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The Bears duo of Ben Barker and Thomas Jorgensen put in a fighting performance at last night’s Championship Pairs event at Somerset but were unable to get through to the final being eliminated in the group stage, just!
The pair started with an impressive maximum heat win but in a very closely fought group the Bears duo were eliminated on ‘count back’ by Workington having both scored 20 points.
The event was eventually won by Sheffield who defeated Workington in the final.

Redcar Ecco Finishing Supplies Bears produced a much improved performance to get their first away league point of the season, narrowly losing 48-42 to Ipswich on Thursday night.

Ipswich started the better of the two teams, and raced into an early 6 point lead after 3 heats. Both teams then traded blows, with Ipswich never leading by more than 8 but the Bears never getting closer than 4 behind. Going into heat 13, the Bears were only 4 down but Thomas Jorgensen was then excluded in a very tight first bend clash with Cameron Heeps. With Ipswich getting a 4-2 in the re-run, it looked like the Bears were up against it. 

Two 3-3’s in the last two heats meant the Bears came home with a point though, with Jonas B Andersen and then Jorgensen taking the flag. Jorgensen top scored for the Bears with 13, with JBA scoring 12. Promoter Kevin Keay was pleased with his sides efforts:

We finally saw a ‘team’ performance tonight and with a little bit more luck we could have pulled off a surprise. Great effort from Jonas and Thomas to clinch the league point and reward the travelling Bears fans.

Thomas and skipper Ben Barker make the trip to Somerset tomorrow to represent the Bears in the Championship Pairs. Good luck lads!

Ipswich Witches = 48 

1. Rory Schlein (C) – 3, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2 = 14
2. Cameron Heeps – 2′, 3, 0, 1, 1 = 7+2
3. Nico Covatti – 2′, R, 1′, 3, 2, 1′ = 9+3
4. Mark Riss – 3, 2, 3, 2, 2 = 12
5. Danny King R/R
6. David Wallinger – 0, 0, 0, – = 0
7. Coty Garcia – 2, 1, 2, 0, 1′ = 6+1

Redcar Bears = 42 

1. Ben Barker (C) – 1, 1, 2, 2 = 6
2. Tobias Busch R/R 
3. Dimitri Berge – 0, 1′, 3, 0, 1 = 5+1
4. Jonas B Andersen – 1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 12
5. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 2, 3, 3, FX, 3 = 13
6. Mikkel B Andersen – 0, 3, 0, R, – = 3
7. Jordan Stewart – 1, R, 1, 1′, 0 = 3+1

Redcar Ecco Finishing Supplies Bears promoter Kevin Keay will once again be on BBC Tees Sport this evening. 

If you want to hear the latest gossip from the Bears camp, then be sure to tune in from around 6:50pm this evening! 

Redcar Ecco Finishing Bears head to Ipswich on Thursday with the news that Tobias Busch has reported ‘sick as he struggles to overcome a fall sustained at Redcar two weeks ago. Kevin Keay reported: “Toby is still having headaches after his heavy fall here and despite riding in Germany he has finally sought medical attention and been advised not to ride. We are monitoring the situation and considering our options once again but are frustrated this has happened so soon after releasing a rider to bring Toby back. He’s not had the best of luck in Redcar colours over the last two seasons”.

The Bears will operate rider replacement to cover for the German.

Ipswich themselves have made three changes this week including signing former Bear Coty Garcia . The Bears are looking for a much improved performance after last weeks horrific defeat and have been told to “ fight for every point “ . Ben Barker and Thomas Jorgensen then head to Somerset to represent the Bears in the annual Pairs championship meeting.

Redcar ‘Ecco Finishing Supplies’ Bears suffered a disappointing defeat on Thursday night, losing 57-33 to the Edinburgh Monarchs. The tone for the night was set in a blistering opening 5 heats from the Monarchs, recording two 5-1’s and three 4-2’s to lead 22-8. 

The Bears struggled to cope with the fast-starting Monarchs all evening, recording only 4 heat wins all night. Bears skipper Ben Barker  provided the main resistance with a battling 13, but it was tough going for the Bears all night.

Ricky Wells led Edinburgh superbly, recording a paid maximum with 14+1 from his rides. He was supported superbly by Erik Riss, Joel Andersson and Josh Pickering in particular – but it was an excellent all round performance from the Scottish side.

Bears promoter Kevin Keay cut a frustrated figure after the meeting:

I’m at my wits end. There just isn’t any consistency throughout the team and I just don’t know why or how to change it. We were out gated and out ridden and that doesn’t please me at all but Edinburgh were awesome and the result shows that.

The Bears are next in home action in two weeks time, against the Ipswich Witches.

Redcar Bears = 33 

1. Ben Barker (C) – 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2 = 13
2. Tobias Busch R/R – (JBA-0), (MBA-2), (MBA-F), (JS-0)
3. Dimitri Berge – 0, 0, 3 = 3
4. Jonas B Andersen – 0, 2, 1, 1′, F = 4+1
5. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 1, 0, 0 = 3
6. Mikkel B Andersen – 2, 2, F, 1, 1, 0 = 6
7. Jordan Stewart – 0, 0, 3, 2, 0, 0 = 5
8. Gavin Parr – 

Edinburgh Monarchs = 57 

1. Ricky Wells – 2′, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 14+1 (PAID MAXIMUM)
2. Victor Palovaara – 3, 2′, 1′, 2′ = 8+3
3. Mark Riss – 1, 0, 2, 1′ = 4+1
4. Josh Pickering – 3, 2, 1′, 3 = 9+1
5. Erik Riss (C) – 3, 3, 3, 1, 1 = 11
6. Max Ruml – 1, 0, 0 = 1
7. Joel Andersson – 3, 1, 2, 2, 2′ = 10+1

Redcar ‘Ecco Finishing Supplies’ Bears will look to make it 2 home wins on the bounce, as they take on the Edinburgh Monarchs at the Media Prima Arena on Thursday night (7:30pm start).

New team boss Jade Mudgway kept up his 100% record of victories as team manager last week, and will hoping to keep that going against a strong Edinburgh side who finished second in the recent Championship Fours at Redcar. Mudgway admits management was never something he would end up doing:

I hope Jitendra gets well very soon, but until then, I will be doing everything that I can to help our Bears to entertain and win for our fans.  Being team manager is not something that I ever thought I would get the chance to do, but I intend to do the best possible job for our club.  I feel that being a recent rider gives me a bit of an edge, as it will help me to understand and do my best to get the best out of them.  I am a regular in the pits at Redcar, so I know all of the riders well already. 

It was a strong performance from the Bears last week, in particular down at reserve. Mudgway says the whole team is buzzing, and had special praise for his reserve duo:

Team spirit is high at the moment and I want to build on that.  Every rider in our pits will give us 100% and that’s all I can ask of them.  We have two trump cards in our team, as I believe that our reserves are the best in the league.  Mikkel was brilliant last week and when we needed him to pull out big races he did it with fast starts and speed.  Jordan also had a brilliant night, reading the track perfectly and switching back to the inside in heat 12, pulling out a big win to make sure Scunthorpe didn’t get back into the match.

The Bears will go into the meeting without German Tobias Busch, who is still feeling the effects of his crash last week. The Bears will operate rider replacement to cover for him. Edinburgh come into the meeting at full strength, with new signing Victor Palovaara coming in to replace Coty Garcia. They are led by American star Ricky Wells, with Erik Riss at number 5 who was superb in the Championship Fours and was unbeaten all day. Josh Pickering and Joel Andersson also both showed their liking of the Teesside track at the Fours meeting so it should prove to be an exciting clash!

Redcar: Barker, r/r for Busch, Berge, Jonas B Andersen, Jorgensen, Mikkel B Andersen, Stewart
Edinburgh: Wells, Palovaara, Mark Riss, Pickering, Erik Riss, Ruml, Andersson

Redcar Bears have a champion in their side….
Dimitri Berge is European Grass track Champion after claiming the title on his home soil of France on Saturday!

Congratulations to Dmitri! Read a report of his win at http://www.fim-europe.com/european-grass-track-championship-final-tayac-france/

The Redcar Bears school roadshow made a visit to Priors Mill School in Billingham on Thursday and the boys and girls appeared to be very excited and enthralled by Jordan Stewart and the sport of Speedway. We look forward to seeing the youngsters, and their teachers, attending the Media Prima Arena very soon.

Following Thursday’s victory over Scunthorpe two Bears had further success on the road last night as Jordan Stewart got on the rostrum at an individual meeting at Edinburgh taking third place behind home rider Max Ruml and recent Bear Nathan Greaves. Ben Barker guested for Glasgow against Lakeside and scored eleven plus 4 bonus points in a Glasgow victory building his fitness and form up nicely for the rest of the season and the forthcoming Championship Pairs meeting at Somerset where he will partner Thomas Jorgensen .

The pairs meeting is the prelude to the Cardiff Grand Prix on the Saturday with the Bears AWAY at Ipswich on the Thursday evening meaning a potentially great 3 day trip for Bears fans, get your flags ready!

Redcar ‘Ecco Finishing Supplies’ Bears enjoyed a good night at home against Scunthorpe on Thursday night, running out 52-38 winners at the Media Prima Arena.

It was a solid all round effort from the Bears, but it was at reserve where the meeting was really won. Man of the meeting Mikkel B Andersen rode superbly for his 15 points, and was supported well by Jordan Stewart with 9+3. Every Bear, apart from the very unfortunate Tobias Busch who had to withdraw after an awkward looking fall, managed to win a heat though on a good night for the side.

Ex-Bears number 1 provided the main challenge to the Bears, with an excellent 14+1, with Josh Auty battling very hard indeed for his 9+1 points.

Redcar = 52

1. Ben Barker 1′, 3, 1, X = 5+1
2. Jonas B Andersen 2, 1, 2, 3, 2 = 10
3. Dimitri Berge M, 1, 3, R = 4
4. Tobias Busch 0 = 0 Withdrawn
5. Thomas Jorgensen 3, 2, 0, 3, 1′ = 9+1
6. Mikkel B Andersen 3, 2, 3, 0, 1, 3, 3 = 15
7. Jordan Stewart 2′, 1, 1′, 3, 2′ = 9+3

Scunthorpe = 38 

1. Richard Lawson (G) 3, 2, 3, 1′, 2, 3 = 14+1
2. Aaron Summers (G) 0, 3, X, 3, 2, 0 = 8
3. Stefan Nielsen R/R (AS 3, RL 3, JAu 2, JAl 1′ = 9+1)
4. Jake Allen 1, 1, 0, 1′, R = 3+1
5. Josh Auty 2, 2, 2, 2, 1′ = 9+1
6. David Wallinger (G) 0, 0, 0 = 0
7. Gino Manzares 1, 0, 0, 2, 1 = 4