Redcar ready for Diamonds derby!
The Redcar “Agilia” Bears are set for a tasty tussle against their closest rivals, the Newcastle Diamonds on Friday night at the Media Prima Arena, (19:30 start). Redcar are looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing defeat in Birmingham on Wednesday and will see Friday as the perfect opportunity to add to their points tally against a struggling Diamonds side.
Redcar are currently sat 5th in the Championship table whilst the Diamonds are currently languishing in 9th place. In terms of team news, the Diamonds are delighted to track their full septet for the first time this season as former Redcar rider Adam Roynon returns from injury in the number 2 slot. In stark contrast, the Bears are suffering a rider crisis at the moment as James Sarjaent joins the list of unavailable riders due to having to self-isolate. Sarjaent is joined by Anders Rowe, Jordan Jenkins and Jordan Stewart who are all absent with injury. Sarjaent is replaced by Ben Cook from Poole whilst tonight’s reserve pairing is Stefan Nielsen and Dan Thompson who replace Rowe and Jenkins respectively whilst the club continue to use rider replacement in the absence of Stewart. It is important to note that both riders have shown a liking for the Media Prima Arena circuit in recent weeks. All being well, Charles Wright is expected to take his place at number 1 after a heavy fall on Wednesday.
One of the hardest jobs for a team manager is to run a team with less than half of his own riders available and Jade Mudgway explained the situation earlier, “It is a struggle to run a team with guest riders but the good thing is that British Speedway is a small world so most of the riders know each other anyway! The hardest job is getting the riders to put a team together and making sure everything is in place beforehand. Although the guests do a good job we do miss that sense of togetherness of having our full septet available.”
Mudgway also spoke of his disappointment as Redcar’s reign of the KO Cup ended on Wednesday, “I think things would have been different with our full 1-7 although I would like to point out that the guests we drafted in put everything in but it’s not the same as having your own riders but that’s speedway and we have to move on.”
The former Bear turned team manager also discussed Charles Wright’s injury issues ahead of this evening’s battle, “Charles hurt his knee on Wednesday and he felt he needed to give it a rest on Thursday night. Charles is hoping to be fit for this evening but these kinds of injuries just need a little bit of time and that was the reason for him not riding for Belle Vue last night.”
Redcar have gained a new number 1 fan during his unfortunate injury absence in Jordan Stewart! Stewart is looking forward to derby day from a spectating standpoint, “Tonight’s meeting should be good to watch, we are aiming to go and beat them home and away and hopefully we can! In regards to my injury things are progressing pretty well, I just need a few more weeks to build up my strength.”
Redcar “Agilia” Bears
1. Charles Wright 9.66 (C)
2. Ben Cook (G) 4.29
3. Jake Allen 7.16
4. Jordan Stewart R/R 5.48
5. Michael Palm Toft 7.60
6. Stefan Nielsen (G) 4.23
7. Dan Thompson (G) 2*
TM Jade Mudgway.
Newcastle “Grants Event Catering” Diamonds
1. Ben Barker 7.07 (C)
2. Adam Roynon 4.00
3. Connor Mountain 4.95
4. Max Clegg 4.98
5. Matthew Wethers 7.03
6. James Wright 4.00
7. Archie Freeman 1*