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LATEST NEWS ~ JANUARY 2007
McKINNA ON BOARD
By Martin Neal Evening Gazette ~ Wednesday 31st January 2007
Go-ahead Cleveland Bays have snapped up Adam McKinna to spearhead their first full season of Conference League racing. McKinna had planned to ride for Scunthorpe, but joined the Bays after being given another chance to double up in the Premier League with Newcastle who, like the Scorpions, operate on a Sunday. It was announced last week that - subject to planning consent being granted - the Bays would complete a full season in the third tier of British speedway's hierarchy. They are lined up to stage 12 weekend meetings at South Tees Motorsports Park in 2007, with the Premier League Redcar Bears continuing to race on a Thursday evening.
McKinna, 19, who arrives as a grade four rider, forms what could be a potent blend of youth and experience at the top end of the Bays septet. For while the teenage Scot is in the early throes of his career, the rider-coach and team captain will be 42-year-old former Middlesbrough favourite Mark 'Buzz' Burrows (grade 11). "I have the belief Adam will be a good heat leader in the Conference League," said Bays boss Jason Pipe, who was also in charge when they entered the Conference Shield at the end of last season. He is used to Conference League racing and that will stand him in good stead."
McKinna, the son of former Scotland No 1 Kenny, becomes the FIFTH rider at South Tees Motorsports Park whose father was also based on Teesside during his riding days. Burrows - who has not raced competitively since Wimbledon closed at the end of 2005 - will wear the No 1 jacket. "He asked to ride at No 5," explained Pipe, "because he is rider-coach it means he rides with a reserve."
Assuming planning permission is granted, the Bays will enter an 11-team Conference League which will also include Boston, Scunthorpe, Stoke, Buxton, Oxford, Rye House, Sittingbourne, Weymouth, Plymouth and Newport. Promoter Chris van Straaten is looking forward to the venture and said: "The basis of it is to develop riders, particularly local riders, who can go on and ride for the Bears. We have applied to run at weekends, and I have agreed to steer clear of running against any football taking place at the Riverside Stadium. "I feel the Conference should be a weekend league because it has lost its way in recent years. It should be for young riders who, of course, have education commitments to consider."
Cleveland Bays line-up for 2007: 1 Mark Burrows, 2 Rusty Hodgson, 3 Steve Jones, 4 Gary Beaton, 5 Adam McKinna, 6 Martin Emerson, 7 Greg Blair. Remaining squad members: Ashley Johnson, Jitendra Duffill, Paul Burnett. Stand-by reserves: Gary Irving, Kye Norton.
CHRIS KERR RIDES FOR KEVIN
Tuesday 30th January 2007
Recar’s American starlet Chris Kerr is the latest rider to be called in for Kevin Little’s benefit meeting at Redcar in April. The Scottish star has seen plenty of promising youngsters starting out in the sport, and believes that Kerr will go far.
“He’s a hard battling rider who gave everything in ever meeting last season. I have no doubt that the experience he gained will bear fruit. “He also puts a lot of thought into what he is doing. He started last season as a heat leader which was quite a burden but he came through that, and gained the benefit when he moved to no. 2 later in the season. He’s a key man in what I think will be a very good Redcar team this year. I’m delighted to have him in my meeting.”
RIDERS IN THE MAIN EVENT SO FAR:
Stuart Robson (Rye House), Gary Havelock (Redcar), Kauko Nieminen (Workington), Chris Kerr (Redcar).
 BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAJOR EVENTS REVAMP
By Nigel Pearson BSPA ~ Sunday 28th January 2007
British Speedway bosses are set to revamp their major events – and all will be revealed in London on Thursday. The sport will be represented at the MCN London Motorcycle Show at Excel when riders and management alike will make appearances.
King’s Lynn co-boss Jonathan Chapman, who has been working closely on the big meetings, said: “No fan in the country will want to miss major events this year, it’s very exciting.”
*THE MCN London Motorcycle Show is taking place at ExCel London from February 1-4.
As well as stands from the big bike manaufacterers, including the launch of the new 2007 Ducati range, there are plenty other events happening throughout the weekend including five shows a day in the excellent Live action arena.
As in 2006 the British Speedway stand will be present with representation from Arena Essex, Reading and Swindon confirmed, with rider appearances details to follow.
Tickets can be obtained by ringing 0870 7300049 or by visiting www.londonmotorcycleshow.com
Ticket prices are as follows:
Advance ticket prices: Adult: £13 (£16 on the door) ~ Child 11 -15: £6 ~ Over 60s: £6
BEARS TEEN STAR
By Martin Neal Evening Gazette ~ Friday 26th January 2007
HOT young prospect Josh Auty was unveiled as Redcar Bears final team member last night - and immediately set his sights on helping his new team win some silverware. The 16-year-old former British Under-15 Champion steps into the Premier League for the first time, having ended last season with a stunning 10.4 average with Scunthorpe at Conference level. He will continue to double up with the Scorpions but will share the Bears’ No 7 jacket with Rusty Hodgson.
Auty is currently studying for 11 GCSEs and - until June when he leaves school - will ride for the Bears only when his studies allow. After June it is a different matter, however, although his tender years mean he is still not old enough to drive himself to meetings. “It’s a big boost for myself,” said Auty after being unveiled at last night’s Bears social evening at Dr Brown’s in Middlesbrough. “I had such a good season in the Conference league last year and I want to carry that on. Being so close to my home in West Yorkshire, Redcar is the ideal place for me. It’s a good set-up there and with Gary Havelock being a former world champion, I’m hoping he can guide me.”
It’s a big step up from the Conference to the Premier League but Auty is confident he can handle it. “Each year the league is getting harder and harder,” he observed. “But I need to get my head down and work hard. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
In their debut season last year the Bears reached the play-offs and won the Tyne Tees Trophy. Now their latest signing believes they can do even better in 2007. “This season, as well as trying to better myself, I want to help Redcar win some trophies,” he said. “It’s a competitive and exciting side that has been put together - if we steer clear of injuries we have to be in with a shout.”
Former England skipper and manager Eric Boocock - who began his career with Middlesbrough Bears - will continue to guide Auty despite being appointed joint team manager of Belle Vue Aces. “I owe a massive thank you to Eric for all his support,” said Auty, “and also to all the sponsors who have helped me.”
PROMOTER Chris van Straaten has confirmed he intends to run a Cleveland Bays team in this year’s Conference League, subject to permission being granted by Redcar and Cleveland Council to stage their matches at weekends. The intention is to run 12 Conference level meetings, starting with a match against the touring American Dream Team over Easter weekend. Former Middlesbrough rider Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows will be the Bays’ rider/coach.
BEARS SIGN JOSH
By Tim Helm ~ Thursday 25th January 2007
The final piece is now in place for the Bears team plans with the signing this evening of 16 year old Josh Auty who will share the doubling up race jacket with Rusty Hodgson in the forthcoming campaign while also undertaking duties with Conference League side Scunthorpe.
Auty is an Under 15 British Champion mentored by non other than Eric Boocock, at a young age he is also a very accomplished grasstrack racer, and now a great new signing for the Bears after being touted by several teams to make the step up from Conference League racing where he started last year.
BEARS TO UNVEIL SIGNING
By Martin Neal Evening Gazette ~ Tuesday 23rd January 2007
The final piece of the Redcar Bears jigsaw will be slotted into place this week. For team manager Brian Havelock has revealed the final member of his 2007 team will be unveiled at Thursday evening's social event at Dr Brown's in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough. This time last year the Bears had only three names on their team sheet ahead of their re-launch. But team-building for 2007 is at an advanced stage and the only place still to be filled is for a reserve to share the No 7 jacket with Rusty Hodgson.
Havelock was remaining tightlipped about the new rider's identity - but expects him to be warmly welcomed. "He's a really exciting prospect," said Havelock. "He's young and British - our fans will love him." The new arrival will join fellow winter signings Jamie Courtney in meeting Bears fans for the first time at this week's function.
Skipper Gary Havelock and his dad Brian will also be in attendance, along with director of operations Gareth Rogers who will be interviewing them. Havvy junior has admitted he is looking forward to the season with relish and believes both he and the team can improve on last year. "The whole team really gives me a buzz," he said. "I haven't been this excited about speedway for a long time. If we steer clear of that dreaded word - injuries - then the sky's the limit."
Only Somerset's Magnus Zetterstrom finished above him in the Premier League averages last term but he believes he can improve this year. "I've amazed myself actually," he said. "Usually at this time of year I'm in close season mode and I don't start thinking about speedway until February or early March. But I'm really looking forward to the start of the season. We've got the basis of a really good team - it's a young team full of potential and I fully intend to improve my average this year too."
Tickets (priced £4) will be available on the door for Thursday's get-together, which takes the form of a race night with a quiz and raffle.
Meanwhile new Workington skipper Kauko Nieminen is the latest name to be added to Kevin Little’s farewell meeting at Redcar on April 5th. Little believes his former club have made the right appointment. He said: “Captain Niemo, that sounds good! I rode with him at Workington in 2005 and I think they’ve made an excellent choice. He’s a great guy and I’m delighted to have him in my meeting.”
RIGHT ON TRACK
Bears man Rusty follows family trail
By Martin Neal Evening Gazette ~ Monday 22nd January 2007
A MASSIVE season is approaching for the latest member of a famous Teesside speedway dynasty to hit the big time. And he is determined to grab the opportunity with both hands. Former road racer Rusty Hodgson, from Hutton Rudby, didn’t have an easy first full year on the shale last season - but he impressed promoter Chris van Straaten enough to be included in the Redcar Bears Premier League team for 2007. In doing so, he follows dad Russ, who rode for Teesside Tigers in the 1970s, grandad Frank, who was skipper of the Boro Bears in the post-war years, and great uncle Jack, who also starred at Cleveland Park in the 1940s.
Rusty, 25, only began racing speedway at the tail end of 2005 and last year he rode for the Cleveland Bays - the Bears’ junior team - as well as making one senior appearance in place of Mat Tresarrieu at Glasgow in August. This year he’ll share the Bears’ No 7 jacket with another, as yet unspecified rider, as well as continuing to ride for the Bays at Conference level. Rusty’s 2006 season ended with a trip to James Cook University Hospital after breaking his wrist and elbow in a crash against Buxton in October, but he said: “I’m fit and ready to go again now. I had some good meetings last year, but after the crash I didn’t know which way it would go, so I’m delighted to be given a chance in the Premier League. I’m confident I can do well, especially as I’ll be riding for the Bays as well. The mechanical problems I had at the start of last season drove me crazy and I also broke my hand and my finger so, although it was my first full season, I only really did half a season. So there is room for me to improve a lot this season - I have got a great opportunity and I intend to take it.”
Now, as Rusty gears up for the busiest and most important season of his speedway life so far, he’s hoping to attract some sponsorship to help him realise his undoubted potential. “Last year I spoke to somebody I knew from my road racing days and he said he would help me,” said Rusty, “but I haven’t heard back from him. Riding for both the Bears and the Bays means I’ll need three bikes - I could be doing three meetings quite regularly. I’ve invested a lot already but I need to invest more - you need to have the right equipment for the job.”
Rusty will join skipper Gary Havelock, new boys Jamie Courtney and James Grieves and team boss Brian Havelock at the Bears’ social night at Doctor Brown’s in Middlesbrough on Thursday. Tickets (priced £4) are available from Brian Havelock - call 01642 888780 to reserve one.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Rusty this season - which begins in March and ends in October - can contact him by e-mail at russh49@hotmail.com or by phone on 01642 701799.
HAVVY SUPPORTS PAL KEVIN
Wednesday 17th January 2007
FORMER world champion Gary Havelock will ride in Kevin Little’s Farewell meeting at Redcar on April 5. Little, who was a team-mate of Havelock’s for the rebirth of speedway on Teesside last year, is delighted to have his good friend on board. He said: “We first rode together at Bradford in 1992, the year he went on to win the World title. He was brilliant then and he still is.”
PRESS & PRACTICE
Redcar Speedway ~ Saturday 13th January 2007
Press and Practice day confirmed for Thursday 15th March, public admittance will be advised in due course. There will be a ‘Meet the Riders Forum’ at the ‘Legends Suite’ Riverside Stadium from 7.30pm that evening. The first challenge fixtures for the Bears are now published on the fixtures page.
BIG PLANS FOR LITTLE FAREWELL
By Martin Neal Evening Gazette ~ Wednesday 10th January 2007
Retired Redcar Bears star Kevin Little has ambitious plans to celebrate his 20-year racing career - and has unveiled Stuart Robson as the first confirmed starter for his benefit meeting in April. Little bowed out on a high last October, winning his last race in spectacular fashion as Redcar lifted the Tyne Tees Trophy at Newcastle.
Now he is working feverishly on plans for a farewell meeting at South Tees Motorsports Park on Thursday, April 5. And Rye House star Robson - a former Boro Bears favourite before the closure of Cleveland Park - is the first name on his list. "I've known the Robson family for many years," said Little, "so Stuart seemed a good man to start with. I first rode with Stuart in 1994 at Edinburgh when he joined us for just a few meetings at the end of the year, and rode in the Cup final. Then we were both in the Coventry team in the Premier League of 1996, and more recently I teamed up with him again when he doubled down with Newcastle in 2003. By that time Stuart was a really great rider, as he still is. Because he was injured for so much of last season he hasn't ridden at Redcar before, so the fans there are in for a treat when they see what an exciting rider Stuart is."
The meeting will also feature a veterans' mini-tournament featuring Kenny McKinna, Peter Carr, Scott Lamb, Sean Courtney, Paul Bentley, David Blackburn, Martin Dixon and Mark Courtney - all of whom are former team-mates of Little's.
WIZZKID COURTNEY IS A BEAR
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 5th January 2007
EXCITING teenager Jamie Courtney is the latest rider to join Redcar Bears for 2007. The 18-year-old Ashington-born whizz kid arrives at South Tees Motorsports Park on loan from the Bears’ Premier League rivals Rye House. He will take the No 6 jacket for the coming season, which begins in March, and is the seventh rider to be tied down for the new campaign by promoter Chris van Straaten.
Courtney began his career in the Conference League with Rye House as a 15-year-old and, as well as riding in the third tier with Swindon and Oxford, also has Premier League experience with Workington, the Isle of Wight and the Rockets. His 2006 season was ended by rib and back injuries sustained in a track crash at the Isle of Wight in May but he is now fully fit and eager to continue his burgeoning career.
The son of former Boro Bears rider Mark Courtney - and nephew of Sean Courtney - he amazingly becomes the third member of the 2007 team whose father rode at Cleveland Park. The others are his mentor, Gary Havelock, and fellow reserve Rusty Hodgson - while Cleveland Bays rider Martin Emerson can also lay claim to that distinction.
Bears promoter Chris van Straaten is delighted with his latest capture. He said: “He has an outstanding pedigree in the sport with his family connections and he was showing huge potential last year prior to his injury. “I’d like to thank Gary Havelock for his influence. He has taken Jamie under his wing over the past 18 months - he will have the mother hen approach that was so successful last season with Dan Giffard.”
Courtney arrives on an average of 3.25 - but van Straaten believes he can mirror the achievements of Giffard and improve that considerably. Giffard began the season as a graded reserve but ended it as Bears Rider of the Year after wearning a place in the top five for 2007. “I think he can show the same improvement as Dan did last season and put a couple of points on that,” said van Straaten. “It is a good move for the club.” The only gap in the Bears team now is for a rider to share the No 7 jacket with Hodgson.
FANS have their first chance to meet Courtney and fellow new signing James Grieves at the Bears’ race night at Dr Brown’s in Middlesbrough on Thursday, January 25 (7.30pm start). Tickets (priced £4) are limited - call Brian Havelock on 01642 888780 to book.
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