Swales: Tonight will be a 50/50
Redcar co-promoter, Jamie Swales believes tonight’s WSRA National League clash against the Sheffield Cubs will be a close one, with tapes up at 7:30 Owlerton Stadium as the Middlesbrough Tigers go in search of their first win of the season after falling short at Leicester, despite encouraging performances throughout the side.
Swales, who orchestrated the return of the Tigers to league racing, believes his side have every chance in the Steel City, “ I think it’s two evenly matched sides and I don’t believe the Sheffield side have had a practise around Owlerton so that should help us. Also, we have had 1 match as a team together on Sunday which should also help us tonight.”
Despite defeat against Leicester, Swales declared that there were ‘loads’ of positives from the meeting, “ One of the things we wanted when bringing the Tigers back was to get more bike time for our riders who are also racing for the Bears. Jake (Mulford) looked like a different rider on Sunday, he had so much confidence and then Ben (Trigger) came to the party in heat 15 by beating Joe Thompson.”
Kai Ward makes his debut for the Tigers and Swales is keen to see what the British youngster can bring to the side, “ Kai has had a little bit of WSRA National League experience so that will help him. Kai is very keen and he is booked in to race at our amateur meeting on Saturday.”
The exuberant co-promoter is also excited about the development of Will Hocaniuk after the youngster’s first ever competitive meeting at Leicester, “ Will had a couple of slide-offs but he got up and finished races, he picked up some points and come the end of the season he will have learnt a lot.”
The Cubs bring in Jack Smith at number 1 as an injury replacement for Scunthorpe’s Nathan Ablitt whilst much is expected of Ace Pijper who makes his debut for the combined Sheffield and Scunthorpe side. Pijper is joined by his younger brother Stene whilst Luke Harrison lines up against a side from Redcar for the 3rd time this season! Additionally, Simon Lambert is the side’s team manager with the Scunthorpe man looking to pass on his years of experience to his charges.
Sheffield Cubs
- Jack Smith 8.73
- Sheldon Davies 3.00
- Mickie Simpson 4.23
- Luke Harrison 6.86
- Ace Pijper 5.81
- Kean Dicken 3.00
- Stene Pijper 3.00
™: Simon Lambert
Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers
1 Jake Mulford 8.21
2 Ben Rathbone 4.07
3 Danny Phillips 6.91 (C)
4 Jamie Halder 4.58
5 Ben Trigger 6.34
6 William Hocaniuk 3.00
7 Kai Ward 3.00
™: Stuart Swales