Category: Bears News

Redcar Agilia Bears travel to Birmingham tonight to take on the Brummies in Championship action, with a 7:30pm start.

The Bears are in good form at the moment, and only just missed out against Scunthorpe last week despite being depleted. They will be looking to get back on track tonight against a Birmingham side who have made some fairly recent changes of their own. The Bears are without injured skipper Charles Wright for the meeting, Scunthorpe’s Aussie star Jake Allen will guest in his place. The Bears do welcome back German star Erik Riss for this meeting at number one.

Birmingham will also not be at full strength for the meeting, with Ashley Morris and Tero Aarnio both missing due to injury. The impressive Danny Ayres guests in place of Morris and rider replacement will operate for Aarnio.

The Bears welcome the Brummies at the Media Prima Arena on Friday in the return fixture.

Redcar: Erik Riss, Kasper Andersen, Michael Palm Toft, Jordan Stewart, Jake Allen, Tom Woolley, Nathan Greaves.

Birmingham: Adam Ellis, Nick Agertoft, Paco Castagna, Danny Ayres, Tero Aarnio R/R, Danyon Hume, James Shanes.

Charles Wright will miss tomorrow nights fixture (Wednesday 17th July) at Birmingham due to an injury sustained during last nights televised fixture at Peterborough. Charles briefly dislocated his shoulder and is understandably very sore today.
Jake Allen will guest at Birmingham but Charles is hoping to be fit for our home fixture this Friday. Jordan Stewart will be Captain.

The Bears are tracking Lewis Kerr as a guest for Erik Riss on Friday who will be taking part in the Speedway of Nations this weekend. If Charles is still unfit on Friday, the Bears will use Rider Replacement for him.

Redcar Agilia Bears promoter Jitendra Duffill thanked fans for their support last night, and gave his thoughts on his sides narrow loss to Scunthorpe:

” Thank you to everybody who offered their support last night. I’m so grateful for the understanding and belief in our visions for the season. It’s always disappointing to lose at home, but I have to say I’m incredibly proud of the effort and fight we saw from the Bears. Nobody would have given us any chance last night and we did incredibly well to take the meeting to a last heat decider. Everybody raced with their hearts on their sleeves and I couldn’t ask for any more of them on track. A minor setback in what I believe can be a very successful season for Redcar Speedway. Watch this space! “

A depleted Redcar Agilia Bears side put up a brave fight before eventually falling to a 47-43 defeat to Scunthorpe at the Media Prima Arena on Friday night.

With the Bears missing Erik Riss and Jordan Stewart, Scunthorpe came into the meeting as firm favourites and soon took a four point lead after 4-2 advantages in heats 2 and 3. Both teams were providing some superb racing, and the Bears gradually got themselves back into the meeting with 4-2’s from skipper Charles Wright and Kasper Andersen and then Wright and Greaves. Going into heat 9 the scores were level at 24 a piece.

Heat 9 was arguably the highlight of the night for the Bears. Superb reserve Nathan Greaves and Kasper Andersen gated ahead of Ben Barker and Simon Lambert, and despite the Scorpions pairs best efforts the Bears held on for a 5-1 which gave the Bears a 4 point lead. The Scorions hit back with a 5-1 of their own in heat 10, and then gradually pulled away with ex-Bear Ben Barker and Jake Allen leading the way.

Going into heat 15, the Scorpions led by 4 and only a Bears 5-1 would rescue a draw. Wright, nursing a knee injury after a heat 10 fall, and Palm Toft both passed Danny Ayres on lap one and gave chase to Jake Allen, but the Aussie star held on well for the win to secure the 3 points for Scunthorpe.

It was a superb effort from the Bears on the night, with MPT top scoring with 14+1. Wright scored 11 and Graves scored 10+1. Allen top scored for Scunthorpe with 13+1. The Bears are next in action on Wednesday away to Birmingham, before the return fixture next Friday at the Media Prima Arena.

Redcar = 43 

1. Ben Rathbone (G) 0, 0, 1 = 1
2. Charles Wright 3, 3, 3, Fx, 2 = 11
3. Kasper Andersen 2, 1, 2′, F, 2 = 7+1
4. Jordan Stewart R/R (TW 0, MPT 3, NG 3, KA 2 = 8)
5. Michael Palm Toft 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1′ = 14+1
6. Nathan Greaves 2, 1′, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1′ = 10+2
7. Tom Woolley 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
8. Sheldon Davies

Scunthorpe = 47 

1. Josh Auty 2, 2, 1′, 1 = 6+1
2. Stefan Nielsen R/R (SL 1′, DA 0, RK 0, BB 2 = 3+1)
3. Danny Ayres 1, 0, 1′, 3, 3, 0 = 8+1
4. Jake Allen 3, 2, 2′, 3, 3 = 13+1
5. Ben Barker 3, 2, 1, 2, 3 = 11
6. Ryan Kinsley 1, 1′, 0 = 2+1
7. Simon Lambert 1′, 3, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0 = 7+1

We are pleased to announce that all children under the age of 16 will now be allowed entry to all Redcar Bears matches for FREE. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Please note the we are also offering reduced Adult entry prices for tomorrow’s clash against Scunthorpe (Friday 12th July). Adult entry will cost £15 and season ticket holders will receive a free programme as a gesture of good will, due to the absence of adequate cover available for the missing Erik Riss. Erik is racing in a German League fixture which was arranged prior to him signing for the Bears. Any adult who has already purchased a ticket online will get a £2 refund on entry.

Promoter Jitendra Duffill offers a detailed explanation and his thoughts on the matter in this weeks programme.

Redcar Agilia Bears return back to action at the Media Prima Arena this Friday, as they take on Scunthorpe in Championship action (7:30pm start).

It has been a busy, and very successful few days for the Bears with an aggregate win over Glasgow in the KO Cup followed by an impressive win at Sheffield in the league. The Bears lost by two on the night in Glasgow, but co-promoter Jade Mudgway was delighted with the effort from his team:

“It was a hard battle and the Bears definitely did their job, coming away with just a 2 point loss and putting us through to the semi-finals of the KO cup. The stand out man over these two legs had to be Nathan Greaves – he really made the difference between the teams, always giving absolutely everything whenever he was on track. This is really paying off for him, and for us, and I think we can go all the way in the KO cup. With the team we have, anything is possible.”

Then last Sunday, the Bears travelled down the road to face another strong Sheffield side who had previously been unbeaten at home this season. A flawless maximum from Charles Wright helped the Bears to an impressive win and again Mudgway was delighted:

“The boys were on a high and we were there to win and take no prisoners. We didn’t take the lead until heat 6, but after that we never looked back. The fans next to the pits really gave the Bears a lift and it made the day very special. Charles Wright was absolutely incredible, coming away with a maximum of 15 points – when he was in front he was gone, and when he was behind (very briefly) he passed and left everyone else standing still.“

This Friday sees a much changed Bears lineup take on a Scunthorpe side that includes ex Bears skipper Ben Barker. Jordan Stewart will be missing for the Bears, as he represents Australia in the World U21 Team Cup at Belle Vue on the same night. Rider replacement will operate in his absence. Erik Riss, Bears new number 1, will also unfortunately miss the meeting due a clash with a German league meeting. As the BSPA do not allow a facility for the German League, only a National League rider can replace Erik. Ben Rathbone, a familiar face in second halves at Redcar and who rides for Belle Vue in the National League, will deputise for the German star. This will mean a slight change in the rider order to help minimise the impact. Charles Wright will line up at number 2 alongside Rathbone, with Palm Toft moving back into the number 5 position.

As mentioned, Friday brings a swift return to Redcar for Ben Barker – signed by Scunthorpe as a temporary replacement for the injured Jason Garrity. They will also operate rider replacement for the injured Stefan Nielsen. Danny Ayres is a man on great form at the moment for the Scorpions, whilst Aussie Star Jake Allen has shown a liking for the MPA in the past.

It promises to be a real battle on Friday night, and despite the enforced changes we hope you will still turn up in your numbers to cheer on the lads!

Redcar: Ben Rathbone, Charles Wright, Kasper Andersen, r/r for Jordan Stewart, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Greaves, Tom Woolley
Scunthorpe: Josh Auty, Stefan Nielsen, Danny Ayres, Jake Allen, Ben Barker, Ryan Kinsley, Simon Lambert.

We can confirm that Redcar will unfortunately be missing both Erik Riss and Jordan Stewart for their fixture at home against Scunthorpe this Friday. Erik is riding in a German League fixture and Jordan for Australia at Belle Vue in the World Under 21 Team Cup. Unfortunately, no facility is available for a rider taking part in a German league fixture so the Bears have no option other than to field a National League guest at number 1 and will be using Rider Replacement for Jordan Stewart. We would also like to confirm that we have attempted to move this fixture to another date but have been unsuccessful. We offer our sincere apologies to our supporters and will give a more detailed explanation later in the week. We hope that you will continue to offer your support and plan to reduce entry prices on Friday as an apology for the weakened line up that we will be fielding. We will still be fighting to win the meeting and have our sights firmly fixed on reaching the play offs, which we believe is well within our capabilities.

Due to the popularity in previous weeks, we are again opening the SG Petch Platinum Suite for fans for the Scunthorpe meeting this Friday night.

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.

Redcar Agilia Bears continued their excellent run of form with a superb 48-42 win at Sheffield on Sunday evening.

It was another solid effort from the whole side, but skipper Charles Wright stole the show with a perfect 15 point maximum at his old track. The Bears took an incredible 11 heat winners out of the 15 heats, against a strong Sheffield side who had been unbeaten at home thus far.

Sheffield actually started the meeting the brighter, leading by 4 early on after a five one by the impressive Aussie partnership at reserve Zaine Kennedy and Josh McDonald. That was as good as it got for the Tigers however, as the Bears clawed back the deficit swiftly. The scores stayed incredibly tight until heat 10, where Jordan Stewart and Michael Palm Toft combined for a 5-1, before new boys Erik Riss and Kasper Andersen combined for a Bears 4-2 in the next heat to give the Bears a 6 point lead.

The sides then traded 4-2’s, with Jordan Stewart rather unlucky in heat 14 to have an engine failure in the last lap when leading. That did not cost the Bears however, and Charles Wright completed his maximum in heat 15 to round off a fine night for the Bears!

Promoter Jitendra Duffill was understandably delighted with his sides efforts, but also paid tribute to the Bears supporters and the Sheffield promotion:

“Another brilliant performance with everybody playing their part. It’s a very exciting time for me and Jade and we both believe that with a little bit of luck 2019 could be a very special one for the Bears. A big shout out to all the Redcar fans who attended today, we all felt your support from the pits and it was awesome to hear you making so much noise. The Sheffield promotion and team deserve recognition for providing what I would class as a perfect race surface and excellent opposition. The racing today was top class and it takes 2 teams to make a great show.”

Sheffield Tigers = 42 

1. Danny King – 3, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1* = 11+1
2. Drew Kemp – R, R, 0 = 0
3. Ty Proctor – 2, 2, 2, 1* = 7+1
4. Broc Nicol R/R
5. Kyle Howarth – 2, 3, 2, 0, 2 = 9
6. Zaine Kennedy – 2*, 0, 2*, 1*, 0, 3 = 8+3
7. Josh MacDonald – 3, 1*, X, 2, 0, 1 = 7+1

Redcar Bears = 48 

1. Erik Riss – 2, 3, 3, 1, 0 = 9
2. Kasper Andersen – 1*, 1, 3, 1 = 6+1
3. Michael Palm Toft – 1, 1, 2*, 3 = 7+1
4. Jordan Stewart – 3, R, 3, R = 6
5. Charles Wright – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15 (MAX)
6. Tom Woolley – 0, 1, 0 = 1
7. Nathan Greaves – 1, 0, 1, 0, 2 = 4

Redcar Agilia Bears will head to Sheffield this evening full of confidence after beating Glasgow over two legs, but will face another tough meeting against another strong Sheffield team (5:30pm start)

The Bears welcome Dane Kasper Andersen into the side for this meeting, replacing the unfortunate Tom Bacon. It is a track Andersen knows well, after spending the end of last season and the start of this season with the Yorkshire club. Bears skipper Charles Wright also spent last season with Sheffield, and certainly knows the quickest way around the quick Owlerton track.

Sheffield welcome back Aussie star Zaine Kennedy after a spell out injured, however rider replacement will continue to operate for Broc Nicol – injured while guesting for the Bears at Leicester last week. Kyle Howarth also returns the side, which is spearheaded by former British Champion Danny King.

It promises to be another exciting clash! Good luck to the lads today, and safe trip to the Bears fans travelling to Owlerton.

Redcar: Erik Riss, Kasper Andersen, Michael Palm Toft, Jordan Stewart, Charles Wright, Tom Wooley, Nathan Greaves
Sheffield: Danny King, Drew Kemp, Ty Proctor, Broc Nicol R/R, Kyle Howarth, Zaine Kennedy, Josh MacDonald