Author: admin

It is going to be a busy couple of days for the SG Petch Bears, as they firstly travel to Sheffield on Thursday to take on the Tigers (7:30pm start) before the return fixture at the Media Prima Arena on Friday (7:30pm start). 

Redcar start the meetings 1 place and 1 point above Sheffield in the league, albeit having raced 3 more meetings and they will be keen to pick up points to help maintain their place in the top 4. After a good week last week for the Bears, manager Jitendra Duffill knows this will be a tough test against a good Tigers side:

Sheffield were one of my tips for the play off’s this year and they have certainly lived up to the pre season hype so far. I see this as one of our biggest challenges to date and it will be a big test for us. Having said that, we come into this fixture with a lot of confidence. After a convincing win at home last week over league leaders Edinburgh nobody should faze us. The victory away at Berwick on Saturday was another great result for us as we must keep picking up points away from home to claim a play off spot.

The Tigers are led by Josh Grajczonek, and include ex-Bears Lasse Bjerre and Rob Branford in their ranks. Josh Bates has also had some excellent meetings at the Media Prima Arena in the past. As Jack Parkinson Blackburn is still missing for Sheffield, Nathan Stoneman will guest in his place on both Thursday and Friday.

For Redcar, boss Duffill has been delighted with the efforts of the whole side recently. In the absence of Jason Garrity, the Bears strength in depth has shone through with all riders scoring vital points:

It’s very pleasing for me to be getting contributions from everybody and we certainly look to have a lot of strength in depth. We will need more of the same as we must look to send Sheffield home empty handed on Friday. I’m sure that this is going to be a thrilling match and could go all the way to the wire.

Garrity will unfortunately be out for around 3-4 weeks with a wrist injury. Stuart Robson will guest in his place on Thursday with Rory Schlien replacing him at home on Friday. The rest of the side is unchanged. Duffill admits it is hard to get replacements who could match Garritys scoring:

Jason Garrity will be missing for 3-4 weeks as his injury has been confirmed as a broken Scaphoid. Finding guests to replace him is proving to be very difficult and there are few riders of equal ability available to cover his absence. I promise you that I am doing everything I can to find the best guests that I can.

Redcar (Thursday): Stuart Robson, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Ellis Perks, Charles Wright, Coty Garcia, Danny Ayres
Redcar (Friday): Rory Schlein, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Ellis Perks, Charles Wright, Coty Garcia, Danny Ayres

Sheffield (both fixtures): Josh Grajczonek, Todd Kurtz, Lasse Bjerre, Josh Bates, Kyle Howarth, Rob Branford, Nathan Stoneman.

The SG Petch Bears now have a rearranged home fixture against Peterborough Panthers on Thursday 6th July. Redcar would very much like to thank Ged Rathbone and his team for agreeing to fulfil this date ( from the rained off fixture of 8th June) as they may be missing Chris Harris (possible WTC commitment) but both clubs are struggling for fixture dates and this is the only blank Thursday Redcar have on their calendar.

The Ellis Perks race night will be rescheduled later in the season.

The S.G.Petch Bears will track former favourite Stuart Robson as a guest at Sheffield on Thursday evening with him also taking the no.1 slot at Scunthorpe on Sunday.
Rory Schlein will take the position for Redcar’s home meeting against Sheffield on the Friday night fixture at Redcar .

Promoter Kevin Keay stated: “The club had looked at a short term signing but simply couldn’t come up with a suitable rider for the 28 day period that Jason Garrity is expected to be missing. Jitendra has searched his phone book and done his research and come up with a plan to cover Jason’s absence and we thank both Stuart and Rory for turning out for us in this very important period for the Bears.
It is important to have a seven man side over this period as trying to use R/R simply puts too much pressure on men and machines with the number of fixtures some of the lads are having to do. Danny Ayres was due to ride seven days on the trot this week and with the travelling that’s a great deal of strain at any level.

We go into these fixtures full of optimism and need to grab some more away points to keep us in the top four”.

Redcar SG Petch Bears kept their good run of form going by beating Berwick 52-40 at Shielfield Park last night in front of a good number of travelling fans.

Charles Wright top scored for the Bears with 12, but it was a solid effort throughout the side with only 3 last places out of the 15 heats. Ben Barker was his spectacular self, with a great pass of Dany Gappmaier, on his way to 10+1. Jonas B Andersen also kept his good form up with a solid 9+1 – although this did include a horror crash in heat 11 with Berwicks Jye Etheridge. Jonas and Jye clashed going into the first bend, with both riders coming off hard and into the safety fence. Both ambulances were soon on track to treat the riders, with Jonas luckily being able to walk away after some treatment. Jye was not so lucky, and had to take a trip to hospital in the County ambulance. We are pleased to report today though, that Jye has escaped any serious injury and has suffered only severe bruising.

The Bears are next in action away at Sheffield on Thursday, with the return meeting at home on Friday.

Berwick Bandits = 40

1. Josh Grajczonek (G) – 3 3 2 3 = 11
2. Joe Jacobs – 0 0 2 1′ = 3+1
3. Dany Gappmaier – 2 0 1′ 0 = 3+1
4. David Howe – R 3 4! 3 1 = 11
5. Kevin Doolan – 2 3 2 0 3 = 10
6. Jye Etheridge – 1 0 Fn WITHDRAWN = 1
7. Alfie Bowtell (G) – 0 0 0 0 1 0 = 1

Redcar Bears = 52

1. Michael Palm Toft (G) – 1′ 2 1 1′ = 5+2
2. Jonas B Andersen – 2 1′ 3 3 = 9+1
3. Ben Barker – 3 2 3 2′ 0 = 10+1
4. Ellis Perks – 1 1′ 0 2 = 4+1
5. Charles Wright – 3 2 3 2 2 = 12
6. Coty Garcia – 2′ 1′ R 3 = 6+2
7. Danny Ayres – 3 1 1 1′ = 6+1

Redcar SG Petch Bears travel up to Berwick tonight to take on the Bandits at Sheilfield Park with a 7pm start.

With Jason Garrity still out injured for the Bears, Scunthorpes Michael Palm Toft will guest in his place. MPT scored 13+2 on his previous visit to Berwick this season.
Berwick have also been forced into a couple of changes, with Nick Morris getting injured last night at Peterborough and Lee Payne also out injured. Josh Grajczonek will guest for Morris whilst a guest will also take Paynes place.

Redcar will go to Berwick full of confidence after the win over Edinburgh on Thursday, and will be hoping to repeat their victory at Berwick a few weeks ago.

Redcar SG Petch Bears closed the gap to the top 4 in the league, with a 52-40 win over the Edinburgh Monarchs at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday.

On a warm evening on Teesside, it was the Monarchs who started the faster with a 4-2 in heat 1 thanks to Sam Masters and the returning Theo Pijper. That was as good as it got for the Monarchs however, with Coty Garcia and Danny Ayres getting a 5-1 to give the Bears a lead which they never relinquished. With the Monarchs 10 points adrift going into heat 10, Erik Riss was sent out in the black and white helmet for double points, but he could only manage second as the excellent Jonas B Andersen powered home for the win and hopes of a Monarchs comeback never recovered. 

Four shared heats followed, meaning a 5-1 for the Monarchs in the last heat would have seen them go home with a consolation point. Man of the moment Ben Barker shot out of the gate to take the win, after having to fight off a challenge from Sam Masters. Masters himself had to fend off a strong challenge from Andersen, but it meant the full 3 points for the Bears and no points for the Monarchs.

Bears promoter Kevin Keay was delighted with the performance of his side:

A great result for the club with all the team pulling together and getting points at vital times. We managed to nullify their tactical ride move and went on to win more comfortable they expected.

For the Bears, Barker top scored with a excellent 13, whilst Andersen had arguably his best night of the season with 11+1 but it was a solid team effort throughout. For the Monarchs, Masters and Riss were both excellent with 13 each but they lacked support from the rest of the side. 

Next Thursday, there is no home meeting at the Media Prima Arena as the Bears travel to Sheffield. The next home meeting is on Friday, with Sheffield travelling to Teesside in the reverse fixture.

Redcar Bears : 52
1. Lewis Kerr (G) – 0 3 1 1′ = 5+1
2. Jonas B Andersen – 2 2′ 3 3 1 = 11+1
3. Ben Barker – 2 3 3 2 3 = 13
4. Ellis Perks – 1′ 1 1 2 = 5+1
5. Charles Wright – 3 2 1′ 2 = 8+1
6. Coty Garcia – 3 0 2 1′ = 6+1
7. Danny Ayres – 2′ 0 1 1′ = 4+2

Edinburgh Monarchs : 40
1. Sam Masters – 3 2 3 3 2 = 13
2. Theo Pjiper – 1 0 0 0 = 1
3. Erik Riss – 3 3 4! 3 0 = 13
4. Max Clegg – 0 1 0 3 = 4
5. Ricky Wells – 2 1 2 0 = 5
6. Josh Pickering – 1 0 0 = 1
7. Mitchell Davey – 0 1′ 2 0 0 = 3+1

Unfortunately, Redcar SG Petch Bears will be without Jason Garrity for this Thursdays meeting with Edinburgh due to injury.

Scunthorpe’s Lewis Kerr will come in as guest at number 1.

As usual, Redcar SG Petch Bears promoter Kevin Keay will be appearing on BBC Tees Sport from around 6:50pm tonight.
He will be previewing this weeks clash with Edinburgh, as well as providing the latest news on the Glasgow situation after the meeting was abandoned and then awarded earlier in the month.

To listen live, follow this  link

After Ben Barker’s terrific performance in the British a Final last night it was easy to miss that fellow Bear Jason Garrity was struggling with his hand injury and withdrew from his final ride. Plans are in place for a guest rider should Jason not be fit enough to ride against the Edinburgh Monarchs on Thursday and may also be a doubt for the away match at Berwick on Saturday. At the moment the Bears are also struggling to find opposition for the vacant race night on the 6th July in which case a social night will take place in support of Ellis Perks.

Redcar SG Petch Bears will be looking to keep their home run going with a win against the league leading Edinburgh Monarchs at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday (7:30pm start).

The Bears had a convincing win against local rivals Newcastle last week, and manager Jitendra Duffill was thankful for the 3 guests on show and their clubs for helping out the patched up Bears:

Last week was a very convincing victory for us and I expected a much tougher contest. I have to thank all 3 of our guests who were excellent and also to the promotions/year managers who have allowed us to borrow them. We are very lucky that other teams have been so accommodating. 

Coty Garcia dropped to reserve for the meeting last Thursday, and with the help of a new engine, roared to a paid 10 from his 4 rides. Duffill hopes this can give the popular Argentine a boost for the rest of the season:

The big difference between us last week were our reserves and it proves just how vital they are. I was pleased to see Coty go so well and I hope he can really kickstart the rest of his season with his drop to reserve. It’s amazing what that can do for a riders confidence.

Redcar go into this meeting with the rare luxury of naming a full 1-7, including Ben Barker who impressed everyone in his British Final showing on Monday evening. The proud Brit defied the critics to take his place in the final of the meeting and provided great entertainment along the way. Duffill hopes with the full team together the Bears can show how strong they are:

At the time of writing this we are declaring our full 1-7 to Edinburgh and I honestly can’t remember the last time I was able to do that this year. I hope that this is the start of our luck changing and that we can avoid injury from here onwards. If we can do that we can cause a few upsets in the coming months I’m sure. If we want to push for a play off spot we have to keep winning at home and start picking a few more points up on the road too.

Edinburgh come to the Media Prima Arena in good form, and like most sides have a number of riders who go round the Teesside track well. Sam Masters and Ricky Wells both fly round the MPA, and the Monarchs new signing Theo Pijper also has had some good meetings here. Duffill expects a tough meeting, but one he thinks the Bears should go in with no fear:

Edinburgh are a very good side and are sitting at the top end of the league for a reason. Tonight’s meeting should be another tough one for us, but I also see it as a good opportunity to pinch a few points off them and close the gap between them and us.

Redcar: Jason Garrity, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Ellis Perks, Charles Wright, Coty Garcia, Danny Ayres
Edinburgh: Sam Masters, Theo Pijper, Erik Riss, Max Clegg, Ricky Wells, Josh Pickering, Mitchell Davey