NEIL Middleditch has leapt to the defence of veteran Craig Boyce after the explosive dust-up at Eastbourne.

Boyce landed a blow that put Eastbourne's Nicki Pedersen on his backside following the heat nine incident that saw both riders end up in the fence in Pirates' 46-43 challenge match defeat.

But with Boyce expected to escape any further punishment for his part in the incident, Poole Castle Cover team boss Middleditch believes the nature of the sport will occasionally see riders involved in heated disagreements.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "In football you get these incidents because someone might have a bruised shin. In speedway, we are possibly talking about life and death or certainly serious injury.

"As a rider, if you feel you've been put at risk by another rider, the adrenaline rush means you react immediately.

"I'm sure Craig regretted it almost as soon as it happened, but from what I understand he was provoked.

"It happens in any sport, but speedway is that bit more dangerous than a lot of the other sports."

Although the Pirates team boss was not at the meeting at Arlington, he was on the phone to the Australian soon after the incident unfolded.

Middleditch said: "I spoke to Craig soon afterwards and he told me it was just a racing incident - there was no malice on his part.

"From what I've been told, Nicki was the aggressor. Craig just went for the dirt, Nikki kept coming and he just ran out of track. But the throttle does work both ways and Boycey is certainly not a dangerous rider.

"I'd say that 99 per cent of the riders have the greatest of respect for each other and don't want to put anyone's life in danger. But there are certain riders in the league who have got a reputation for being dangerous riders."

Boyce, who was handed a maximum on-the-spot fine of £300 by referee Chris Gay, declined to comment further on the incident when contacted by the Daily Echo yesterday, but it is understood that he and Pedersen have since apologised to each other.

Although the Speedway Contol Bureau could hand out a further fine or even impose a ban on Boyce, a spokesperson at the British Speedway Association believes further action is "very unlikely".

He said: "We will have to wait for the referee's report, but I'd imagine it is very unlikely there will be any further punishment as a fine was enforced at the time."

Meanwhile, Russian rider Sergey Darkin looks set to make his Poole bow on Wednesday night after finally being granted a visa.

Co-promoter Matt Ford said: "It's a big relief. We're anticipating that he will be ready to race."