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We are very sorry to learn about the passing of Maurice Tate earlier this week. Maurice was the Start Marshall for Middlesbrough Speedway when we raced at Cleveland Park Stadium. Many of us have very fond memories of him and everyone at Redcar Speedway would like to offer their sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Maurice.

For those who haven’t seen the news, Ben Barker is holding a race night this Friday in the Bears Bar at 7.30. This is to raise funds for his testimonial. Come and show your support, they are always a lot of fun.

That’s right Bears fans, its the news you have all been hoping for, Smoggy Bear is back! Smoggy has come out of hibernation, just a few weeks before the start of the new speedway season and we could not be any more excited about it. We asked Smoggy if she had a message for her fans and she had this to say; “Hibernation complete. Fur all washed and fluffy. This teddy is ready. Lets go bigger, lets go louder, lets go SMOGGY!!”.

Smoggy’s Cub Club will be up and running again in 2019 for cub members old and new. Details on how to join will be posted in the near future.

Welcome home Smoggy, we’re absolutely thrilled to have you back!

Redcar Bears will continue to receive backing from Erimus Insurance and Media Prima in 2019. Both companies come on board as partner sponsors with the Bears in a newly restructured sponsorship programme for 2019.Dubai based Media Prima will continue as stadium sponsors whilst Teesside based Erimus Insurance remain on board as main sponsors of the clubs junior side the Redcar Cubs.

Both companies received praise from Promoter Jitendra Duffill who said, “I’m ecstatic to welcome Erimus Insurance and Media Prima back to the Bears and I can’t thank them enough for their continued support. Both Shaun Hughes and Graham Wilson are big, long time Bears fans and their continued support is hugely appreciated. We simply wouldn’t exist without the generosity of our sponsors.”

Shaun Hughes, Managing Director of Erimus Insurance commented, “Erimus Insurance are delighted to once again, renew their partnership with Redcar Bears and to continue to be the main sponsor of the Redcar Cubs. We sincerely wish Ben (Jitendra) and all of the riders and teams the best of luck in an exciting season ahead.”

Duffill also confirmed that a new main sponsor had now been found and will be unveiled at an upcoming function in the Bears club house. The Bears are still looking for a final partner to join them for 2019 with another soon to be announced and any company interested in working alongside the club, no matter how big or small, are urged to get in touch. Details can be found in the Bears new sponsorship brochure which can be found here.

Redcar Speedway have been awarded 2 national events for the upcoming 2019 season. The British Semi Final will take place at the Media Prima Arena on Friday 31st May and the British Under 19 Final on Thursday 15th August.  With only one qualifying round for the British Final in 2019, the semi final is sure to be an exciting and cut throat event and Redcar fans should have added interest as it is likely that at least one Bear will feature in the meeting.

The top riders on the day will qualify for the British Final which will take place on Monday 29th July at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester. The British Under 19 Final will feature all of the best up and coming British Under 19 talent. With riders like Kyle Bickley, Leon Flint, Drew Kemp and Tom Brennan to name a few looking like future stars, it promises to be an exciting and close contest.

The event will take place on a Thursday night to prevent any clashes with Championship League racing. Promoter Jitendra Duffill added, “I’d like to thank the BSPA and Neil Vatcher for giving us the opportunity to host 2 major individuals at the Media Prima Arena. It’s a privilege to be awarded meetings like this and both are sure to be very exciting events. Both meetings will be very difficult to call and will feature several current and upcoming British stars and I’m sure we will see some phenomenal racing in both. I’m very excited to be hosting each of them and I’m sure our supporters will be too.”

Its time for you to get your diaries and calendars out, as our 2019 fixtures have now been released! Our season will start on the 23rd March with Ben Barkers testimonial being held at the Media Prima Arena. The first team meeting takes place on the 29th March, with the visit of our old friends the Newcastle Diamonds in the Tyne Tees Trophy.

We will face Somerset in the KO Cup, with the away leg taking place on the 1st May and the home leg on the 10th May. We wrap our scheduled fixtures up on the 13th September with a home clash against Glasgow. There are two further fixtures which will be announced at a later date, plus the Julie Lewis Memorial and Silver Helmet meetings, meaning at least 20 fixtures will be held at the MPA this season. For the full list, head over to our fixtures page!  

Ben Barker has radically revamped his testimonial meeting plans to include teams from triple champions Workington, local rivals Newcastle and a select side representing the old Cleveland Park based Middlesbrough Bears.

The season-opening Four Team Tournament, on Saturday, March 23^rd, replaces Barker’s original idea to stage a 20-heat individual meeting and now poses additional appeal to speedway fans from Cumbria and Tyneside.

Workington’s involvement could provide the Derwent Park club with its only chance to race together this year after last week’s shock decision to withdraw from the Championship.

The Comets claimed an unprecedented treble in 2018, winning the League, Knock-out Cup and Championship Shield but have since paid the price for success.

They were forced to race seven matches in just 11 days, the final four in barely 50 hours, at the end of October and the hectic schedule proved to be financially suicidal.

And when sponsorship, promised on the back of their triumphs, was not forthcoming their promoters were forced to reluctantly pull the plug.

Although manager Tony Jackson is adamant that the club will reform in 2020, he admits that Barker’s big day could be the only chance Comets’ fans might get to support their side in the foreseeable future.

Barker commented:

“It’s such a terrible shame that Workington won’t be there to defend their titles this year and a tragedy for speedway as Derwent Park is a great track and one of my favourites.

“The idea of giving their fans at least one more chance to cheer them on in 2019 came to me and I’m obviously hopeful that as many Comets’ supporters as possible will take the opportunity to come across on the day.”

The meeting is likely to have an early afternoon start, in order to make it easier for travelling supporters to get there and home again.

Redcar’s local rivals Newcastle and a team representing the now defunct Middlesbrough Bears will make up the four teams contesting the meeting, which will have numerous other attractions both on and off the track (more details to follow).

Comets boss Jackson enthused: “I can’t see a problem in us taking part or any reason why Steve Worrall, Kyle Bickley, Bradley Wilson-Dean and Simon Lambert (all originally signed in readiness for the forthcoming season) wouldn’t want to ride.

“We could also call on former Workington riders with maybe Ty Proctor, who is also an ex-Redcar rider, also coming along.”

Proctor, who next season will ride for Sheffield but spent his two formative years in the UK at the South Tees Motorsports Park, would obviously be a popular draw for many Teesside fans who have memories of his thrill-making exploits in 2008 and 2009.

Barker has also hinted that not one, but two former national champions, both still at the top of their game, will be racing as guests to bolster the sides, while explaining:

“I’d like all the Redcar riders to take part and get some more pre-season practice so, in addition to the Bears, which I’ll probably lead alongside either Michael Palm Toft or Charles Wright, I aim to have a side representing the old Middlesbrough Bears, possibly under the name of the ‘Boro Bears’? “Whichever out of MPT and Wrighty doesn’t ride for Redcar will lead the other side, which I hope will be managed by Gary Havelock (Redcar captain between 2006 and 2012 and 1992 World Champion), who began his stella career with Middlesbrough.”

Our full fixture list for the 2019 season will be released next week. Stay tuned to our social media and website for the full details as they are released!

We will be holding a quiz night and talk in at the Bears Bar on Friday 25th January. We will be joined on the night by new Bear Jack Smith, his Dad and ex-GP rider Andy Smith, and former World Champion Gary Havelock.

Tickets for the event, which starts at 7:30pm, are £5 and can be booked in advance to avoid disappointment. To reserve a ticket, please contact us via our Facebook page or email us via website@redcar-speedway.com

Redcar Speedway are looking to form a supporter’s group for the upcoming 2019 season. Any supporters that would be keen to form and run this group should email Jitendra Duffill duffill.redcarbears@gmail.com to express their interest. Deadline for enquiries is Friday 11th January.