Redcar v Eastbourne preview – Friday 14th June – 7:30pm
Redcar Agilia Bears finally get their league campaign underway this Friday, as they host the Eastbourne Eagles at the Media Prima Arena with a 7:30pm start.
It has been a couple of weeks without any action at the MPA, and even longer since the Bears rode as a team, and promoter Jitendra Duffill is pleased to be back racing!
“It’s good to be back after a 2 week break from racing here at the MPA. The shorter fixture list in 2019 means that it is difficult to host speedway every week although that’s something that we, the promotion, would have liked here at Redcar Speedway. Having said that, the weather was poor last Friday so we would have been rained off anyway. A bit of good fortune there!”
Popular Dane Ulrich Ostergaard will make his second debut as a Bear on Friday. Ostegaard last rode for the Bears in 2012 and 2013, and recently became free after leaving Birmingham. He was swiftly snapped up by the Bears to replace the outgoing Ben Barker, and Duffill is happy to have him in the side:
“I’d like welcome Ulrich Ostergaard to the Bears and he will fit in well with the rest of our side. He is a proven scorer at this level and ranks the MPA as one of his favourite tracks. The 3rd heat leader spot should be better suited to him than racing with the pressure of the number 1 position like he was at Birmingham for most of the year.”
There is a slight change in the riding order this week, as Charles Wright moves to number one after his superb start to the season. Michael Palm Toft will now ride at number 5. Wright, who scored a creditable 5 points in his GP Qualifier in Germany this week, has been in superb form all season and as well as moving up to number 1 has also now been handed the Bears captaincy. Duffill has been delighted with his role this season:
“Charles has been brilliant all year, both on and off the track and he is a superb role model to his teammates and young British riders everywhere. He is a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication and he thoroughly deserves the captain’s role that has been handed to him.”
Eastbourne visit the Media Prima Arena after spending the last couple of seasons in the National League. Their side has a good mix of youth and experience and a number of riders who ride the Media Prima Arena well. Richard Lawson spent time as a Bear, whilst Lewis Kerr always tends to go well here. At reserve they also have two promising young riders in Alfie Bowtell and Georgie Wood. It promises to be another close exciting meeting, not to be missed!
Redcar: Charles Wright, Tom Bacon, Ulrich Ostergaard, Jordan Stewart, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Greaves, Jack Smith
Eastbourne: Richard Lawson, Ben Morley, Kyle Newman, Lewis Kerr, Edward Kennett, Alfie Bowtell, Georgie Wood
