Redcar SG Petch Bears v Russ Hodgson Select – Thursday 6th April – 7:30pm start

This Thursday sees the Redcar ‘SG Petch’ Bears ride in a challenge meeting against a Russ Hodgson Select side at the Media Prima Arena with a 7:30pm start. Russ sadly died in December last year – he was an ex Sunderland, Belle Vue and Middlesbrough rider and was a very regular visitor to the Media Prima Arena as a spectator. The Russ Hodgson select side has been put together as a mixture of ex-Bears riders, and riders who go well at the MPA and is sure to provide the Bears with tough opposition. Bears team manager Jitendra Duffill paid tribute to Hodgson, and is looking forward to a tough meeting:

This week we get to honour a club legend and an old friend of mine Russ Hodgson.  Anybody who had met Russ would tell you what an amazing person he was and he was always put a smile on my face within seconds of talking to him.
Kev and myself were keen to give our team as much track time as possible before our official fixtures kick in. The Russ Hodgson Select team should provide a good challenge for us and will lay down a bench mark. The opposition are full of riders with plenty of experience of the Media Prima Arena.

Unfortunately for the Bears, German star Tobias Busch has had to withdraw from the meeting after suffering serious bruising in an incident whilst racing Ice Speedway last week. Otherwise the Bears are at full strength and will operate rider replacement in Busch’s absence to enable the rest of the team to get some extra track time. Last weeks maximum man Jason Garrity was this week named the new Bears captain, and Duffill was impressed with the whole teams performances last week:

I chose Jason because all his team mates have warmed to his infectious personality quickly and I believe he can be inspirational both on and off the track. Ben had a few bike problems last week but he was always in the mix when he was racing. Jason, Jonas, Richard and Ellis all scored very well and I was particularly pleased with the performance of our reserves. 

The Russ Hodgson Select contains ex-Bears number 1 Richard Lawson, who forms a powerful heat leader partnership with Thomas Jorgensen who always rides the MPA very well. The ever exciting Carl Wilkinson and Adam Roynon are also included, as well as new Ipswich signing James Sarjeant, who had been cruelly left without a club after Coventry had folded. The remaining two spots are taken by last years Bears reserves, Jye Etheridge and Lee Payne. Full teams:

Redcar – Jason Garrity, r/r for Tobias Busch, Charles Wright, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Richard Hall, Ellis Perks

Russ Hodgson Select – Richard Lawson, James Sarjeant, Carl Wilkinson, Adam Roynon, Thomas Jorgensen, Jye Etheridge, Lee Payne.

Following the main meeting, there will be a second half meeting between the Redcar Cubs and a team representing Sunderland Stars. Teams:

Redcar Cubs – Carl Basford, Gavin Parr, Elliot Kelly, Alex Goldsborough

Sunderland Stars – Ben Basford, David Pye, Jack Wright, Kyran Lyden