Category: Bears News

Meeting postponed

Despite the best efforts of the Redcar track staff, the meeting has fell foul to the weather

Stuart Robson is all set for his long awaited farewell meeting tomorrow (3pm start @ the ECCO Arena) as the British star finally brings down the curtain on his career after a near 30 year involvement in the sport.

Robson has had to be patient with the meeting being postponed a staggering 3 times due to inclement weather and rider unavailability. Nevertheless, Robson believes this is the strongest line-up he has put together, “ I’ve had some great line-ups for the 3 postponed meetings but this is the best one I’ve had so far! Also, I would like to thank the 18 riders for agreeing to race in the meeting as it is hard to get the full line-up in place.”

The former Newcastle and Redcar star also explained how the participation of the Grand Prix star Freddie Lindgren came about, “Freddie actually contacted me asking me if he could ride in the meeting and I didn’t have to think twice about that! Freddie is doing a bit of a tour around the country during pre-season as he’s riding in the Peter Craven memorial at Belle Vue and the Ben Fund Bonanza at Kings Lynn.”

‘Robbo’ also believes the meeting is wide open, “Anyone could conceivably go on to win the meeting as it’s a really strong line-up. I wouldn’t like to pick a favourite to be honest. I think there’s 9/10 riders who could finish on the podium.”

The former Coventry man would also like to inform fans that there will be a Ben Fund collection at the meeting, “ We have some people coming up and they are going to come around with some buckets. The Ben Fund has been really good to me over the years and it is nice to be able to give something back.”

The meeting opens the 2023 season at the ECCO Arena with home fans having Charles Wright and Danny King to cheer on. Also, the aforementioned Freddie Lindgren lines up alongside legends of the sport including Niels Kristian-Iversen and Chris Harris. More of the names to watch out for include Nicolai Klindt, Sam Masters, Ryan Douglas and Kyle Howarth.

The meeting also includes upright and youth demonstration races with the upright class being headlined by the recently retired Aaron Summers and Bears co-promoter Jade Mudgway!

For fans unable to attend the farewell, the meeting will be streamed by our streaming partners, Tapes Up with an early bird price of £11.99 available until Sunday. Any fans wishing to purchase the meeting can do so by visiting www.redcar-speedway.tv

Stuart Robson Farewell
1.SIMON LAMBERT
2 NICOLAI KLINDT
3 RYAN DOUGLAS
4 CHRIS HARRIS
5 JORDAN JENKINS
6 DANNY KING
7 NIELS KRISTIAN IVERSEN
8 LEE COMPLIN
9 CHARLES WRIGHT
10 TOM BRENNAN
11 SAM MASTERS
12 PAUL STARKE
13 FREDDIE LINDGREN
14 LEON FLINT
15 KYLE HOWARTH
16 JUSTIN SEDGMEN

Reserves
17 ARCHIE FREEMAN
18 KYRAN LYDEN

As is now tradition, the Bears will visit the Children’s wards at James Cook University Hospital over Easter. Over the last 2 years we have had to deliver our gifts to the nurses outside due to covid but we are now able to hand the eggs to the children!

If anyone would like to donate eggs, Easter gifts, crafts, books, toys or even money for us to buy the gifts on your behalf, they can be handed in at the gate on entry to Claire or to the speedway office (up to and including the Newcastle match).

Thank you to everyone who donates, 1 egg can make a whole child’s Easter!

Unfortunately due to the already waterlogged track and the weather warnings for the weekend, we have had to make the decision to cancel Sundays planned press day.

With only weeks to go until the Agilia Bears get their season on track, team manager Gavin Parr was handed the news that James Shanes season was over already, James said ‘Following my bad crash in Holland in July last year I suffered a nasty break to my right humerus. I had a pin put in and was expected to make a full recovery, however in September I started having complications which led to me seeking further advice from specialist surgeons in London. Unfortunately I was told I had an infection in my bone/metalwork and had a second operation to have it all removed and for a plate to be put in. Again 3 months down the line I was expected to make a full recovery and be back on a bike by March at the latest. I started prepping for the season signing for Redcar and numerous grasstrack meetings. Tragically last week all of this seasons hopes came crashing down when I had a review with my surgeons who informed me that I may have another infection and as a result have a very unstable fracture and weak bone. I have been put in a brace to immobilise my arm in the hope that helps and taking lots of antibiotics but have been told a third operation is highly likely.

So I still have a long way to go with my recovery and have had to call a halt to the season to let me body fully heal. I wish Redcar Bears all the best for the coming season and I’m sorry to not be a part of it, I hope to see all my friends and fans at a track soon.’

This is devastating for both James and the club. We felt James had really fit into the group and was as excited to be a part of this team as we were. We wish James all the best in his recovery and hope he will make the trip to the Ecco Arena to support the team throughout the season. With James’s team place to fill, the management took to the rider’s market to find a suitable replacement and get them installed with enough time to be ready for the season. So, it’s with great pleasure we can reveal the signing of the highly-rated youngster Connor Bailey.

Connor has spent the previous three seasons with Glasgow but surprisingly found himself not in their plans for 2023. The 20-year-old Australian comes in on a 4.32 average directly replacing James in the number 2 position in the team. He has also signed for Workington in the National League which will give him vital extra meetings around a track very similar to the Ecco Arena.

Co-promotor Swales said “We are gutted to have lost James and we really hope this isn’t the last we see of him. Connor is a great prospect and was hugely unlucky to find himself on the sidelines. He has improved his average every year so far and a change in home track is probably the best thing for him at this stage in his career. Hopefully, we can help him continue his improvement as he has already shown a liking for our track on previous visits”. With Danyon Hume also signing at Ipswich in the Premiership, we now have all 7 riders racing in two leagues which will be important in keeping the guys race sharp throughout the season.

Redcar’s marquee winter signing Danny King is fully aware that his first appearance at the South Tees Motorsports Park in mid-March is set to be physically demanding.

The 2016 British Champion, who led Poole Pirates to a second successive league and cup double last season, joins Charles Wright, who won the title three years later, and twice former World Longtrack Champion Eric Riss to form arguably the strongest spearhead in the Championship.

And the vastly experienced King will start not only among the favourites for the Robbo Farewell individual meeting – run in aid of former Bears’ favourite Stuart Robson, but is also keen to get heavily involved in the club’s 24-hour ‘Bikeathon’ which will run through the night across Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th.

“I’m fit and raring to go,” pronounced the 36-year old from Huntingdon, who broke several ribs in a crash at the tail end of last season, adding of his support of the unpowered event which is aimed at raising funds for the much respected Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund:

“I’m pretty new to cycling and don’t do loads of it – I’m more of a runner – but there are a few of us go out who go out and cycle early mornings a couple of times a week.

“I’ve said I’ll do a couple of slots (currently set for Saturday afternoon) and come back and maybe do another the following morning but, as I’m also racing, I need to get some rest so unfortunately there’s no way I’ll be cycling during the night.

Club bosses Gavin Parr and Jamie Swales aim to do the entire ride, with ten minute breaks every couple of hours and King expects to peddle alongside them and his elder brother Jason – another former rider who now lives in Newcastle.

“Jason’s quite a keen cyclist with a turbo charger in his garage and I think he’s out there most nights – he loves it,” continues the younger sibling.

“I intend to stay near him, Gavin and Jamie and hold on as long as possible.”

King has always been a huge supporter of the charity, which exists to support riders who have fallen on tough times, usually due to injury.

He is also competing in his eighth Ben Fund Bonanza at King’s Lynn the following weekend and could become the most successful exponent of all time at the event.

The married father of two, now 36, won the Ben Fund meeting at Scunthorpe in 2020 and has finished third on three other occasions so his tally of 63 points in seven meetings trails former Redcar skipper Ben Barker by just five points at the top of the all-time list of scorers.

“I like to do as many meeting like testimonials and the Ben Fund as possible as they do provide excellent practice and a chance to test your bikes – your going from the tapes with three other guys and there’s nothing resting on it.

“It’s OK practising on your own – you might feel fast but until you are alongside others you have no idea how fast you really are.

“It’s around now that I start to get really excited – when I’m bike building I start to really look forward to it and and finished the first bike yesterday.

“It’s like being a kid at Christmas, starting from scratch and building it up from nothing and when they start to take shape and you get to the stage when you start it up again for the first time, that’s a great feeling – when you begin to get the ‘vibes’ back!

Anyone interested in supporting the epic fund-raising venture can do so via: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/srbf?utm_term=mP88wRK4v

On the eve of another season we have decided to organise a 24 hour bike ride in aid of the SRBF.

It will take place on Sat 18th March and finish at 12 noon on Sun 19th March just before Stuart Robson’s farewell meeting! 

We have set up a just giving page and will also have buckets out for cash donations. The bucket collection will be in conjunction with Stuart who has give his full backing to the idea! 

More information will be released tomorrow about how to get involved in the bikeathon which will take place at the ECCO Arena! 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/srbf?utm_term=mP88wRK4v

A very sad day for everyone connected with Redcar Speedway. Stewart has been one of our most committed volunteers down the years, giving up countless hours behind the scenes to help the club he loved. Our thoughts are with his family at this time who are themselves important members of our Speedway family.

Season tickets for 2023 are now on sale at http://www.redcar-speedway.com/shop/

Kids go free in 2023

Season tickets are now on sale for 2023 with the great news that under 16’s will be admitted free of charge.

All season ticket holders will receive a 10% discount on additional Redcar Agilia Bears meetings and 10% club shop discount.

Additionally, after our recent Christmas party sold out in only 4 hours leaving many fans disappointed, Season ticket holders will now have advanced opportunity to purchase tickets for our social events.

Listen Tonight!

Tonight at 8pm Jamie Swales & Gavin Parr will be live on BBC Radio Tees discussing the makeup of the 2023 side!

Tune in at the link below!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_tees

? Colin Poole