Parr: Let’s start with a bang
REDCAR boss Gavin Parr has urged Charles Wright & Erik Riss to start the “Agilia” Bears campaign with a bang tomorrow.
The two heat leaders travel to Workington with the aim of defending the club’s Pairs title with the first major event of the campaign getting underway at 3pm at the GT Tyres Arena.
Parr, who masterminded Redcar’s pairs success back in 2022 and again in 2024, is hoping tomorrow’s event can be the springboard for a memorable 2025. Parr said, “I know tomorrow is only a pairs event but if the guys can go out and win the title, the confidence will spread through the rest of the team and things could just snowball for us across the campaign.”
Parr knows that the competition is a special event for himself and the club, “It all started for me in the pairs when Jade (Mudgway) was on holiday. The competition has been really good for me and the club, with two wins and a second place over the last three years.“
The cycle speedway star has also paid tribute to the club’s loyal fanbase with in excess of 50 fans expected to descend on Cumbria. Parr said “ The supporters club have done a great job, it started off as a minibus and now we have a 53 seater. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Parr knows that tactics will play a huge part, with the team boss keen to point out the need to avoid 7-2 defeats. Parr said, “ It’s so important to avoid 7-2 results and not have any last places. It’s no use having one rider going unbeaten so I will be reminding the boys of that.”
Parr continued, “Also, you’ve got to remember that 2nd and 3rd place is better than winning the race so we will be emphasising that to Erik (Riss) as it’s his first pairs event for the Bears”
Despite the Bears looking strong, Parr believes it’s a wide open event, “ We have as good a chance as anybody but there are some really good sides racing. Glasgow will be a threat as will Workington on home shale. Also, Plymouth, with Nicolai Klindt and Ben Barker are dark horses for the event.”
A star studded line-up has been assembled for tomorrow, with the aforementioned Nicolai Klindt making his return to second tier racing as a Plymouth Gladiator.
Additionally, Glasgow track their captain Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth with 2024 treble winners Poole being represented by ex-Bear Lewi Kerr and their skipper, Zach Cook. Six time pairs winners Workington are represented by their Australian duo Troy Bathcelor and Tate Zischke.
Fans who cannot attend are reminded that the meeting is being live streamed by BSN @ https://bit.ly/2025Pairs
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS LINE-UP (Not in draw order):
BERWICK: Drew Kemp, Danyon Hume
EDINBURGH: Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna
GLASGOW: Chris Harris, Kyle Howarth
OXFORD: Sam Masters, Jordan Jenkins
PLYMOUTH: Nicolai Klindt, Ben Barker
POOLE: Lewis Kerr, Zach Cook
REDCAR: Charles Wright, Erik Riss
SCUNTHORPE: Steve Worrall, Simon Lambert
WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke