Taylor is also part of the 2010 Birmingham Brummies team

The Heathens name returned to British speedway in style as a large crowd watched their 50-40 defeat against a USA Dream Team at Perry Barr.

The new-look Dudley Heathens make their National League debut against Buxton next week, and were buoyed by the size of the support they received.

"It was an emotional night - it's a pity we couldn't win," team manager Will Pottinger told BBC WM.

The original Cradley Heath Heathens competed between 1947 and 1996.

Pottinger added: "I hope everyone's enjoyed seeing the Heathens team back on the track. A win would have been the icing on the cake.

If he's out for a long time we may have to look for a replacement Will Pottinger on Ben Taylor

"It's been 14 years [since the previous Heathens closed] and it's going to take a bit of getting used to."

On the track, the young Heathens line-up battled against some mechanical problems and the early loss through injury of Ben Taylor to keep the contest close for much of the evening.

Skipper Lee Smart showed his potential with a 13-point haul, backed up by nine from Richard Franklin. Austin Novratil and Eddie Castro chalked up 10 points apiece for the visitors.

Castro tangled with Taylor in a crash that ended the Heathens number two's evening prematurely. Although Taylor walked off the track, his injured wrist is likely to rule him out for some time.

Pottinger said: "It looks like he might have broken his wrist or scaphoid. If he's out for a long time we might have to look for a replacement."

Dudley are more hopeful that Adam McKinna will be fit to return to face Buxton as he is due to make his comeback from injury for parent club Newcastle over the weekend.

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