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The Agilia Bears made it three wins in a row with a hard-earned 51–39 victory over Edinburgh Monarchs on a rain-affected track at the ECCO Arena.

It looked like it might be one of those nights from the very start when No.1 Nicolai Klindt ground to a halt with engine trouble on the first bend of Heat 1, leaving young Ace Pijper to battle it out alone. Showing great composure in tricky conditions, Pijper held off Monarchs star Dan Thompson to secure a vital second place and limit the early damage.

That proved to be the start of an excellent night for Pijper, who attacked the conditions from the outset and finished with 8 points, including an impressive Heat 8 victory.

Edinburgh’s main resistance came from captain Paco Castagna and the highly impressive Kye Thomson, both of whom relished the difficult conditions and kept the visitors in contention.

The Bears, however, were solid throughout, with all seven riders contributing at least one race win. The standout performer was Jody Scott, who was unbeaten by an opponent in his programmed rides, eventually finishing with 10+4. His Heat 11 ride was the moment of the night — storming from last to second with two superb overtakes to secure a paid win.

Promoter Jamie Swales said:
“It was a great result and the lads kept positive heads and attacked a track that was far from ideal. After the issues we had at the last home meeting, a lot of work went in from the track staff to get things right.

We held a full practice day with no problems and even had a senior rider test the track on Friday morning. Unfortunately, a huge downpour around 4pm undid a lot of that work and made conditions very difficult.

Full credit to the track staff for working with both teams to keep the meeting going, and to all 14 riders for getting on with it. As tough as it looked, we completed 15 races and six junior races afterwards without a single faller.”

Despite the challenging conditions, Redcar built a 12-point advantage heading into the second leg — putting themselves in a strong position ahead of next Friday’s trip to Edinburgh.

Encouragingly, the Bears have a strong record at Armadale, and with the tie now firmly in their hands, progression to the Knock-Out Cup semi-finals is within reach.

SCORES

Redcar Agilia Bears 51
Nicolai Klindt 4+1 (R, 1′, 3, 0)
Ace Pijper 8 (2, 2, 3, 1)
Jordan Jenkins 7 (R, 2, 2, 3)
Jason Edwards 8+3 (3, 1′, 1′, 2, 1′)
Jake Allen 11 (1, 2, 3, 3, 2)
Jake Mulford 3 (3, 0, 0)
Jody Scott 10+4 (2′, 3, 2′, 2′, 1′)

Edinburgh Monarchs 39
Dan Thompson 5 (1, 0, 2, 2)
Jonatan Grahn 8+1 (3, 3, 1, 1′)
Justin Sedgmen 4 (2, 1, 0, 1)
Paco Castagna 9+1 (1′, 3, 2, 3, 0)
Kye Thomson 12+1 (2, 3, 3, 1′, 3)
Mitchell Cluff 0 (0, 0, 0, 0)
Jordy Loftus 1 (1, 0, 0, 0)

KNOCK-OUT CUP | 1ST LEG | ECCO ARENA | FRIDAY NIGHT

The Agilia Bears turn their attention to Knock-Out Cup action tonight as they host Edinburgh Monarchs in the first leg at the ECCO Arena (7:30pm).

Over a month into the season, form across the league is still taking shape — something Bears boss Gavin Parr believes makes early comparisons difficult.

“It’s still early days and there’s a bit of an imbalance with some riders having had plenty of meetings and others barely being on a bike,” said Parr.
“Even our lads are a little bit up and down at the moment — it’s just about getting the rhythm going, and the early season weather hasn’t helped.”

Redcar have had four outings so far, mainly in BSN Series action, while Edinburgh have only raced once as a team due to weather postponements — although several of their riders have been active elsewhere.

The Bears’ campaign was dealt a major blow with the loss of skipper Charles Wright through injury, but the swift signing of Danish international Nicolai Klindt has proved inspired. Klindt has top scored in each of his appearances so far and will again be key to Redcar’s chances.

Parr is well aware of the threat posed by the visitors:
“Dan Thompson is riding on the crest of a wave at the moment and could be the next big thing in British speedway, while Justin Sedgmen is a former Bear who always goes well around our track.”

Thompson arrives in top form after winning last month’s Ben Fund Bonanza, while Sedgmen’s gating ability makes him a serious danger. With additional strength from Paco Castagna, the Monarchs have the tools to make this a tough first leg.

With the return fixture scheduled for next Friday in Edinburgh, the Bears will be keen to build a strong advantage on home shale before the trip north.

Cup racing under the lights — it all starts tonight.

Redcar: Nicolai Klindt, Ace Pijper, Jordan Jenkins, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Jake Mulford, Jody Scott

Edinburgh : Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Mitchell Cluff, Jordy Loftus

Our postponed BSN Series visit to Workington has now been rearranged for Saturday 2nd May, 6pm.
As a result, the Middlesbrough Tigers vs Oxford NDL fixture, which had been due to take place that evening, will now be staged on Friday 1st May, 7.30pm.
Our thanks go to both Workington and Oxford for their cooperation

The Agilia Bears extended their early lead in the BSN Series Northern Group with a hard-fought 48–42 victory over Workington Comets at the ECCO Arena on Friday night.

Once again, Nicolai Klindt proved a superb stand-in for injured skipper Charles Wright, delivering a top score of 12 — including a crucial victory in Heat 15 to seal the win and both points for the Bears.

Despite admitting his gating isn’t quite where he wants it to be, the Danish international showed his class by repeatedly coming from behind, with his performance capped by the match-winning ride in the final heat.

Redcar received strong backing throughout the side, with Jake Allen (9+1) in fine form, while Jason Edwards, Jordan Jenkins and Jake Mulford all contributed valuable seven-point tallies in a solid all-round team display.

Workington, however, proved tough opponents on their season debut. Former British Champion Craig Cook (14) and Jonas Jeppesen (12) led the charge, while youngsters Niklas Holm Jakobsen, Tate Zischke and Vinnie Foord all showed promise — although falls at key moments restricted their overall impact.

The Bears were unfortunate not to take control earlier in the meeting. A comfortable-looking 5-1 in Heat 2 was denied when Jody Scott suffered an engine failure while well placed, forcing him onto his spare machine for the remainder of the night.

Redcar eventually edged ahead in Heat 5 through a Klindt / Pijper 4-2, but the visitors remained within striking distance throughout, with the home side unable to extend their advantage beyond six points.

The meeting looked set for a dramatic late twist in Heat 12 when Cook and Foord were on course for maximum points — only for Foord to lose control and fall heavily on the final lap, allowing the Bears to retain a crucial four-point lead heading into the decider.

With everything resting on Heat 15, Klindt once again delivered — taking the win under pressure, with Allen securing third place to confirm the victory.
Speaking afterwards, Klindt said:
“I’m usually known for being a really good starter, but over the last few years conditions have changed as the surfaces have become harder.
I rode a different bike to the one I used against Scunthorpe. I tried it after the meeting and decided I liked it better, but I’m still struggling to get out of the gate.
That meant I had to make some moves around the first corner to put myself in the best position I could — and that enabled me to win three heats.”

The result sees the Bears move three points clear at the top of the group, continuing their strong start to the 2026 campaign.

Another win on home shale — but this one had to be earned.

Redcar Bears = 48

1. Nicolai Klindt – 2, 3, 3, 1, 3 = 12
2. Ace Pijper – 0, 1, 3, 0 = 4
3. Jordan Jenkins – 2, 1, 3, 1′ = 7+1
4. Jason Edwards – 1′, 3, 1, 2 = 7+1
5. Jake Allen – 2, 1′, 2, 3, 1 = 9 +1
6. Jake Mulford – 3, 2, 0, 2, 0 = 7
7. Jody Scott – R, 1′, 1 = 2+1

Workington Comets =42

1. Jonas Jeppesen – 3, 2, 3, 2, 2 = 12
2. Niklas Holm Jakobsen – 1, F, F, 1 = 2
3. Craig Cook – 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 14
4. Tate Zischke – FX, 0, 1′, 1 = 2+1
5. Troy Batchelor – 3, 2, 2, 0 = 7
6. Vinnie Foord – 2, 0, 2, F = 4
7. Jamie Etherington – 1′, F, 0 = 1+1

The Agilia Bears return to action this Friday at the ECCO Arena looking to build momentum in the BSN Series as they host the Workington Comets.

After a two-week break — following last weekend’s postponement in Cumbria due to severe weather — the Bears will be eager to get back on track and continue their strong start to the campaign.

Redcar currently sit top of the northern group, having secured the aggregate bonus point with a superb 58–32 victory over Scunthorpe last time out — their biggest win since August 2023.

In contrast, Workington are still waiting to get their season underway as a team, making them something of an unknown quantity heading into Friday night’s clash.

Bears captain Jason Edwards believes that lack of track time could prove significant:

“Workington are tipped to be a very strong team this year but haven’t had a match yet, which could be a big disadvantage as, for some riders, it’s really important to be riding regularly.

For others, especially the more experienced riders, it doesn’t seem to matter so much — but I personally think you want to be riding every three or four days.”

Edwards himself has been keeping busy, featuring regularly for the Bears as well as guesting elsewhere, while he and team-mate Jody Scott have also been gaining valuable track time in the Premiership.

The Bears line up at full strength once again, with Nicolai Klindt continuing to guest for injured skipper Charles Wright. Klindt impressed on debut alongside Edwards as joint top scorer in the win over Scunthorpe.

Workington, meanwhile, are expected to track a powerful side featuring former British Champion Craig Cook, Danish racer Jonas Jeppesen, and highly-rated youngster Niklas Holm Jakobsen.

With both teams looking to strengthen their position in the early stages of the BSN Series, this promises to be a crucial and fascinating contest.

📍 ECCO Arena
🕖 Tapes up 7:30pm

Redcar: Nicolai Klindt, Ace Pijper, Jordan Jenkins, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Jake Mulford, Jody Scott

Workington: Jonas Jeppesen, Niklas Holm Jakobsen, Craig Cook, Tate Zischke, Troy Batchelor, Vinnie Foord, Jamie Etherington

Saturdays meeting away at Workington has been postponed due to Storm Dave. A re-staging date will be announced in due course.

The Agilia Bears head to Cumbria this Saturday full of confidence following their biggest victory in three years, as they take on a Workington side still waiting to get their season underway.

Redcar arrive off the back of a stunning 58–32 demolition of Scunthorpe, a performance that not only overturned a first leg deficit but sent out a real statement of intent in their BSN title defence. With momentum now firmly on their side, the Bears will be looking to carry that form into what is always a tough trip to the Northside Arena.

In contrast, Workington are set to turn their first laps of the 2026 season, adding an element of the unknown to the fixture. While they may lack race sharpness, the Comets will be eager to make an immediate impression on home shale and won’t want to start their campaign with a defeat in front of their own supporters.

Team Manager Gavin Parr said:
“Workington will be keen to get off to a winning start with it being their first meeting of the season. They have a very solid side that, if they all click, could be right up at the top end of the table. We’ve had great success since Northside opened, and we’ll certainly be going there looking to continue the form from our meeting against Scunthorpe.”

The Bears enjoyed wins on both visits to Cumbria last season, with further success coming at the venue as Charles Wright and Erik Riss also lifted the Pairs title there — making it something of a happy hunting ground for Redcar in recent times.

For the Bears, the key will be maintaining the intensity and consistency shown on Friday night. With strength throughout the side and confidence high, they’ll be targeting another strong team performance on the road.

However, the Northside Arena is never an easy place to go, and the Comets will be fired up for their season opener — setting the stage for a fascinating early-season contest.

TEAMS

Workington Comets

Jonas Jeppesen
Niklas Holm Jakobsen
Craig Cook
Tate Zischke
Troy Batchelor
Vinnie Foord
Jamie Etherington

Redcar Agilia Bears

Nicolai Klindt
Jake Mulford
Jordan Jenkins
Jason Edwards
Jake Allen
Ace Pijper
Jody Scott

Momentum vs the unknown — something has to give.

📍 Workington
🕒 Tapes up 3:00pm

MATCH REPORT: REDCAR BEARS 58–32 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS
BSN SERIES | ECCO ARENA

The Agilia Bears produced a dominant display at the ECCO Arena on Friday night, storming to a 58–32 victory over Scunthorpe to overturn the first leg deficit and secure a 98–82 aggregate win in the BSN Series.

Knowing they had 10 points to recover, the Bears came out with real intent and turned the tie on its head immediately — three 5-1 heat advantages in the opening three races quickly put the Scorpions on the back foot. Backed by a strong home crowd, Redcar never allowed the visitors to settle into the meeting.

There was plenty of focus on Nicolai Klindt making his debut for the club, and the Dane more than played his part in a superb all-round team performance.

“I’m very pleased with how my night went considering the lack of racing, but what I’ve been working on off-track worked really well. Great atmosphere in the team, lovely people behind the scenes and very passionate fans! I truly enjoyed it and hopefully there are many more wins for us just around the corner.”

The final scoreline could have been even more emphatic but for a couple of cruel mechanical issues. A much-improved Jordan Jenkins, partnered by Jason Edwards in Heat 9, looked set for a comfortable 5-1 before suffering a fuelling issue on the final bend — the Bears’ only last place of the night.

Heat 10 then saw Jake Mulford produce a superb outside move on Luke Harrison to move into a paid win position, only for his engine to expire going into the last bend, allowing Harrison back through.

Despite those setbacks, Redcar maintained relentless pressure throughout, turning tight races into crucial heat gains and steadily pulling clear. In contrast to the first leg — where Scunthorpe made the early running — it was the Bears who controlled proceedings from the outset this time around.

The Scorpions battled throughout, but their main resistance came from skipper Josh Pickering, who recovered from a Heat 1 third to reel off five straight wins, contributing exactly half of his side’s total points haul.

It was a performance full of positives for the Bears, showing both resilience and quality as they bounced back in style from a difficult opening to their campaign.

A statement response — and the BSN defence is up and running.

👏 Thank you to all the supporters for your fantastic backing once again — you played your part!

➡️ Next up: Workington (A) – Saturday 4th April, 3pm

---

SCORES

Redcar 58
Nicolai Klindt 11+2 (3, 2′, 3, 1′, 2)
Jake Mulford 7+2 (2′, 3, 1′, 1)
Jordan Jenkins 5+2 (3, 1′, R, 1′)
Jason Edwards 11+2 (2′, 2, 3, 3, 1′)
Jake Allen 10 (3, 3, 2, 2)
Ace Pijper 6+2 (2′, 1, 1′, 2′)
Jody Scott 8 (3, 1, 2, 2)

Scunthorpe 32
Josh Pickering 16 (1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)
Nathan Ablitt 3 (0, 0, 3, 0)
Luke Harrison 3 (1, 0, 2, 0, 0)
Connor Mountain 3 (0, 2, 0, 1)
Michael Palm Toft 4+1 (2, 1, 1′)
Simon Lambert 3 (1, 0, 2, R)
Ryan Ingram 0 (0, 0, 0, 0)

The Agilia Bears return to action this Friday at the ECCO Arena as they kick off the home defence of the BSN Series.

Redcar face Scunthorpe knowing they must overturn a 10-point first leg deficit to secure the bonus point and keep their title defence firmly on track.

It was a tough opening weekend for the Bears. The Tyne-Tees Trophy provided a stern early test — and while the result wasn’t the be-all and end-all, it allowed the lads to shake off the rust. However, the injury to skipper Charles Wright was a devastating blow, and he now faces a spell on the sidelines as he recovers.

Sunday’s visit to Scunthorpe also got off to the worst possible start, with guest Kyle Howarth taking a fall and Jake Allen suffering an engine failure in his opening ride. But credit to the team — they regrouped and battled back to a respectable 50-40 scoreline.

Promoter Jamie Swales said:
“Each rider showed what they are capable of — it’s now about bringing consistency to those performances, which will be key to a strong season.”

There’s a fresh look to the Bears’ line-up this week, with Nicolai Klindt coming in as cover for the injured Wright. Back on home shale, the Bears will be looking to make full use of their track advantage and put the Scorpions under pressure from Heat 1.

Scunthorpe, however, arrive with the upper hand — and they won’t give it up easily. Expect a tough, hard-fought contest all the way.

It’s simple… the Bears need a big performance.

Redcar

Nicolai Klindt, Jake Mulford, Jordan Jenkins, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Ace Pijper. Jody Scott

Scunthorpe

Josh Pickering, Nathan Ablitt, Luke Harrison, Connor Mountain, Michael Palm Toft, Simon Lambert, Ryan Ingram

📍 ECCO Arena
🕖 Tapes up 7:30pm
🎟️ Don’t miss it — get down and back the Bears!

📺 http://live.redcar-speedway.com/

The Redcar Agilia Bears management have moved swiftly to secure cover for injured skipper Charles Wright, with experienced Danish star Nicolai Klindt coming into the side.

Promoter Leanne Swales said: “Replacing someone like Charles is almost impossible, and the list of options really isn’t very long. However, we believe we’ve secured the very best rider available in Nicolai.

“He brings vast experience and a proven track record at Championship level, and we’re really looking forward to working with him during Charles’ recovery. “This is a temporary move, and Charles will be back leading from the front as soon as he’s ready. But we were keen to avoid falling into the trap of previous seasons where we had to rely heavily on guests.”

37-year-old Klindt is a two-times Danish U-21 champion and spent the 2025 season with the Plymouth Gladiators, as well as representing King’s Lynn in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. He joins on a 8.36 average and will make his debut this Friday at the ECCO Arena against Scunthorpe in a crucial BSN Series clash.

The Bears go into the meeting looking to overturn a 10-point deficit and secure the bonus point as they continue the defence of their BSN title.