Edward Kennett reckons a change of engine helped him post a double-figure score live on television.

But his Eastbourne Eagles boss insists there was far more to it than that.

Now he has called on the 19-year-old to turn it on again in a hectic weekend which sees Eagles host Belle Vue in the Elite League tomorrow and three of their riders go to the Manchester track for the British Championship on Sunday.

Kennett will join David Norris and Dean Barker at Kirkmanshulme Lane.

And a free weekend for his Premier League track Rye House means he can also face the Aces tomorrow.

That is great news for Eagles after he atoned for a dismal return to Arlington in the defeat by Reading by posting two paid wins and two seconds in the 53-43 success over Swindon on Monday.

His only blank came when he ran into heavy shale going out wide and clattered into the pit bend air fence.

Kennett shared in two 5-1s in the first three heats and said: "I was a little bit quicker than I have been. I chucked a different engine in to try it and it seemed to work.

"It was good off the start and it had a bit of pace in it.

"We had a good start to the meeting and it got us going.

"There was a brilliant atmosphere in the whole team."

Eagles promoter Jon Cook reckons Kennett's contribution was down to strength of character as much as anything mechanical and insists it was badly overlooked by the Sky Sports team who televised the fixture.

Cook said: "Sky seemed to dedicate the whole meeting to Lewis Bridger and they did Edward a great dis-service.

"He rose to the occasion. He was somewhat nervous the week before and to come back and turn on that sort of performance in that sort of match was stunning.

"It was the best I've ever seen him ride. He showed a lot of character to come back from his home debut like that and to do it in front of the cameras."

Cook recognises one reason for the lack of excitement over Kennett could be that people forget how young he still is.

He made his debut back in 2002 but does not turn 20 until the end of August.

The Kennett name, so renowned in speedway circles, has also put pressure on him to succeed. But dad Dave is a regular helping him in the pits.

Cook added: "Edward has suffered from being the great white hope. But I think having Lewis around is fantastic news for Edward because he can progress a little bit away from the glare of publicity.

"Having said that, he deserved more publicity on Monday, particularly in the races where he did not get paid wins.

"The way he was chasing down Seb Ulamek and Lee Richardson was pure class."

Cook felt Swindon were over-confident about winning at Arlington but does not expect Belle Vue to make the same mistake.

Aces will be defending a vulnerable six-point lead in the battle for the bonus point.

Their challenge will be headed by World Championship leader Jason Crump, along with British GP wild card Simon Stead and solid former Eagle Joe Screen.

But they look fallible beyond that, which could persuade Eagles to give Adam Shields his comeback if he came through a practice unscathed at Oxford last night.

Cook said: "Belle Vue are over-achieving. They have kept the great spirit they had last year and that has served them well."