Eastbourne star Stefan Andersson, can call on a guest for Karlsson but may rely on rider replacement.

Andersson, who has begun to post a few useful scores after a poor start to the season, will be keen to impress on his return to Arlington.

Eastbourne: Martin Dugard, Dean Barker, David Norris, Paul Hurry, Joe Screen, Petri Kokko, Brent Collyer.

Peterborough: Ryan Sullivan, David Howe, Sam Tesar, Stefan Andersson, guest or rider replacement, Nigel Sadler, Brett Woodifield.

The start is at 7.30.