Bears win Barker testimonial
On a pleasant, but chilly, afternoon on Teesside the Redcar Agilia Bears ran out winners in front of a bumper crowd at the Ben Barker Testimonial meeting.
Fans turned out from all areas of the country to pay tribute to the popular Cornish rider, with fans from Edinburgh, Plymouth and everywhere in-between present. And they were served up some superb racing on a well prepared track. There were some impressive rides, and promising signs for the Bears, early on in the meeting. Nathan Greaves made an electric start in heat 2, and was leading former Australian Champion Sam Masters for 3 and a half laps before the Wolves man swooped around him on the last bend to take the victory. In the very next heat, Jordan Stewart made a superb start over Thomas Jorgensen and Ulrich Ostegaard and was never troubled in a very impressive heat win.
The good racing continued, with Thomas Jorgensen coming out on top after a great battle with Micheal Palm Toft, and Lewis Kerr winning his first two heats and looking very quick. Heat 9 saw Barker take his first heat win, with Sam Masters pulling off another last bend pass to take second from Kerr. The lead for the majority of the meeting had changed hands between Redcar and neighbours Newcastle, and going into the top scorers race in heat 17 it was still up for grabs. The man of the day, Ben Barker took the spot for Redcar, Lewis Kerr for Newcastle, Stevie Worrall for Workington and Sam Masters for Middlesbrough. It was a frantic first lap, with Masters in the lead before Barker drove up the inside to go from third to first. Lewis Kerr gave chase, but Barker was not to be denied the victory. It was a great start the season, and full credit to all the riders who gave it their all on the day.
Redcar Bears = 33
1. Charles Wright – 2, 3, 3, 1 = 9
2. Jordan Stewart – 3, 1, 2, 2 = 8
3. Nathan Greaves – 2, 1, 0, 1 = 4
4. Ben Barker – 2, 1, 3, 3, 3 = 12
5. Brian Turner
Workington Comets = 20
1. Steve Worrall – 3, 2, 3, 2, 1 = 11
2. Kyle Bickley – 0, 0, 1, 0 = 1
3. Simon Lambert – 0, 0, 2, 1 = 3
4. Ulrich Ostergaard – 1, 1, 0, 3 = 5
5. Gavin Parr
Newcastle Diamonds = 29
1. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8
2. Lewis Kerr – 3, 3, 1, 3, 2 = 12
3. Justin Sedgmen – 1, 2, 0, 2 = 5
4. James Sarjeant – 0, 2, 2, 0 = 4
5. Dean Douglas
Middlesbrough Bears = 20
1. Sam Masters – 3, 3, 2, 3, R = 11
2. Tom Bacon – 1, R, 1, 1 = 3
3. David Wallinger – 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
4. Michael Palm Toft – 1, 2, 1, 2 = 6
5. Josh Embleton