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Redcar Agilia Bears finally get their league campaign underway this Friday, as they host the Eastbourne Eagles at the Media Prima Arena with a 7:30pm start.

It has been a couple of weeks without any action at the MPA, and even longer since the Bears rode as a team, and promoter Jitendra Duffill is pleased to be back racing!

“It’s good to be back after a 2 week break from racing here at the MPA. The shorter fixture list in 2019 means that it is difficult to host speedway every week although that’s something that we, the promotion, would have liked here at Redcar Speedway. Having said that, the weather was poor last Friday so we would have been rained off anyway. A bit of good fortune there!”

Popular Dane Ulrich Ostergaard will make his second debut as a Bear on Friday. Ostegaard last rode for the Bears in 2012 and 2013, and recently became free after leaving Birmingham. He was swiftly snapped up by the Bears to replace the outgoing Ben Barker, and Duffill is happy to have him in the side:

“I’d like welcome Ulrich Ostergaard to the Bears and he will fit in well with the rest of our side. He is a proven scorer at this level and ranks the MPA as one of his favourite tracks. The 3rd heat leader spot should be better suited to him than racing with the pressure of the number 1 position like he was at Birmingham for most of the year.”

There is a slight change in the riding order this week, as Charles Wright moves to number one after his superb start to the season. Michael Palm Toft will now ride at number 5. Wright, who scored a creditable 5 points in his GP Qualifier in Germany this week, has been in superb form all season and as well as moving up to number 1 has also now been handed the Bears captaincy. Duffill has been delighted with his role this season:

“Charles has been brilliant all year, both on and off the track and he is a superb role model to his teammates and young British riders everywhere. He is a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication and he thoroughly deserves the captain’s role that has been handed to him.”

Eastbourne visit the Media Prima Arena after spending the last couple of seasons in the National League. Their side has a good mix of youth and experience and a number of riders who ride the Media Prima Arena well. Richard Lawson spent time as a Bear, whilst Lewis Kerr always tends to go well here. At reserve they also have two promising young riders in Alfie Bowtell and Georgie Wood. It promises to be another close exciting meeting, not to be missed!

Redcar: Charles Wright, Tom Bacon, Ulrich Ostergaard, Jordan Stewart, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Greaves, Jack Smith

Eastbourne: Richard Lawson, Ben Morley, Kyle Newman, Lewis Kerr, Edward Kennett, Alfie Bowtell, Georgie Wood

Due to the popularity of this in previous weeks, we are again making the SG Petch Platinum Suite available to fans for Fridays meeting against Eastbourne.

For just an extra £10, fans will be treated to the suite located at the Start/Finish line with the best views of the action. Included in that price is a free programme, Pie and Pea Supper and a hot drink. As well as that, you will be able to have a pre-meeting Pits visit and get to watch 2 heats from the centre green.

This offer is limited to 20 fans, so to book please get in touch with our marketing manager Ian Drinkel at indrinkel@msn.com or call him on 07827293866.

We can now reveal the dates for the Redcar Agilia Bears KO Cup Second round clash with Glasgow.

The home leg will take place on Tuesday 2nd July, with a 7:30pm start. The away leg at Glasgow will take place on Friday 5th July, also with a 7:30pm start.

These are two meetings not to be missed!

Just a reminder to Bears fans that there is no meeting at the Media Prima Arena tonight, with our next meeting on 14th June against Eastbourne.

For fans looking for their speedway fix however, Glasgow are hosting a GP Qualifier meeting tomorrow night at 7pm. Head along for the chance to see the likes of Craig Cook, Robert Lambert and Chris Holder progress to the next stage of GP qualification.

Due to the popularity of this in previous weeks, we are again making the SG Petch Platinum Suite available to fans for next Fridays meeting against Eastbourne.

For just an extra £10, fans will be treated to the suite located at the Start/Finish line with the best views of the action. Included in that price is a free programme, Pie and Pea Supper and a hot drink. As well as that, you will be able to have a pre-meeting Pits visit and get to watch 2 heats from the centre green.

This offer is limited to 20 fans, so to book please get in touch with our marketing manager Ian Drinkel at indrinkel@msn.com or call him on 07827293866.

The Redcar Agilia Bears have signed Danish ace Ulrich Ostergaard to replace Ben Barker in their line-up. Ostergaard will return for his second spell with the Bears after leading the side in 2012 & 2013 and will make his debut in the clubs first Championship League fixture against the Eastbourne Eagles on the 14th June.

Promoter Jitendra Duffill concluded a deal to bring the popular Dane to Teesside on Monday and received BSPA approval yesterday. Duffill confirmed that enquiries had been made about several riders last Friday without success following Barker’s withdrawal from the British Semi-Final; including exciting young talents Luke Bekker and Jaimon Lidsey. Fortunately, Ostergaard became available shortly after, following his release from Championship club Birmingham.
Duffill explained, ‘For reasons I cannot expand upon, we were left with little choice other than to replace Ben Barker in our line-up. Ben was always going to be very difficult to replace, especially as there are very few riders within the 6.90 points that we had to play with. I made several enquiries about riders without success on Friday afternoon but fortunately, Ulrich became available later that evening. I talked at length with Ulrich and it seems he started the season with a bit of bad luck. He was also having to ride at the difficult number 1 position with Birmingham for most of his time there. Redcar is one of his favourite tracks and I believe that he can do a very good job for us as a third heat leader. He is a hard, experienced rider with a never say die attitude and he looked impressive here 2 weeks ago in the Julie Lewis Memorial; winning two races and beating both Aaron Summers and Michael Palm Toft. He will fit in very well and I’m very pleased to have him back at Redcar, as is my co-promoter and team manager Jade Mudgway. Now we can move on and look forward to the rest of the season’.

Duffill also confirmed that the captaincy will now be handed over to Bears new number 1 Charles Wright. Wright has started the season in scintillating form and is reported to be ecstatic to be named as the Agilia Bears new captain. ‘It was an easy decision for Jade and I to make. Charles is the ultimate professional, is dedicated to his team and thoroughly deserves this title. He is a fantastic role model to his team mates and will make a brilliant captain.’

The Redcar Agilia Bears have released Ben Barker from his contract with the club with immediate effect. Ben brought it to the club’s attention that he had ‘personal issues’ last week on the eve of the British Semi-Final, resulting in his withdrawal from the event.

Promoter Jitendra Duffill stated, ‘With Ben’s ongoing issues, it has been decided that we have little choice other than to seek a replacement. Out of respect for Ben and his privacy, I cannot reveal any more details on the matter, but would like to make it clear that is with genuine regret that we have had to release him. I wish Ben nothing but the very best and thank him for his service to the club.’

Duffill has confirmed that Barker’s replacement will be announced within the next few days as the Bears seek BSPA approval on their revised line up.

On behalf of myself and Redcar Speedway I would like to thank and apologise to the fans who attended the British Semi-Final last night. We had a 50 minute delay after a nasty incident in heat 1 involving all 4 riders, 2 of which required lengthy treatment and a trip to hospital. A county ambulance had to be called for Jason Garrity.
After heat 9 a spectator took very ill and required attention from the track paramedic, with another county ambulance being called to transfer him to hospital. This resulted in a further delay of 35 minutes. After this, the meeting ran swiftly with the help of SCB referee Michel Breckon, the competitors and our track staff, taking the meeting to its full conclusion of 20 heats.
I’d like to send my sincere thanks to all those who attended on the night for your patience and understanding. Every meeting so far this year at Redcar has run quickly and without complications and I would doubt that anyone is more disappointed, sorry and upset about the delays than I am. I hope you understand that the events that occurred last night were out of our hands and a result of very unfortunate circumstances. The safety and well being of the injured riders and poorly spectator were of paramount importance and had to take priority. We send them all our best wishes.
I’d also like to express my thanks and gratitude to the medical staff of Medics UK, who acted professionally and with great competence under stressful conditions. They were a credit to their profession.
Thanks so much for your understanding and patience and I hope you will accept my sincere apologies.
Jitendra Duffill
Promoter, Redcar Bears Speedway

On a eventful evening at the Media Prima Arena, home favourite Charles Wright won the British Semi Final with an excellent 14 point haul.

The meeting started off in the worst possible way, with all four riders hitting the deck in heat 1 in a horrendous first bend incident. The referee judged Kyle Howarth, coming off gate 4, to be the main cause and excluded him from the re-run which on first viewing seemed a touch harsh. Paul Starke soon got to his feet and walked back to his feet, but Howarth, Nielsen and Garrity all needed extensive from the paramedics. Unfortunately a county ambulance needed to be called to transport Garrity to hospital with a suspected wrist injury. Howarth also took a trip to hospital under his own stream with a suspected shoulder injury. We wish both riders all the best and hope they return to full fitness soon. Incredibly, Nielsen got up and after treatment was declared fit to continue.

Once the action got back underway, the patient fans were treated to some good racing with home man Wright getting a win in his first ride and Mr Entertainment Danny Ayres getting a good win over Tom Bacon. There was unfortunately another lengthy delay after heat 9, as paramedics attended to a member of the crowd. Everyone at Redcar Speedway passes our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the spectator.

With the time getting on, the meeting was then ran at a very swift pace. Wright continued his excellent form to win the meeting, only dropping one point to the equally impressive Paul Starke. Leicester and Poole man Richie Worrall was consistent all night and finished second with 13 points, with the always entertaining Danny Ayres getting a deserved 3rd place. Starke, Lewis Kerr and Steve Worrall took the remaining three places for the British Final. Ashley Morris and Tom Bacon just missed out, with both getting reserve places for the final at Belle Vue.

We would like to place on record our thanks to all the Medical staff for their excellent work, and also to all fans present for their patience throughout the night.

9. Charles Wright 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 = 14
8. Richie Worrall 3, 3, 2, 2, 3 = 13
13. Danny Ayres 3, 1, 3, 3, 2 = 12
1. Paul Starke 3, 3, 2, 3, R = 11
16. Lewis Kerr 1, 2, 3, 3, 2 = 11
5. Steve Worrall 2, R, 3, 2, 3 = 10
—————————————–
11. Ashley Morris 1, 3, 1, 1, 2 = 8
14. Tom Bacon 2, 3, 1, 1, 1 = 8
10. Simon Lambert 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 = 8
7. Kyle Newman 0, 2, 1, 2, 1 = 6
3. Stefan Nielsen 2, Fx, 0, 0, 3 = 5
6. Josh Auty 1, 2, 0, 2, R = 5
12. Ben Morley 0, 1, 2, 0, 1 = 4
15. Drew Kemp 0, 1, 1, 0, 1 = 3
R1. David Wallinger 1, 0, 0, 1, 0 = 2
R2. Ben Rathbone 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
2. Jason Garrity = 0 Withdrawn
4. Kyle Howarth X = 0 Withdrawn

There have been two further changes to the lineup for tonight’s British Semi Final at the Media Prima Arena. Due to injury Zach Watjknecht has been forced to withdraw, Simon Lambert will be his replacement. For personal reasons, Ben Barker has also had to withdraw and he will be replaced by the popular Danny Ayres.

Full lineup:

Paul Starke, Jason Garrity, Stefan Nielsen, Kyle Howarth, Steve Worrall, Josh Auty, Kyle Newman, Richie Worrall, Charles Wright, Danny Ayres, Ashley Morris, Ben Morley, Simon Lambert, Tom Bacon, Drew Kemp, Lewis Kerr.