Redcar v Newcastle Preview – Friday 29th March – 7:30pm

Redcar Agilia Bears get there season underway this Friday, as we host our good friends the Newcastle Diamonds in the Tyne Tees Trophy at the Media Prima Arena with a 7:30pm start.

It has been a winter of change for the Bears, with Kevin Keay stepping aside from his role as promoter to be replaced by Jitendra Duffill and Jade Mudgway. Duffill, who has been involved as team manager and then co-promoter over the last decade, is keen to pay tribute to the work Keay put into the club:

I’d like to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Kevin Keay and his wife Anne for all they have done for Redcar Speedway over the past 2 years. They have worked tirelessly for our club, providing us with not only 2 years of superb entertainment, but also a very solid foundation upon which to build upon. I don’t think many people would be able to truly appreciate the sacrifices that they both made for our club and I wish them both the very best for the future.

Only two Bears remain from last seasons septet, with Ben Barker and Jordan Stewart returning for another season. Charles Wright and Michael Palm Toft provide top end strength with Barker, whilst Tom Bacon, Nathan Greaves and Jack Smith add huge potential throughout the rest of the team. Co-promoter and team manager Jade Mudgway is excited to get going:

We have high hopes for this season and I absolutely believe that we will have one of the best seasons yet here at Redcar. I work on a motto that we race for fun but it’s a whole lot more fun when you’re winning. I’m really happy with the team we have attracted this year. Our riders didn’t take much convincing to make Redcar their home; we have the best racing track in the UK and they know that they will be treated well by both the fans and management.

With any one of our top three riders capable of winning any race at any track in the country, it is looking good for picking up points away from home, which will make a massive difference to our league hopes. They are going to be backed up with youth and masses of potential. Every single one of our riders has the ability to improve their averages, which is really exciting

Newcastle come to the Media Prima Arena a much changed side themselves, with a number of ex-Bears and riders with a lot of experience at the MPA. Thomas Jorgensen, who spent the second half of last season as a Bear, now spearheads the Diamonds alongside ex-Bears Lasse Bjerre and Stevie Worrall. Matthew Wethers and Simon Lambert are solid riders at second string with Max Clegg and Teesside lad Danny Phillips at reserve. It’s always a closely fought meeting between these two sides, and Duffill is expecting more of the same on Friday:

We pay a warm welcome to our closest rivals, the Newcastle ‘Boiler Technical Services’ Diamonds for the first leg of the Tyne Tees Trophy. Its always a keenly fought contest when we face Newcastle but Friday is mainly about blowing those cobwebs away as we prepare for our Championship Shield and League fixtures. I’m sure my new co-promoter and Team Manager Jade Mudgway will be keen to get our season off to a winning start so I’m expecting a close and exciting contest.

Lineups:
Redcar: Michael Palm Toft, Tom Bacon, Ben Barker, Jordan Stewart, Charles Wright, Nathan Greaves, Jack Smith

Newcastle: Stevie Worrall, Simon Lambert, Lasse Bjerre, Matthew Wethers, Thomas Jorgensen, Danny Phillips, Max Clegg