Category: Bears News

Redcar Agilia Bears saw off the challenge of a determined Newcastle Diamonds side at the Media Prima Arena on Friday night, running out 51-39 winners.

In front of a healthy opening day crowd on Teesside, the Bears started off the meeting really well. Three 5-1s in the opening four heats saw the home side jump out to a 18-6 lead, which saw heat wins for Tom Bacon, Ben Barker and Charles Wright. The next few heats saw Newcastle steady the ship somewhat, with the Diamonds getting a 5-1 after an excellent heat 8 in which Simon Lambert eventually got the better of Jack Smith before the Bears reserve fell on the last bend.

A heat 9 win from the excellent Jordan Stewart was followed by a win by number 1 Michael Palm Toft in fine style from the back and the sides went into the interval 14 points to the good. A couple of heat advantages for the away side, both involving the Diamonds star man Stevie Worrall, saw the deficit reduced to eight points with two heats remaining. Another win for Jordan Stewart in heat 14 sealed the win for the Bears, before a heat 15 5-1 for Charles Wright and Palm Toft extended the lead to 12.

Charles Wright top scored for the Bears with an excellent 13+1, with great support from Palm Toft and Stewart with 11+1 and 10+1 respectively. Worrall top scored for the visitors with 12+1. Bears promoter Jitendra Duffill was delighted with his teams evening:

I couldn’t have wished for a better opening night. Our top 5 showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with around the MPA, and lots of promise from our young reserves. A healthy crowd and superb racing for the opening meeting!

Redcar Bears = 51

1. Michael Palm Toft : 2*, 3, 3, 0, 3 = 11+1
2. Tom Bacon : 3, 1, 1, 0 = 5
3. Ben Barker : 3, 0, 2*, 1 = 6+1
4. Jordan Stewart : 2*, 2, 3, 3 = 10+1
5. Charles Wright : 3, 3, 3, 2, 2* = 13+1
6. Nathan Greaves : 2, 1, 0, 0 = 3
7. Jack Smith : 1*, 2*, F, 0 = 3+2

Newcastle Diamonds = 39

1. Steve Worrall : 1, 3, 2, 2*, 3, 1 = 12+1
2. Simon Lambert : R, 1, 3, 1 = 5
3. Lasse Bjerre : EX, R, 1*, 3, 0 = 4+1
4. Matthew Wethers : 1, 2, 2, 2 = 7
5. Thomas Jorgensen : F, 2, 1, 1 = 4
6. Danny Phillips : 0, 1, 0 = 1
7. Max Clegg : 3, 0, 2*, 0, 1 = 6+1

The Redcar Agilia Bears will be paying their annual visit to the Children’s Ward at James Cook Hospital on Good Friday. We are looking for donations of Easter Eggs, soft toys and colouring books for young children from our supporters so we can brighten up Easter a little for a few poorly children. Supporters can donate by handing any eggs to the race office at the Media Prima Arena tomorrow and on Friday 5th April before the Bears pay their visit on Friday 19th April.

Promoter Jitendra Duffill added, ‘Our supporters have been extremely generous in previous years in donating for what is a very good cause. Their gifts have put a big smile on the faces of so many children that are going through a tough time and it’s been an honour for us to give a little something back to the community.’

Redcar Agilia Bears get there season underway this Friday, as we host our good friends the Newcastle Diamonds in the Tyne Tees Trophy at the Media Prima Arena with a 7:30pm start.

It has been a winter of change for the Bears, with Kevin Keay stepping aside from his role as promoter to be replaced by Jitendra Duffill and Jade Mudgway. Duffill, who has been involved as team manager and then co-promoter over the last decade, is keen to pay tribute to the work Keay put into the club:

I’d like to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Kevin Keay and his wife Anne for all they have done for Redcar Speedway over the past 2 years. They have worked tirelessly for our club, providing us with not only 2 years of superb entertainment, but also a very solid foundation upon which to build upon. I don’t think many people would be able to truly appreciate the sacrifices that they both made for our club and I wish them both the very best for the future.

Only two Bears remain from last seasons septet, with Ben Barker and Jordan Stewart returning for another season. Charles Wright and Michael Palm Toft provide top end strength with Barker, whilst Tom Bacon, Nathan Greaves and Jack Smith add huge potential throughout the rest of the team. Co-promoter and team manager Jade Mudgway is excited to get going:

We have high hopes for this season and I absolutely believe that we will have one of the best seasons yet here at Redcar. I work on a motto that we race for fun but it’s a whole lot more fun when you’re winning. I’m really happy with the team we have attracted this year. Our riders didn’t take much convincing to make Redcar their home; we have the best racing track in the UK and they know that they will be treated well by both the fans and management.

With any one of our top three riders capable of winning any race at any track in the country, it is looking good for picking up points away from home, which will make a massive difference to our league hopes. They are going to be backed up with youth and masses of potential. Every single one of our riders has the ability to improve their averages, which is really exciting

Newcastle come to the Media Prima Arena a much changed side themselves, with a number of ex-Bears and riders with a lot of experience at the MPA. Thomas Jorgensen, who spent the second half of last season as a Bear, now spearheads the Diamonds alongside ex-Bears Lasse Bjerre and Stevie Worrall. Matthew Wethers and Simon Lambert are solid riders at second string with Max Clegg and Teesside lad Danny Phillips at reserve. It’s always a closely fought meeting between these two sides, and Duffill is expecting more of the same on Friday:

We pay a warm welcome to our closest rivals, the Newcastle ‘Boiler Technical Services’ Diamonds for the first leg of the Tyne Tees Trophy. Its always a keenly fought contest when we face Newcastle but Friday is mainly about blowing those cobwebs away as we prepare for our Championship Shield and League fixtures. I’m sure my new co-promoter and Team Manager Jade Mudgway will be keen to get our season off to a winning start so I’m expecting a close and exciting contest.

Lineups:
Redcar: Michael Palm Toft, Tom Bacon, Ben Barker, Jordan Stewart, Charles Wright, Nathan Greaves, Jack Smith

Newcastle: Stevie Worrall, Simon Lambert, Lasse Bjerre, Matthew Wethers, Thomas Jorgensen, Danny Phillips, Max Clegg

Redcar Bears Speedway has signed a deal with Event Genius to make the Leeds-based company the team’s official ticketing and event technology partner.

On a pleasant, but chilly, afternoon on Teesside the Redcar Agilia Bears ran out winners in front of a bumper crowd at the Ben Barker Testimonial meeting.

Fans turned out from all areas of the country to pay tribute to the popular Cornish rider, with fans from Edinburgh, Plymouth and everywhere in-between present. And they were served up some superb racing on a well prepared track. There were some impressive rides, and promising signs for the Bears, early on in the meeting. Nathan Greaves made an electric start in heat 2, and was leading former Australian Champion Sam Masters for 3 and a half laps before the Wolves man swooped around him on the last bend to take the victory. In the very next heat, Jordan Stewart made a superb start over Thomas Jorgensen and Ulrich Ostegaard and was never troubled in a very impressive heat win.

The good racing continued, with Thomas Jorgensen coming out on top after a great battle with Micheal Palm Toft, and Lewis Kerr winning his first two heats and looking very quick. Heat 9 saw Barker take his first heat win, with Sam Masters pulling off another last bend pass to take second from Kerr. The lead for the majority of the meeting had changed hands between Redcar and neighbours Newcastle, and going into the top scorers race in heat 17 it was still up for grabs. The man of the day, Ben Barker took the spot for Redcar, Lewis Kerr for Newcastle, Stevie Worrall for Workington and Sam Masters for Middlesbrough. It was a frantic first lap, with Masters in the lead before Barker drove up the inside to go from third to first. Lewis Kerr gave chase, but Barker was not to be denied the victory. It was a great start the season, and full credit to all the riders who gave it their all on the day.

Redcar Bears = 33 

1. Charles Wright – 2, 3, 3, 1 = 9
2. Jordan Stewart – 3, 1, 2, 2 = 8
3. Nathan Greaves – 2, 1, 0, 1 = 4
4. Ben Barker – 2, 1, 3, 3, 3 = 12
5. Brian Turner

Workington Comets = 20 

1. Steve Worrall – 3, 2, 3, 2, 1 = 11 
2. Kyle Bickley – 0, 0, 1, 0 = 1
3. Simon Lambert – 0, 0, 2, 1 = 3
4. Ulrich Ostergaard – 1, 1, 0, 3 = 5
5. Gavin Parr

Newcastle Diamonds = 29 

1. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8
2. Lewis Kerr – 3, 3, 1, 3, 2 = 12
3. Justin Sedgmen – 1, 2, 0, 2 = 5
4. James Sarjeant – 0, 2, 2, 0 = 4
5. Dean Douglas

Middlesbrough Bears = 20 

1. Sam Masters – 3, 3, 2, 3, R = 11
2. Tom Bacon – 1, R, 1, 1 = 3
3. David Wallinger – 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
4. Michael Palm Toft – 1, 2, 1, 2 = 6
5. Josh Embleton

We would like to confirm, despite the report in this week’s Speedway Star, that Ben Barkers Testimonial Meeting will take place at the Media Prima Arena this Saturday with a 3pm start.

Apologies for any confusion caused.

So Bears fans, we’re only a few days away from our official Press and Practice day and Ben Barker’s Testimonial. On Friday all 7 of your new Bears will take to the track at the Media Prima Arena for the first time this year at 12 noon. Doors will open to the public at 11am and all we ask is that you make a small donation to Zoe’s Place at the gate.

At 7.30pm the same day, we have our annual ‘Meet the Riders’ night where Roy Clarke will interview our riders and you will get the opportunity to ask them and our management any questions you have about the forthcoming season. Entry price is £3 and includes entry to a raffle where we will be giving away 2 tickets to our opening fixture against Newcastle.

See you on Friday!

The Media Prima Arena hosts it’s first meeting of the season on Saturday, with popular Brit Ben Barker holding his testimonial meeting (3pm start).

Barker has been a great servant to British Speedway over the years, starting his career with Oxford and Trelawny in 2003. Popular wherever he has ridden, Barker has spent the last couple of seasons here at Redcar, winning the fans Bear of the Year in both seasons. He is delighted to have been awarded his testimonial meeting:

I’m really pleased, its a great honour to have been awarded my testimonial. I have worked hard over the years, been loyal to British Speedway and always gave my all. I have came back from a number of injuries and at times it has been a tough road so I am pleased to be having this meeting. I would just like to thank everyone who has helped out in any way to putting on this meeting.

It has taken a number of months of hard work to get this meeting planned, but Ben is pleased with how things are looking with just a few days to go:

I’m really happy with the lineup. I was keen to give the Bears lads some extra track time before the season, and Jack (Smith) is gutted he cannot make it due to prior commitments. To be fair, all the riders have brilliant to deal with – it was actually the easiest part of putting the meeting together. Getting the sponsorship has been the hard part, but that is all coming together now. Although if anyone else would like to help out with any sponsorship, no matter how little, please get in touch!”

Barker also spoke of his disappointment when he heard Workington were not coming to the tapes, and how he changed his testimonial plans to incorporate the Comets:

I was gutted when I heard about Workington, I loved riding there. I rode there a few times towards the end of last season and really enjoyed it. They won everything going last season. I was originally just going to run an individual meeting, but when I heard I thought it would be good to change it to a 4 Team Tournament and include Workington. It gives a chance for a few of the lads signed up for Worky to have a ride, and hopefully a few Comets fans travel across to support a Comets team on Saturday.

After Barkers season finished early due to injury last year, he admits to it being a long tough winter. And after a tough Ben Fund meeting at Leicester on Sunday, Barker is looking forward to getting back on a bike again:

It’s been a long hard winter, and also quite painful after the injury at the end of last season. I rode in the Ben Fund and I was still in a bit of pain, but the only way to get over that is get back on the bike and keep riding. It should be a great day, and I hope to see as many people there as possible!

As well as the Four Team Tournament, there will also be 8 demonstration races involving riders from the British Youth Championships. And after the meeting, there will be a band performing in the clubhouse as well as a buffet and an auction. We hope to see as many of you there as possible to pay tribute to a great servant to British Speedway. Admission is £18 for Adults, Concessions £15 with Children Under 16 £5. Under 10’s go free.

Lineup: R

Ben Barker, Charles Wright, Tom Bacon, Jordan Stewart,

Sam Masters, MPT, Nathan Greaves, David Wallinger,

Steve Worrall, Danny Ayres, Simon Lambert, Kyle Bickley,

Thomas Jorgensen, Lewis Kerr, Ulrich Ostergaard, James Sarjeant

Redcar Speedway will come to the tapes in March as the Redcar Agilia Bears. London based company Agilia Infrastructure Partners Limited were revealed as the clubs new main sponsor on Friday evening in front of supporters at a function held at the Media Prima Arena. The Bears also revealed their new logo for the 2019 season along with their new race wear. Company director Mike Pugsley has been a life long supporter of speedway on Teesside and attends Bears fixtures regularly.

Agilia are Infrastructure Delivery Specialists and support and advise on delivery of some of the biggest Infrastructure projects and programmes across the UK. This can range from the development of roads and rail, through to major investment programmes such as Waste Treatment Facilities. Agilia is a growing company which now has 13 employees and is led by the co-owners Mike Pugsley and Amar Qureshi.

Agilia’s connection with the Bears began last year when they sponsored the Silver Helmet individual in September. When Ecco Finishing Supplies announced that they were standing down as title sponsors in 2019, promoter Jitendra Duffill began discussions with Mike Pugsley to question whether Agilia would be interested in supporting the club in a bigger role.

“I originally contacted Mike at the end of last year to see if he would be interested in sponsoring the Bears in 2019 as a partner sponsor, but that quickly progressed to main sponsorship as soon as the title became available. I was able to tie up a deal really quickly with Mike and he has been a promoters dream to work with. His motives are selfless as his intentions are solely to support the Bears and to help us to succeed. At no point has he asked or expected anything from us and I hope I can repay his kindness and support. We are extremely fortunate to have him and his company Agilia Infrastructure Partners on board and I can’t express my gratitude to him and his business partner Amar Qureshi enough. I strongly believe this could be the start of a long and successful partnership and I’m excited to be associated with a company as impressive and fast growing as Agilia is,” said Duffill.

Agilia director Mike Pugsley added, “As co-owner of Agilia Infrastructure Partners and a life long supporter of Redcar Speedway, I’m delighted to support Jitendra and all at Redcar Speedway as Team Sponsor and I’m looking forward to what should be a very exciting season ahead”.

Everybody here at Redcar Speedway would like to welcome Agilia Infrastructure Partners Ltd on board and are proud to come to the tapes in 2019 as the Redcar Agilia Bears!

Visit Agilia website here: https://www.agilia.co.uk/