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LATEST NEWS MAY 2008
PAIR INJURED AS BEARS CRASH OUT OF CUP
By Keith McGhie, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 31st May 2008
TLS BEARS team manager Brian Havelock could muster few crumbs of comfort as Redcar added to their injury problems while bowing out of the Knock-out Cup on a 110-76 aggregate at Edinburgh. The Bears lost 55-38 at Armadale last night - having gone down by the same score in the first leg at home 24 hours earlier - but were putting up much more resistance until losing Dan Giffard and skipper Gary Havelock to nasty-looking falls in successive races.
The Bears trailed by just six points when Giffard high-sided in heat 10 and, following lengthy treatment on the track, was helped away with a suspected broken right wrist. Then, in the following race, Havelock tangled with Matthew Wethers and came down - the former world champion damaging his left arm, the front end of his machine and getting excluded to add insult to injury. Maximum home advantages resulted in each heat, leaving the beleaguered Bears suddenly 14 points adrift and with just five fit riders to contest the closing races.
“We were doing pretty well in holding what is a very good side up until then - probably better than on Thursday and maybe had we not lost so heavily at home and had the incentive of something realistic to race for, we might have done even better,” reflected Havelock Snr. “Gary’s scuffed his arm and bent his bike but he should be all-right, while Dan’s wrist was swelling and he had that look on his face that you get when the shock begins to bite, although we won’t know for sure until he’s been to hospital. Josh Auty’s form was probably the highlight - he’s had a rough start to the season but was getting out of the gate and mixing it with them.”
Hard-worked Auty, taking the maximum allowed seven rides to help cover for the injuries, scored an encouraging nine from his opening four outings before being called upon in three of the last four races and running out of steam. Former Edinburgh rider James Grieves was again top scorer and, as on Thursday, helped limit the deficit with a double-points scoring tactical ride - this time passing Monarchs skipper Derek Sneddon on the line in heat 12, with Auty chipping in to earn the Bears a 7-2. Grieves also ended Wethers’ maximum hopes in heat 15, while Havelock had earlier become the only Redcar rider to take points off Ryan Fisher. But no-one had any answer to William Lawson, who missed the first leg to contest the British Final at Swindon yet roared to a 15-point full house on his home track.
Gary Havelock is expected to be fit for the league match at home to Mildenhall next Thursday, while Redcar’s options for replacing Giffard, should X-rays confirm a break, are limited due to the West Midlands based racer’s lower-than-hoped-for current average. Also in the wars was Edinburgh’s Aaron Summers - of ironic concern to the coach-load of Redcar fans that made the trip, as the young Adelaide rider represents the Redcar Cubs, alongside fellow South Australian Scott James, in the Conference League Pairs Championship at Weymouth tonight.
MONARCHS
William Lawson 15, Matthew Wethers 14+2, Ryan Fisher 13, Derek Sneddon 6, Sean Stoddart (guest) 5+1, Aaron Summers 1+1, Rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson.
BEARS
James Grieves 13, Josh Auty 10, Arlo Bugeja 4+2, Ty proctor 4+1, Gary Havelock 4, Dan Giffard 2+2, Joni Keskinen 1.
RAMPANT MONARCHS TAKE A STRANGLEHOLD
By Keith McGhie, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 30th May 2008
REDCAR face a massive battle tonight to avoid elimination from the Knockout Cup after losing last night’s second round first-leg tie against Edinburgh at South Bank Motorsports Park. A defiant 15+1 from James Grieves couldn’t prevent the Bears losing 55-38 to visitors Edinburgh, who have home advantage for tonight’s return. Grieves claimed three of the TLS Bears’ total of just five race wins, from 15 heats, as they were repeatedly outgated and outfought by the rampant Monarchs. And the Scot, who further limited the damage with double points scoring tactical ride victory in heat nine, couldn’t hide the huge disappointment of such a heavy loss against his former club.
Grieves said: “I think we were below par tonight but Edinburgh have a very good squad who are capable of scoring points from one to seven. It’s going to be very hard to do anything about it now but we have to put our heads down and have a go for it at Armadale. The result takes the gloss off of my performance – I ride for the team and it’s like last year when I scored a 21-point maximum at Newport and we still didn’t win or Mildenhall where I scored a lot of points but we also just lost.”
Bears’ boss Brian Havelock offered no excuses, adding: “They have come and collared the match from word go – from the first heat. They are a cracking side and all have their heads in the air because they are winning everywhere – they were very good and probably made us look worse than we are. It’s a mountain to climb at Edinburgh but I said we had a mountain to climb before the start of the home leg and we may well go their and perform better than we have here – we have riders who go very well at Edinburgh like Gary and James Grieves.”
Edinburgh certainly wasted no time in proving they had the riders to score points at Redcar, providing each of the opening four race winners to forge a 16-8 lead that never looked like being pegged back.
Grieves gave home fans their first reason to cheer by winning heat five but when in-form Monarchs’ reserve Andrew Tully muscled his way through on the inside of Redcar skipper Gary Havelock on the opening lap of the following race, as Edinburgh extended their lead to 14 points with advantages in each of the next three races, there was already almost no way back for the Bears. Ty Proctor raised hopes a little with a spirited burst through from the back to take second place in heat seven but failed to make any impact, when in as a potentially double points scoring tactical substitution, off of a 15 metre handicap, in the next race.
Grieves offered some relief with an enthralling burst around Mathew Wethers to take maximum six points from his heat nine tactical ride, then made a similar move stick on Derek Sneddon to take the chequered flag in heat 12, while Proctor finally gained full reward for his efforts when winning heat 11. But it was left to Josh Auty in heat 14 to wreck the maximum hopes of Edinburgh’s American International Ryan Fisher. Auty’s late efffort was sandwiched between further Monarchs’ advantages which stretched their final first leg lead to 17 points.
BEARS
James Grieves 15+1; Ty Proctor 8, Gary Havelock 7, Josh Auty 4, Dan Giffard 3, Joni Keskinen 1+1, Arlo Bugeja 0.
MONARCHS
R Fisher 16+1, Matthew Wethers 12, Andrew Tully 11+1, Tomas Topinka (guest) 8+2, Aaron Summers 6+2, Derek Sneddon 2+1, Rider Replacement for Thomas H Jonasson.
JUNIOR JOTTINGS ~ THE CUBS
By Steve Harland ~ Friday 30th May 2008
A SUPERB first ever victory against the reigning Conference League champions Scunthorpe was followed by a valiant effort down south against Rye House last Saturday evening. Unfortunately the meeting at Sittingbourne had to be called off at 5am on the Sunday morning after torrential overnight rain left the track waterlogged.
Thursday’s last heat decider against the Scunthorpe Saints saw Aaron Summers clinch yet another 15pt maximum and he had to do it the hard way coming from last to first in the space of three quarters of a lap as he swooped first round Byron Bekker and then both Scott James & Scott Richardson in a majestic overtaking manoeuvre as the TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs emerged victorious by 49-43pts. The meeting was not without drama as early on riders from both teams struggled to stay upright on what was at best a patchy surface that had been overwatered. Indeed both David Wallinger & Scott Richardson were fortunate to escape serious injury as both were caught out by the heavier than usual track conditions and riders following behind were unable to avoid them. Thankfully neither sustained any serious injuries. Team manager Jason Pipe was pleased with efforts of squad member Steve Jones who included a win in his 7+2 bonus point total. Skipper Gary Beaton looked back to his best with two crucial victories whilst Scott James was consistency personified with yet another double figure score.
The biggest disappointment was the crowd which was nearly 200 down on the corresponding fixture from last season. With a sunny evening and reduced admission for adults, an incentive for season ticket holders to attend and free entry for children U16 accompanied by an adult the meeting still attracted sponsors in the shape of MF Engineering of Newton Aycliffe.
SCORERS
Aaron Summers 15, Scott James 11+1, Gary Beaton 9, Steve Jones 7+2, David Wallinger 5+1, Martin Emerson 2+1, Guy Kendrew 0.
Without the services of the influential Aaron Summers the Cubs travelled to Hertfordshire on Saturday determined to run the Rye House Cobras close. On a track that is notoriously tight round the first and second bends it was the Cubs reserve pairing of Guy Kendrew & David Wallinger who threw down the gauntlet to the home team with a superb effort in race two. It was all square again after four races when Daniel Halsey & Lee Strudwick beat Steve Jones but the Cubs responded immediately. Scott James inflicted Andrew Aldridge’s first ever defeat with Jade Mudgway in third. The Cubs extended their lead after nine races when Steve Jones & David Wallinger got a 5-1 against Aldridge to extend the lead to 6pts. The problem was that Rye House had Danny Betson, Daniel Halsey & Lee Strudwick firing on all cylinders and the Cubs only had Scott James who could match them. Heat 10 proved to be a crucial turning point. Gary Beaton failed to beat the two minute time allowance and reserve David Wallinger came in. Unfortunately for Dave he was the victim of some over exuberant riding by Strudwick who entering the first bend made contact with him and sent him flying into and under the greyhound fencing. Wallinger was not fit enough to take part in the rerun having damaged his right ankle and his replacement Guy Kendrew touched the tapes and was excluded. The referee – who had deemed the original incident as ‘first bend bunching’ - had the Cubs management and many supporters in the crowd questioning his eyesight.
Strudwick was again at the centre of a controversial incident two races later when both him and Gary Beaton off gates three and four went round the first bend in unison. Unfortunately Beaton was pushed that far wide he ended up in the same place as team mate Wallinger had earlier. The referee once again deemed it as ‘first bend bunching’ and another heat advantage to Rye House. With the scores level the Cobras then got a genuine advantage with a 5-1 from Betson & Halsey which they then repeated in the final race to run out fortunate victors by 49-40pts.
The defeat saw the Cubs remain top of the Conference League table with returnee Jade Mudgway showing no ill effects from his recent wrist injury and both reserves Guy Kendrew & David Wallinger returning to some semblance of form. Scott James was racing his third match in three days having appeared for the Cubs against Scunthorpe on Thursday.. He then rode at Edinburgh on Friday night for the senior Scunthorpe team as a guest, travelled back home to Workington and then made the long journey to Hertfordshire on Saturday. No wonder he wasn’t as sharp at Rye House.
SCORERS
Jade Mudgway 7+1, David Wallinger 6+2, Guy Kendrew 6+1, Scott James & Gary Beaton 6, Steve Jones 5+1, Martin Emerson 4.
MONARCHS SHOW RESPECT FOR BEARS
By Keith McGhie, Evening Gazette ~ Thursday 29th May 2008
A POWERHOUSE Edinburgh outfit arrive on Teesside tonight showing cautious respect for Redcar TLS Bears in what many feel is the tie of the Knock-out Cup, second round (7.30pm start). Bears’ promoter Glyn Taylor reckons the Monarchs are “the best side in the Premier League”, having lost just twice in 17 matches this season.
But his opposite number John Campbell, who also manages the Scottish side this evening, insists: “I’ve been very confident about every match we’ve been to this year but I’m not confident about the outcome of this one. “If we had a full strength team I think we would win both matches comfortably but we are without two of our top riders so now I feel the tie is balanced on a knife edge and could go either way.” The Monarchs travel south minus leading scorer William Lawson, who contests tonight’s British Final at Swindon, and Swede Thomas H Jonasson – very impressive when rain curtailed the corresponding league match with Redcar 28-26 ahead in April - who is en-route to Finland for a World Under-21 Championship qualifier.
But Bears’ team boss Brian Havelock believes they have ample cover in King’s Lynn’s Czech international Tomas Topinka, as a guest, while using rider replacement for Jonasson. “Topinka will do a job for them and they get at least the Swede’s average of seven from rider replacement, especially as both their reserves Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers are going so well at the moment," says Havelock. Tully is in the best form of his life and only missed out on celebrating his 21st birthday with a maximum at former club Scunthorpe last Monday, when he suffered a puncture in his sixth and final ride. Summers has had plenty of track time at Redcar as the outstanding member of the Conference League Cubs and has dropped just one point to an opponent in 16 races around the South Bank circuit at that level so far. “We’ve given Aaron the chance to gain more experience and he’s done very well for us, but he could return and bite us on the backside,” concedes Havelock, whose own side is at full available strength.
Edinburgh ran out 53-39 winners in Lincolnshire – their sixth win in all competitions away from home – to climb to third in the league ladder, just three points behind the leaders and with matches in hand to both teams above them. Bears were boosted by bringing a run of three defeats to an end with a 48-42 victory at Glasgow last Sunday and welcome back Josh Auty, who was absent and narrowly failed to make the cut in another of the World Under-21 rounds in Slovakia last weekend.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 Joni Keskinen, 3 James Grieves, 4 Dan Giffard, 5 Ty Proctor, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Arlo Bugeja.
MONARCHS
1 Tomas Topinka (guest), 2 Rider replacement for Thomas H. Jonasson, 3 Derek Sneddon, 4 Ryan Fisher, 5 Matthew Wethers, 6 Andrew Tully, 7 Aaron Summers.
ENCORE!
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 24th May 2008
BOSS Brian Havelock is hoping that lightning will strike twice when he takes his Redcar TLS Bears side to Glasgow tomorrow. Last season they were forced to go into their crucial Young Shield quarter-final, second leg without Josh Auty who was denied permission to ride by Scunthorpe who had first call on him. Already without Mat Tresarrieu, they were forced to draft in Jitendra Duffill as cover for Auty, yet defied the odds with a stunning 47-43 win.
This time around they will again be without Auty who is riding in a World Under-21 qualifying round in Slovenia and are also missing American star Chris Kerr. Joni Keskinen has been brought in on a 28-day contract to cover for Kerr, while Adam McKinna is the guest replacement for Auty.
“We did it there last year,” said Havelock, “so if we can turn back the clock and repeat that achievement, I’d be very pleased. To be honest we found it difficult to find a guest, especially as it’s Sunday when there is a lot of Conference League action. But Adam has a lot of local knowledge of Glasgow and I’m hoping that will help us.”
Havelock’s side go into the match on the back of two consecutive away defeats. But Gary Havelock and former Tigers rider James Grieves usually go well at the Ashfield track, while a repeat of Dan Giffard’s paid 11 score there in October wouldn’t go amiss. “I’m optimistic we can do something there,” said Havelock, “although we’ll need the reserves to provide some cover.”
The Tigers are without injured duo Shane Parker and Trent Leverington, while Ross Brady and Josh Grajczonek have taken heavy knocks recently too.
TIGERS
1 R/R for Trent Leverington, 2 Josh Grajczonek, 3 TBC, 4 Lee Dicken, 5 Robert Ksiezak, 6 Mitchell Davey, 7 Ross Brady.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 Joni Keskinen, 3 James Grieves, 4 Dan Giffard, 5 Ty Proctor, 6. Adam McKinna, 7 Arlo Bugeja.
JADE MUDGWAY returns to the Redcar TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs team for their Conference League matches at Rye House tonight and Sittingbourne tomorrow. The young Kiwi, who broke a wrist in the Cubs’ match at Scunthorpe, replaces Aaron Summers who has been refused permission to ride by his parent club Edinburgh.
CUBS
1 Scott James, 2 Jade Mudgway, 3 Gary Beaton, 4 Martin Emerson, 5 Steven Jones, 6 David Wallinger, 7 Guy Kendrew.
THE HALOS SLIP
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 23rd May 2008
RED HOT Redcar Cubs leapt to the top of the Conference League last night with a 49-43 victory over Scunthorpe Saints. The Saints arrived at South Tees Motorsports Park boasting the only remaining unbeaten record in British speedway, but never looked like keeping it. The Cubs were ahead from the moment Scott James and Steven Jones opened the match with a 5-1 and, although the gap was down to three points with nine heats gone, there was soon daylight between the sides again. The dynamic duo of Scott James and Aaron Summers again spearheaded the Cubs’ charge and will surely have a great chance of success in the forthcoming CL Pairs Championship at Weymouth.
The battling Byron Bekker was the only rider to lower James’ colours, while Summers romped to a 15-point maximum and was deservedly given the celebratory bumps at the end. Summers looked a class apart and completed his full house with a blast from third to first in the final race. The Cubs had gone into that race needing a 3-3 to wrap up the victory that would leapfrog them above their visitors in the table. They looked in command at 44-33 up with two heats left but Saints boss Malcolm Vasey gave the black and white tactical double helmet colour to Bekker in a last throw of the dice for heat 14. The determined South African responded by leading home Scott Richardson for an 8-1 heat advantage which kept them in the hunt.
Cubs reserve Guy Kendrew from Stokesley again failed to reproduce the form shown on his home debut against Buxton, but revealed he’s determined to get back on form. “It was nice to see the team do well, it was just a shame to be the weakest link again,” said Kendrew. “I’m getting a bit sick of being a waste on the team. I don’t like it and I want to get amongst the points again. It’s great to be top of the league, but I just wished I’d helped along the way somewhere”
CUBS
Aaron Summers 15, Scott James 11+1, Gary Beaton 9, Steven Jones 7+2, David Wallinger 5+1, Martin Emerson 2+1, Guy Kendrew 0.
SAINTS
Byron Bekker 15, Scott Richardson 12+2, Jamie Robertson 7+1, Gary Irving 5+2, Jonathan Bethell 2+1, Mike Pickering (No 8) 2, R/R for Benji Compton.
CUBS UPDATE CORNER
By Steve Harland ~ Friday 23rd May 2008
THE ‘TLS/Simpson Racing UK’ Cubs face a hectic spell of three meetings in four days with a home meeting against the Scunthorpe Saints at South Tees Motorsports Park having taken place last night and then a southern tour over the weekend to Hertfordshire and Kent. The Cubs currently occupy second place in the Conference League and need to consolidate their prospects for the fourth qualifying spot in the end of season play-offs. Team manager Jason Pipe was confident that his team could possibly take points from all three matches following on from the superb back from the dead result against the highly fancied Plymouth Devils. Realistically Rye House is one of the toughest places to get a result at, whilst it’s possible that last night’s match against Scunthorpe will have to gone to the last heat but the Cubs are made of sterner stuff this season.
The Cubs travel south on Saturday to face the newly renamed Rye House ‘Cobras’ who race at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire at 7pm and then face an earlier start time than usual with a meeting against the Sittingbourne Crusaders at noon on Sunday. They will have to do it without the services of Aaron Summers who has been told he cannot ride by his parent club, Edinburgh. Summers was signed to take the place of Greg Blair who remains on the injured list. New Zealander Jade Mudgway may come into the reckoning but it depends on what transpires from his visit to hospital on Tuesday. If he doesn’t ride then the rider replacement facility will be used. Durham-based squad member Steve Jones has been added to the team and who will be looking to win at least one of these matches. The match against Rye House may possibly see former Redcar Bears rider Jamie Courtney making an appearance as the Hertfordshire side have added him to their squad recently Courtney promised much but delivered little before he got injured and in his lone appearance for the Cleveland Bays last season he failed to distinguish himself. Last season Sitttingbourne was the scene of the club’s record away victory at Conference League level by 54-38pts but that was achieved with Greg Blair scoring a maximum from reserve. Blair is still on the injured list but this season the Crusaders have strengthened their line-up quite considerably and will prove a much tougher nut to crack. Meetings between the two teams are usually much closer and the least time the two teams met at STMP, the Crusaders fought for a share of the spoils and gained a well earned draw.
TEAM LINE-UPS for Rye House & Sittingbourne:
1 Scott James; 2 Jade Mudgway or Rider Replacement; 3 Gary Beaton; 4 Martin Emerson; 5 Steve Jones; 6 David Wallinger; 7 Guy Kendrew.
REDCAR Cubs rider Jade Mudgway made his first appearance since fracturing his wrist in two places at Scunthorpe recently. Mudgway, representing New Zealand, scored four points from five rides at the World Under-21 meeting at Norden, Germany on Sunday afternoon. It was obvious that Mudgway was far from being 100% fit and his highlight being a second place to the Czech Republic’s Adam Vandirek in Heat 15. Poland’s Robert Kasprzak won the meeting and goes through to the final at Pardubice, Czech Republic. Other qualifiers were Adam Kajoch (Poland), Patrick Hougaard (Denmark), Hynek Stichauer (Czech Republic), Max Dilger (Germany) and Ricky Wells (USA).
REDCAR BEARS rider Arlo Bugeja has clinched a three figure sponsorship deal with Stockton on Tees based Hartburn Garage. Aussie Arlo, who lives locally at Coulby Newham during the season has produced his own brochure to attract would-be sponsors. Hartburn Garage have a long association with speedway riders on Teesside as the company based in Darlington Road used to sponsor Steve Regeling & Stuart Swales in the early nineties and also sponsor Chris Kerr & Greg Blair of the current Redcar speedway team.
IT’S been a few years since a speedway team from Sunderland Stars raced on Teesside, well 38 to be precise, but I understand that a group of diehard Sunderland supporters who frequent the South Tees Motorsports Park are keen to see their team in action again. Headed by Sunderland businessman Paul McLvenny and team managed by former Sunderland captain Russ Dent watch out for the Sunderland Stars appearing against the Tees Valley Tigers in second half action following the Edinburgh Monarchs Knockout Cup match at STMP next week.
THE last few remaining Premier League matches have been snapped up by sponsors:
Edinburgh Knockout Cup – Kettlewell Fuels Group of Melmerby;
Mildenhall – Addison Plant Hire of Thornaby;
Edinburgh/Stoke/Birmingham – Chatfields Leyland DAF of Stockton-on-Tees;
Reading - Cleveland Motorcycle Training Scheme of Billingham;
Rye House – Tyne Tees Demolition of Newton Aycliffe & Glasgow – Private Booking.
It means for the first time in the history of speedway racing on Teesside - which goes back to 1928, every scheduled meeting is sponsored. Even the club’s Conference League meetings have attracted sponsors this season with TLS Vehicle Rentals of Billingham, SA Utilities of Newcastle and MF Engineering of Newton Aycliffe backing meetings against Buxton, Plymouth and Scunthorpe.
BEARS MAY NEED CHANGES ~ HAVELOCK
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Wednesday 21st May 2008
CONCERNED boss Brian Havelock has hinted at possible team changes after another disappointing defeat last night. Captain Marvel Gary Havelock was again the star of the show, romping to an immaculate 18-point maximum in Redcar TLS Bears’ Premier League clash at the Isle of Wight. But he couldn’t prevent them from going down 53-40, just 24 hours after crashing 57-35 at Reading. The former world champion’s two big scores proved beyond doubt that he’s still a major force at the age of 39. But for the second night running, the Bears were short of strength in depth - a point accentuated by home reserve James Holder’s paid 14-point haul.
And, although they staged a spirited fightback after being 41-19 down with 10 races gone, team manager Havelock Snr couldn’t conceal his concern. “Gary used a different bike to the one he used at Reading,” he explained. “It had a softer compression and he never looked like being beaten. He’s still a class act at the age of 39 and I wish I had two or three others half as good. The boys did well to claw back the deficit from 41-19 - they deserve credit for the way they did that. But once again we were left with a long tail and I think we could be looking at team changes now. Glyn Taylor (the Bears promoter) will be on the phone to me to find out how it went and I’m sure that will be on his mind. It can’t go on like this.”
A run of four 5-1s in five races - the other one ended 4-2 - put the Islanders in control and for a time it looked like the Bears might be on their way to a real thrashing. But Havelock’s victory in heat 11, combined with new boy Joni Keskinen’s first point for the club after Krzystof Stojanowski suffered an engine failure, cut the gap by five points. A pair of 4-2s to the visitors followed, although by then a match victory was already too big an ask.
“I was pleased to see Joni get his first point,” said Havelock, “even if there was a touch of fortune about it. He wasn’t too far away in one of his other rides and he’ll be testing a new engine tomorrow.”
ISLANDERS
James Holder 12+2, Cory Gathercole 12+1, Glen Phillips 9+1, Krzystof Stojanowski 9, Jason Bunyan 6+2, Andrew Bargh 5, R/R for Paul Fry.
BEARS
Gary Havelock 18, James Grieves 9, Josh Auty 5, Ty Proctor 4, Dan Giffard 3+1, Joni Keskinen 1, Arlo Bugeja 0.
JOSH AUTY is away on World Under-21 Championship duty this Sunday and will miss the Bears’ rearranged trip to Glasgow. Adam McKinna comes in as a guest replacement. Due to demand, the Bears Supporters’ Group have hired a bigger coach for this meeting. To book a seat for the trip, contact 07796051134 or send an email to info@bearssupportersgroup.co.uk
THE Bears’ Premier League match at Somerset has been moved from Friday, August 1 to Friday, August 8.
BOSS HAVELOCK DEMANDS SCORING BACK-UP
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Tuesday 20th May 2008
BOSS Brian Havelock will be looking for an improved performance in the second leg of his Redcar TLS Bears side’s southern tour tonight. The Bears went down 57-35 to Reading last night in their first ever visit to Smallmead and will now look for more all-round scoring power against the Isle of Wight this evening. Skipper Gary Havelock was in prolific form, dropping just two points from five rides. He denied Premier League No 1 Ulrich Ostergaard his maximum by beating him on the line in the last race, was the only visiting rider to finish ahead of Tom P Madsen and came from behind to beat both Chris Mills and Mark Lemon in the opening race.
But although James Grieves weighed in with 10 points - including four from a heat seven tac double ride - the former world champion didn’t receive a great amount of back-up from the remainder of his team. Of greatest concern is that former rider of the year Dan Giffard is still struggling for points while new boy Joni Keskinen has not yet adapted to Premier League racing and is still to register a point from two meetings.
“If it hadn’t been for Captain Marvel, we’d have been really messed up,” said a concerned Havelock. “He’s on a 7.71 average and scoring 13, when you’ve got a rider on 3.72 scoring one. If a team like ours scores less than 40, it’s a bad show. I’m disappointed and three or four of the riders should be as well. We’ll be having a talk before tonight’s meeting and I’ll be telling them that it wasn’t good enough at Reading and that we need to put it right.”
RACERS
Ulrich Ostergaard 14, Tom P Madsen 12+1, Mark Lemon 9+1, Chris Mills 7+2, Tomas Suchanek 7+1, Jamie Smith 4+1, Nicki Glanz 4.
BEARS
Gary Havelock 13, James Grieves 10, Josh Auty 6+1, Ty Proctor 3, Arlo Bugeja 2+2, Dan Giffard 1, Joni Keskinen 0.
TONIGHT’S hosts, the Isle of Wight, will use rider replacement for Paul Fry who was injured in the recent horror crash at Berwick which made the national news. No 1 Krzystof Stojanowski is still suffering the effects of a shoulder injury, but rode in last Tuesday’s KO Cup defeat of Sheffield and is expected to be fit for tonight.
ISLANDERS
1 Krzystof Stojanowski, 2 Cory Gathercole, 3 Glen Phillips 4 R/R for Paul Fry), 5 Jason Bunyan, 6 Andrew Bargh, 7. James Holder.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 Joni Keskinen, 3 James Grieves, 4 Dan Giffard, 5 Ty Proctor, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Arlo Bugeja.
AUSSIE ACE ALL SET TO STAY WITH BEARS
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Monday 19th may 2008
WIZARD of Aus Ty Proctor is set to remain in Redcar Bears colours next year. The 21-year-old from Victoria - who arrived in March as a virtual unknown - is enjoying a stunning debut season in British speedway and was narrowly beaten to his first maximum against Stoke last Thursday. Boss Brian Havelock believes he’ll be the next Australian import to emulate World Cup star Chris Holder, who made his mark in the Premier League with the Isle of Wight and is now a big-hitter in the Elite League with Poole. But the TLS Bears chief has revealed that Proctor wants another year at Premier level - and that it will be at South Tees Motorsports Park.
“Ty was a little bit upset because he didn’t get his max on Thursday,” said Havelock, “but he was persecuting himself for nothing. He got 13 points! He’s going to be as good as Chris Holder - absolutely. He wants two years in the Premier League and we want him for two years. He won’t be ready for the Elite League at the end of this year - but next year he’ll be superb at this level. He’ll be here for sure - he’s our asset.”
Proctor faced a dash back to the UK for tonight’s Premier League clash at Reading after riding in yesterday’s World Under-21 qualifier at Zielona Gora, Poland. Proctor scored eight points from his five rides and, although that was not enough to earn qualification, he will have benefited greatly from the experience. Accompanying him on the trip was skipper Gary Havelock who was acting as his advisor and mentor. Havelock Jnr’s experience will be just as important tonight as the Bears meet the Racers for the first time. It’s the Berkshire club’s first season back at Premier level after a spell in the top flight - and that means former Poole, Arena Essex, Eastbourne at Peterborough star Havvy is one of the few Bears riders with experience of the Smallmead track.
Led by the PL’s current top performer Ulrich Ostergaard, the Racers have made an impressive start to the season. They won their Premier Trophy group and go into tonight’s match on the back of a 60-33 thrashing of Sheffield. Jamie Smith returns for the Racers at reserve after suffering concussion and a hairline fracture above his eyebrow in a crash against the Isle of Wight on May 5. Fellow reserve Danny Warwick is still ruled out with a broken shoulder, so guest Nicki Glanz steps in at No 7.
READING
1 Mark Lemon, 2 Chris Mills, 3 Ulrich Ostergaard, 4 Tomas Suchanek, 5 Tom P Madsen, 6 Jamie Smith, 7 Nicki Glanz.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 Joni Keskinen, 3 James Grieves, 4 Dan Giffard, 5 Ty Proctor, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Arlo Bugeja.
REDCAR Cubs’ Kiwi prospect Jade Mudgway was also in World Under-21 action, and also failed to progress from his round at Norden, Germany, where he scored four points.
BUDGIE BACKER!
By Redcar Speedway ~ Sunday 18th May 2008
REDCAR BEARS rider ARLO BUGEJA has clinched a three figure sponsorship deal with Stockton on Tees based Hartburn Garage. Aussie Arlo, from the quaintly named Humbug Scrub, Adelaide, lives locally at Coulby Newham during the season and has produced his own brochure to attract would-be sponsors.
Arlo would like to thank the club's community & marketing officer Steve Harland who brokered the deal for him following a visit to the company premises on Saturday morning to meet proprietor Graham Abel. Hartburn Garage have a long association with speedway riders on Teesside as the company based in Darlington Road used to sponsor Steve Regeling & Stuart Swales in the early nineties and also sponsor Chris Kerr & Greg Blair of the current Redcar speedway team.
BEARS GO INTO NEXT WEEK'S SOUTHERN TOUR BUOYED BY STOKE WIN
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 17th May 2008
After racking up six wins on the trot, the Bears surprisingly surrendered their unbeaten run meekly to the Rebels who recorded the biggest ever away win at South Tees Motorsports Park. But it was a different story against the Potters seven days later, and skipper Gary Havelock says it will be a more composed Bears team which visits Reading on Monday and the Isle of Wight on Tuesday.
“We had a much better night on Thursday,” reflected the former world champion, “although, no disrespect to Stoke, the opposition was probably slightly better last week. It would have been nice to have seen how we’d gone against Somerset this week because I think we’d have done a lot better than we did a week earlier. I’ve been trying a lot of things with engines and I’ve been working with Sean Wilson. Against Stoke I switched back to an engine I was using towards the end of last season when I was getting all the points. I’ve not been making the best gates for a a few weeks, so I think I’ll go back to that engine for a while. You can try too much searching for the perfect set-up, I guess. Sometimes it’s best to go with what you know works.”
Havvy dropped just one point to an opponent against Stoke but, even if he keeps that sort of form going, he’ll still be striving for more. “I’m never happy with my form at the end of the day,” he admitted. “This year it’s been hitty missy - I’ve had some really good meetings and some poor meetings, but with two crashes in my first two meetings, it wasn’t the best of starts. But that’s the way it is - I’m gettinmg older and the younger kids are getting hungrier and faster! But if I can make some more good starts over the next few meetings, I think everything will be fine.”
Havvy hits 40 this winter, but he’s still putting plenty in and getting plenty out of a long an illustrious career which began as a 16-year-old at Cleveland Park. “I’m still enjoying it,” he said, “and I’m still enjoying getting back in the workshop and working on the bikes. In the past I used to be in there at the start of the season but then I’d be away riding in different countries and I haven’t had time, so it’s been different but nice to actually get into the workshop and work on my bikes.”
The Bears captain is without long-serving mechanic Scott Trigg this season, after he returned to his native New Zealand during the close season. “It’s hugely different without him and at the beginning of the season it was a major stress for me,” he admitted. “I had many sleepless nights. But the two guys I’ve got now - Robin my brother-in-law and David Pye - are doing a fantastic job.”
Havvy has another role to play this weekend when he accompanies and mentors team- mate Ty Proctor to Zielona Gora, Poland, for tomorrow’s World Under-21 Championship qualifier. “I mentioned it to him before that I’d like to go with him,” he explained. “Then he told me he’d got confirmation he was in it and that it was this weekend! I said it was a shame we were at Reading and the Isle of Wight next week or I’d have gone with him - but he said I still had to go with him, whatever it took!”
BEARS BOUNCE BACK TO DEFEAT THE POTTERS
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 16th May 2008
NORMAL service has been resumed at South Tees Motorsports Park. And boss Brian Havelock was quick to praise his Redcar TLS Bears side after they bounced back from last week’s shock home defeat by seeing off Stoke Potters 52-38 in the Premier Trophy last night. Finnish new boy Joni Keskinen endured a torrid debut, which included blowing an engine at the tapes ahead of heat six, but didn’t look too far off the pace in his opening ride. However it was top end power which won the match, with James Grieves, Gary Havelock and Ty Proctor all in stunning form.
Grieves romped to his second maximum in three weeks and set a track record for the reshaped circuit to boot, while the determined Proctor went through all his programmed rides unbeaten but just couldn’t catch Ben Barker in the final heat after passing Lee Complin. Havelock, who switched engines after last week’s defeat by Somerset, also lowered the track record before Grieves went even quicker, and dropped just one point from four rides. And he gave a superb display of team riding with Proctor to keep tactical double Complin at bay in heat 13. They say old habits die hard and the Bears struggled to assert their authority on the first page of the programme.
In fact, after edging into a slender lead, they were pegged back by the Potters and went into heat nine dead level at 24-24. But a 4-2 in that race put them back ahead and, after Arlo Bugeja came from behind to secure a 3-3 next time out, a run of three consecutive home 5-1s effectively sealed the match. Bugeja also came from the back in heat 12, this time to grab a paid win. Grieves had been breathing down Ben Barker’s neck all race and, when he went wide coming out of the last corner, both he and the Australian seized their chance to dive inside.
“The boys had a different attitude last night,” said team boss Havelock Snr. “We had a long talk before the meeting and there was no way that was a true result last week. Somerset came and tanned our backsides big time and I said ‘that can’t happen again’.” Havelock also revealed that he expects new signing Keskinen to improve as he gains more experience of British speedway.
Last night’s meeting may have been meaningless in that neither side could progress into the knockout stages of the Trophy, but it gave the team a vital shot in the arm after last week’s shocking reverse and allowed Keskinen to make his debut without the added pressure of league points being on the line. “It will come right for Joni, I’m sure,” said Havelock. “We’ve got an engine for him for next week at Reading and the Isle of Wight. “Going in at No 2 in heat one is a big ask.”
BEARS
James Grieves 15, Ty Proctor 13, Gary Havelock 10+1, Josh Auty 7+1, Dan Giffard 4, Arlo Bugeja 3+2, Joni Keskinen 0.
POTTERS
Ben Barker 10, Jesper Kristiansen 7+1, Emiliano Sanchez 6, Mark Burrows 5+2, Barrie Evans 3, Klaus Jakobsen 2+2.
THE Bears are to lose the three- point Premier League haul they took for winning at Newport last month after it was announced the Wasps would be unable to fulfil their fixtures following the death of owner and promoter Tim Stone.
THE snowed off Premier League clash between the Bears and Glasgow at Ashfield has been rearranged for Sunday, May 25 (4pm start). To book coach travel, send at e-mail to info@bearssupportersgroup.co.uk or ring 07796 051134.
MATT TRESARRIEU UPDATE
By Jason Pipe ~ Friday 16th May 2008
I have recently spoken to Matt's Cheltenham based English interpreter, Simon Underwood, who is in regular contact with Tresarrieu and he says Mat is doing as well as expected with such a bad injury. Since his crash in September 2007 he has undergone 2 major operations on his knee and these operations have been a success. He is now at the stage where he is attending the French National Sports Injury Clinic only once a week now for physio and he is now able to do a little bit of driving, though he is still currently on crutches, which he must remain using for a while longer yet.
Matt is keeping busy at the moment by helping and travelling with his brother, Sebastian, who has made a Speedway comeback this year after his own injury problem. He is also spending time with the younger French riders and passing on his advice and recently travelled to a World Team Cup qualifier with the National team. Matt's own Speedway career has been put on hold this year after he took advice from the doctors and will miss the entire 2008 season, though it is hoped he can get back on a bike around September / October time just to practice on his own and hopes to be back riding again full time in 2009.
Matt would like to thank all the Redcar fans for asking after him and sends his best wishes to you all and to his Sponsor John Kettlewell and family of Kirkby Fleetham Haulage and he says he misses you all and he hopes that we have a successful 2008 season.
REDCAR CUBS CORNER
By Steve Harland ~ Friday 16th May 2008
NEWCASTLE on Sunday evening and a gap in the fixture list saw the promotion stage the Sapphire Engineering Junior Championship featuring a 16-rider field racing over 20 heats. Four of the Redcar Cubs riders were present as well as riders from as far afield as Scunthorpe, Plymouth & Weymouth. It proved to be a fantastic night’s work for Cubs’ Scott James who posted an immaculate unbeaten 15pt maximum with Plymouth’s Paul Starke second and Scunthorpe’s Jonathan Bethell in third place. Steve Jones scored 8, Martin Emerson 7, David Wallinger 5 & Guy Kendrew 4.
REDCAR Cubs team manager Jason Pipe has added squad member Steve Jones to the team for a trio of forthcoming meetings against the Scunthorpe Saints at home on Thursday, May 22, and away to Rye House (Hoddesdon) on Saturday May 24 and Sittingbourne in Kent on Sunday, May 25. 26-year old Jones, from Durham, made his seasonal debut against Plymouth Devils recently and scored 6pts from four rides. With kiwi Jade Mudgway not fully recovered from a fractured wrist sustained in a crash at Scunthorpe, Pipe has acted quickly to provide cover. Jones, who started his career with local club Newcastle in 1999, will certainly provide adequate cover in Mudgway’s absence.
FORMER Redcar Bears rider Jamie Courtney has been added to the Rye House Conference League squad and it will be interesting to see if the Cobras use him when the TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs race there on May 24. Last season big things were expected of the youngest son of former Middlesbrough Tigers ace Mark Courtney but he very rarely delivered. In his one appearance for the Cleveland Bays he proved to be ineffectual, so it will certainly add some spice to proceedings if he does ride.
IT’S early days in the Conference League but there’s not many people involved in the sport would have predicted at the beginning of the season that the TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs would be joint top of the table along with last season’s champions Scunthorpe. With no bonus point at stake this season but an extra point awarded for winning away from home it certainly looks as though the eight clubs competing in the League this season will be more evenly matched than has been in recent times. Certainly the pre-season title favourites Plymouth Devils were dealt a massive blow when the Cubs came back from the dead to defeat them recently. It’s a shame that the Cubs will not be able to use Edinburgh-asset Aaron Summers when the two clubs meet down at Plymouth in August but the management are hoping that Greg Blair’s injuries will have healed enough for him to make an appearance by then. The main target though still remains to finish in fourth spot and qualify for an automatic place in the end of season play-offs.
CUBS team manager Jason Pipe has been celebrating the highs and lows of speedway racing recently. Pipe, was called as a last minute stand-in for the Redcar Bears team manager Brian Havelock against Berwick and Scunthorpe recently. Havelock was away on a pre-booked fishing trip and Pipe was asked to step into his shoes. Victories against Berwick & Scunthorpe and for the Cubs against Plymouth Devils in the Conference League certainly made his job a lot easier, but the 15pt thumping home defeat handed out by an outstanding Somerset Rebels team last Thursday brought everyone back to down to earth. The Redcar Bears can have no complaints, they were continually outgated and outclassed and conceded eight heat advantages. Despite Pipe’s astute use of the tactical rulings being 10pts down after just five races was always going to be an uphill struggle to overcome. And so it proved as even the likes of club skipper Gary Havelock and James Grieves won just four races between them as the Rebels ran riot by 54-39pts.The main protagonist was Jason Doyle, who just happens to come from Newcastle, but in New South Wales, and who raced to an impressive 15pt maximum.
EVERYONE associated with the club was shocked and saddened to hear the sudden death of club stalwart Dennis Beeforth recently. ‘Beefy,’ as he was more commonly known, had been a fan of the old Middlesbrough team that raced at Cleveland Park in the late seventies and was a regular face at away meetings throughout the next decade. The school caretaker from Eston was a valued member of the back room staff who helped out on match days stewarding the car park and also helping promoter Glyn Taylor down at the track doing the various tasks that need to be done pre-season. He also ran a website dedicated to the club. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go to his friends and family.
FINNISH STAR SIGNING
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Thursday 15th May 2008
Finnish new boy Joni Keskinen makes his debut tonight as Redcar TLS Bears bid to erase memories of last week’s shock home defeat by Somerset. The former Finland Under-21 international was signed last month as a temporary replacement for Chris Kerr, for whom the rider replacement facility has been used while he recovers from a broken leg. And Keskinen slots into the side at No 2 this evening when the Bears entertain Stoke Potters in their final Premier Trophy group match at South Tees Motorsports Park (parade 7.20pm, tapes up 7.30pm).
The 22-year-old has invested heavily in equipment this season and is initially staying with team manager Brian Havelock in Yarm. Watched by the Bears management, he had his first experience of the STMP track when he took part in a private practice session on Tuesday afternoon. “He looked reasonably good,” said Havelock. “He was sharp out of the gate and he was giving it lots of welly. He was turning a bit early on the back straight, but we put him right on that. And, when he got in on Tuesday, he watched some videos of racing at the track, and he will have learned from that. From what I saw on Tuesday, I think he should be good for four or five points.”
Keskinen links up with a side who are desperate to return to winning ways after a surprise 54-39 reverse by fast-gating Somerset a week ago. Neither side can progress to the knockout stages of the Trophy, but it promises to be an intriguing clash nonetheless. Havelock is back on team manager’s duties after competing in an international angling tournament in Holland last week and is looking forward to his return. “We’d put a good run together before last week,” he said. “Now the boys can wipe the slate clean and start again.”
Included in the Potters line-up is veteran former Middlesbrough rider Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows, who captained the Cleveland Bays in last year’s Conference League. His impressive early season form has seen him move up to No 2 in the riding order, with Danish pair Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen now at reserve.
Straight after the meeting, the Bears’ Aussie ace Ty Proctor will head to Zielona Gora, Poland, for a World Under-21 Championship qualifier. Accompanying and advising him on the trip will be skipper Gary Havelock.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 Joni Keskinen, 3 James Grieves, 4 Daniel Giffard, 5 Ty Proctor, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Arlo Bugeja.
POTTERS
1 Lee Complin, 2 Mark Burrows, 3 Ben Barker, 4 Barrie Evans, 5 Emiliano Sanchez, 6 Klaus Jakobsen, 7 Jesper Kristiansen.
AT the track tonight, the Bears Supporters’ Group will be selling tickets (priced £3 for members, £2 for non-members) for this Saturday’s social night at Acklam Rugby Club, Saltersgill Lane (8pm start). There will be a raffle at the event as well as an auction for a Bears season ticket, donated by promoter Glyn Taylor.
POTTERS WILL BE BUZZING AROUND THE MOTORPARK
By Redcar Speedway ~ Tuesday 13th May 2008
The Redcar Bears take on the Stoke Potters in a Premier Trophy fixture at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening. Parade is at 7.20 with tapes up on the first race at 7.30pm. The Bears welcome new signing Joni Keskinen into their ranks for this match and the 22-year-old Finn was scheduled to dock at Newcastle on Tuesday afternoon before making his way for a private practice session at the South Bank circuit later that day. Joni brings a stable of machinery for his first excursion into British Speedway and will be personally mentored by Bears team boss Brian Havelock with whom he will reside initially at Brian's base in Yarm.
Fans will no doubt welcome the sight of both Joni and Brian after last Thursday's 'bad day at the office' when Somerset were clear winners. Brian will no doubt leave his troops in no doubt what he thought of that performance and will set out clearly his targets for the Stoke encounter. When Joni lines up in heat one for his debut ride he will face one of the most experienced riders in the sport in the shape of 43-year-old Mark 'Buzz' Burrows whose early season form has elevated him into the top five of the Potters.
Last season Buzz was captain of the Cleveland Bays Conference League team based at the Motorpark and a former Middlesbrough Bear at defunct Cleveland Park. Racing for the former Bears and for the current Bears is a distinction held by club captain Gary Havelock.
The move of both Buzz Burrows and Barrie Evans from the reserve berths under the new averages for May means that Stoke manager John Adams has the Staffordshire side's Danish sizzlers Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen available to him at reserve and for the second week running the Bears will have to be on their guard. Josh Auty takes one of the reserve spots and should prove a useful counter while despite a blip last week Arlo Bugeja has been consistently garnering points. It should prove an intriguing encounter all round.
REDCAR 'TLS' BEARS
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Joni Keskinen, 3. James Grieves, 4. Daniel Giffard, 5. Ty Proctor, 6. Josh Auty, 7. Arlo Bugeja
STOKE POTTERS
1. Lee Complin (C), 2. Buzz Burrows, 3. Ben Barker, 4. Barrie Evans, 5. Emiliano Sanchez, 6. Klaus Jakobsen, 7. Jesper Kristiansen
Ty Proctor has a 7.45 average in the new figures published for May. A remarkable achievement in a short time on these shores. Ty is off to Zielona Gora, Poland at the conclusion of the match to compete in a World Under-21 Championship qualifier. He will be accompanied by club captain and former World Champion Gary Havelock who will guide matters off-track for the young Australian. Gary is a former British and European Under-21 Champion in an illustrious career so Ty is in capable hands!
LEARN LESSONS, BEARS WARNED
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 9th May 2008
GET out of your comfort zone and you’ll start winning again - that was the blunt message from straight-talking promoter Glyn Taylor after Redcar TLS Bears’ unbeaten run came to a shuddering end. Taylor’s side had expected a tough test against Somerset Rebels at South Tees Motorsports Park last night but were tipped to record their seventh win on the trot nonetheless. But their form deserted them and they crashed 54-39 - their heaviest ever home defeat and possibly their worst ever performance at home too. The Rebels gave their hosts a lesson in gating and looked committed and fast right from the start.
The visitors, for whom Jason Doyle went through the card unbeaten and USA international Brent Werner provided a sting in the tail at No 7, opened up with a 5-1 and never looked back. The Bears cut their lead from 10 points to three mid-meeting after a mini-fightback sparked by Gary Havelock’s win as a tactical double. But successive 5-1s by the visitors knocked them back again and not even using Ty Proctor as a heat 14 tactical substitute off 15m in a last throw of the dice could save the match.
Now Taylor says the Bears - with Josh Auty at reserve and Dan Giffard at No 4 after the new averages came into effect - must up their game. “Somerset were faster and better from the gate,” reflected Taylor, “and overall the best team on the night without question. In my team there were too many dummy spitters. They were coming in, kicking toolboxes, punching walls - not good enough. I’m very disappointed in the overall performance of the team. They were led admirably by Gary, we had a pit talk at the interval and they came out and got a 5-1. But although we had a couple of good guys, the reserves let us down badly and Dan struggled in the main body of the team, so there’s a lot there to be learned. Somerset are a team who have not been going particularly well everywhere else and got absolutely slaughtered at Scunthorpe, but this was always going to be a tough meeting because their track is very similar to ours. Our guys have been in the comfort zone and it’s time to get out of it, look for more speed and get things happening.”
There were heated scenes at the end of the meeting after James Grieves and Jordan Frampton were involved in an accidental collision at the end of the last race. But, after viewing DVD footage of the race and subsequent incident, referee Dave Dowling decided no further action was necessary. “I felt in that last race Frampton blatantly rammed Jimmy into the fence,” complained Taylor. “At the end of the race it was very loose and muddy up by the fence and Jimmy accidentally went into him. Then it kicked off as though he did it on purpose - but he didn’t. We all know Jimmy - if he’s going to do something on purpose, you’ll know about it.”
BEARS
Gary Havelock 12, James Grieves 10, Ty Proctor 9+1, Josh Auty 6, Dan Giffard 2+1, Arlo Bugeja 0, R/R for Chris Kerr, David Wallinger (No 8) DNR.
REBELS
Jason Doyle 15, Brent Werner 10+1, Emil Kramer 9, Jordan Frampton 8+3, Mattias Kroger 5+3, Stephan Katt 4, Simon Walker 3+1.
CUBS BURN OUT DEVILS
By Steve Harland ~ Thursday 8th May 2008
Following on from the senior team’s biggest victory of the season against Scunthorpe Scorpions last Saturday the TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs and the Plymouth Devils served up a pulsating finale in front of a much bigger crowd than usual. In the space of four races the Cubs turned a 9pt deficit into an unlikely 4pt victory against the team hotly tipped as title favourites.
The Cubs were hampered early on by the loss of reserve David Wallinger in Heat 2. On a track surface that had been over watered, he clipped the back of Devils’ Paul Starke on the third bend and as a result received an ankle injury that saw him having to withdraw from the meeting. With Guy Kendrew already excluded for an earlier fall the spectators were then treat to a farce of Brian Rix proportions. The Devils pairing of Paul Starke & Jamie Pickard came out and whilst Pickard raced round Starke’s bike developed engine problems from the start. It wasn’t long before Pickard realised he was about to lap his own team mate. He slowed down to walking pace and began looking down at his bike. The time given was 70.1, some 14 seconds slower – one whole lap around South Tees Motorsports Park, however the trainee referee excluded Starke, ‘for making no attempt to race’ and awarded Pickard 3pts. The irony was that Starke had been given no time to repair the damage to his bike and was instructed to go to the tapes or be excluded. He couldn’t race his bike because it had been damaged in the crash with Wallinger yet Pickard, who made no genuine attempt to race when he realised he was about to lap his team mate, was awarded the race win.
With the Cubs seemingly down and almost out after eleven races – they were nine points behind, team manager Jason Pipe put the unbeaten Aaron Summers out on a tactical ride with skipper Gary Beaton. If Summers won the race his points would be doubled but he was starting 15 metres behind everyone else. Gary Beaton played a crucial role as he got to the first bend in front and rode a great line to keep the two Plymouth riders behind him whilst Summers used the outside line to great effect. Beaton, taking the inside line, on the final bend slowed and looked back to see his Cubs team mate Summers hurtling round the outside to claim a maximum 8-1 heat advantage and narrow the gap to a 2pt deficit.
Plymouth captain Seemond Stephens won the next race with Scott James and Summers behind him but the biggest surprise came in the penultimate heat. Martin Emerson & Guy Kendrew had mustered just two points from eight rides between them, no-one expected a miracle but they got one when Kendrew gated and Emerson joined him round the outside to keep out the advances of one time Cubs target Ben Hopwood. In the space of three heats a 9pt deficit had been whittled away into a 2pt advantage going into the final heat. Summers and James looked set for a 5-1 but Stephens managed to come underneath James but it was not enough for the shellshocked Devils who had lost by 47-43pts. Team manager Pipe was understandably delighted as everyone bar Wallinger contributed to the victory. Squad member Steve Jones, with a new GRM engine in his bike, surprised everyone when he overtook a surprised Nicki Glanz in race 6. Glanz was even more surprised to see Scott James make the same move a lap later but the night belonged to Summers, who was given the traditional bumps after his match winning ride.
SCORERS
Aaron Summers 19+1, Scott James 8+1, Gary Beaton 7+2, Steve Jones 6+1, Martin Emerson 4+1, Guy Kendrew 3, David Wallinger 0 withdrew from meeting.
TWO guest bookings for the Cubs riders saw them riding against one another on Monday evening at Newcastle’s Brough Park. Aaron Summers appeared for Newcastle whilst Gary Beaton was a last minute booking for Glasgow. Neither rider made much impact as the Diamonds completed a quickfire double over their Scottish counterparts.
RACE NIGHT TIME IS TIGHT
By Steve Harland ~ Thursday 8th May 2008
SECOND HALF races at the South Tees Motorsports track on Thursday nights must now be curtailed at 9.30pm. Officials representing Redcar & Cleveland Council have received a small number of noise complaints from residents living in nearby South Bank. It means the rider parade of Premier League meetings will now commence at 7.15pm and the meeting itself at 7.30pm
REBELS LOOK FORWARD TO SOUTH TEES VISIT
By Redcar Speedway ~ Wednesday 7th May 2008
It's Premier League speedway action at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening when the Redcar 'TLS' Bears face the Somerset Rebels. The clubs have a common link in the fact that Bears promoter Glyn Taylor and Bears Director of Operations Gareth Rogers were involved in the launch of the sport at the Oak Tree Arena near Highbridge at the turn of the century before re-uniting in 2006 for speedway's re-launch on Teesside. As such Glyn has built both speedway circuits and both are regarded as the best racing strips in the UK. They are similar for understandable reasons and the respective teams look forward to their fixture clashes.
Steve Bishop was the number one and captain in those early days in the West Country but has moved into the manager's chair since retiring from dropping the clutch and roaring off. He will be keen to do well because of the friendly rivalry and his team has been designed to always track a strong reserve pairing. Bears' reserves Arlo Bugeja and Daniel Giffard will have to be on top form as recent moves in the transfer market with the acquisition of German veteran Matthias Krogers see Rebels club captain Simon Walker and American international Brent Werner lining up at six and seven.
Werner has represented his country at World Cup level and recently captained the Rye House Rockets to the Premier League and Premier Trophy titles. He could prove a real ace in the hole for 'Bish'. Top end strength for the Rebels is provided by Australian Jason Doyle and Swede Emil Kramer. Their clashes with the Bears' top two Gary Havelock and James Grieves should provide competitive racing.
REDCAR 'TLS' BEARS
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Rider replacement for Chris Kerr, 3. James Grieves, 4. Josh Auty, 5. Ty Proctor, 6. Arlo Bugeja, 7. Daniel Giffard
SOMERSET REBELS
1. Jason Doyle, 2. Jordan Frampton, 3. Emil Kramer, 4. Matthias Kroger, 5. Stephan Katt, 6. Simon Walker (C), 7. Brent Werner
There will be special interval presentations to two local charities following monies accrued from the club's press and practice afternoon in March. Football commentator Alistair Brownlee of Century FM will receive a cheque on behalf of 'Zoe's Place' while Martin Neal of the Evening Gazette will receive a cheque on behalf of 'Katie's Trust'. Both receipients will tell the fans of the history and aims of the respective charities over the public address system on Thursday.
GRIEVES TAKES IT TO THE MAX!
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Monday 5th May 2008
MAXIMUM man James Grieves led in-form Redcar TLS Bears to a club record sixth straight victory - then revealed he was determined to end the night unbeaten. The Bears saw off Scunthorpe 55-35 - their biggest win of the season - in the Premier Trophy on Saturday, with Grieves winning every one of his five races. And that was a just reward for the flying Scotsman who is in sizzling form and was pipped to a maximum by less than a machine’s length in one of the best races ever seen at South Tees Motorsports Park last Thursday.
“Thursday night was a bitter disappointment when I didn’t get my maximum after the thrill of heat 15,” said a delighted Grieves, “so this time I was a wee bit nervous in the pits before the last race. But I made my mind up that, if I got pushed out, I’d be doing the same as I did the other night. I’d go for it and try to pass. Fair play to Glyn Taylor (the Bears’ track curator and promoter), it was a tea-time meeting and it was hard to prepare the track so it was a bit slicker than usual but it’s super smooth and that makes you confident you can race anywhere on it. It’s a great feeling. It’s a buzz just riding these bikes anyway, but to get a full house is a really good achievement. The atmosphere in the pits is unbelievable. As I said before, Ty Proctor is full of life and he’s good to be around, which is what you need in a team. On top of that Gary Havelock is a great captain - we’re doing very well at the moment and I hope we can keep it up.”
The Scorpions surprisingly took an early lead but never looked capable of hanging onto it and the Bears hit back straight away. With Grieves looking invincible and Gary Havelock dropping just one point to an opponent, the hosts had a rock solid spearhead. But once again there was strength throughout the team, with every member of the side being at least paid for a win. One of the most pleasing aspects was the return to form of Josh Auty. He repeatedly fought his way from the back to earn points and gave the ride of the night in heat 10 when he battled from last to first. His confidence boosted and with mentor Eric Boocock in his corner, he went out and won heat 14 from the tapes.
Teessider Kenny Smith, the Scorpions boss, brought in Viktor Bergstrom as a tactical substitute in that race to try and claw back some of the deficit, but couldn’t prevent the Bears from claiming the second of three successive 5-1s at the end of the meeting.
BEARS
James Grieves 15, Gary Havelock 12+2, Ty Proctor 10+1, Josh Auty 9, Arlo Bugeja 6+2, Dan Giffard 3, David Wallinger (No 8) DNR, R/R for Chris Kerr.
SCORPIONS
Carl Wilkinson 8+2, Viktor Bergstrom 8+2, Richard Hall 7, Magnus Karlsson 6, Andy Moore 5, Byron Bekker 1, Benji Compton 0.
AARON Summers inspired Redcar TLS/ Simpson Racing UK Cubs to a come-from-behind 47-43 Conference League win over Plymouth Devils in the second half of Saturday’s double header. With the Cubs trailing 36-27, he fought his way to victory in heat 10 as a tac sub from a 15m handicap, and capped the comeback with a win in heat 15. But David Wallinger suffered an ankle injury in his first race and had to withdraw from the meeting.
CUBS
Aaron Summers 19+1, Scott James 8+1, Gary Beaton 7+1, Steven Jones 6+1, Martin Emerson 4+1, Guy Kendrew 3, David Wallinger 0 (w/d).
DEVILS
Seemond Stephens 12+1, Kyle Hughes 7+1, Tom Brown 7, Nicki Glanz 6, Jamie Pickard 5+1, Ben Hopwood 4+1, Paul Starke 2.
BEARS CAN MAKE IT SIX OF THE BEST!
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 3rd May 2008
RAMPANT Redcar TLS Bears bid for a club record sixth straight victory this evening. And buoyant promoter Glyn Taylor is convinced his side can achieve that aim when they entertain Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Premier Trophy at South Tees Motorsports Park (6pm). The match is the first part of a double header, with the TLS/Simpson Racing UK Cubs taking on Plymouth Devils in the Conference League straight afterwards. And Taylor believes the Bears can continue from where they left off against Premier League leaders Berwick on Thursday.
“We’re on the gas now,” said Taylor. “The team is working well together so I can’t see us getting beaten by Scunthorpe.” One of the major factors in the Bears’ early season success has been the form of Ty Proctor, recruited from Australia by Taylor in the winter as a complete unknown. Brought in on an assessed five-point average, he scored paid 16 last time and has been consistently rattling up big scores. “I always said, right from the off that I thought he was more than capable of getting a six-plus average in his first season,” maintained Taylor, “and he has exceeded my expectations. It’s just a pity I don’t have three more of them over there!”
Teenager Josh Auty has made a disappointing start to the season, but Taylor is backing his young charge to come good. “Josh is a bit of a worry,” admitted the former Australia international. He’s not very receptive to help or advice because he’s really down on himself. He’s just blaming himself all the time. But we’ll support him and help him in every way we can. I guess it’s fair to say that if anyone else in the team was struggling, I’d have to look at Josh’s situation in terms of a replacement, but everyone else is going well, we can afford to carry him and we will do for as long as we possibly can.”
The Scorpions - managed by Kenny Smith from Leven - arrive on Teesside looking to erase memories of last night’s 63-29 thrashing at Somerset in which no fewer than three of their riders failed to score, including No 1 Andrew Moore.
BEARS
1 Gary Havelock, 2 R/R for Chris Kerr, 3 James Grieves, 4 Josh Auty, 5 Ty Proctor, 6 Arlo Bugeja, 7 Dan Giffard.
SCORPIONS
1 Andrew Moore, 2 Carl Wilkinson, 3 Magnus Karlsson, 4 Benji Compton, 5 Richard Hall, 6 Byron Bekker, 7 Viktor Bergstrom.
AARON Summers - unbeaten by an opponent on his last appearance at STMP - returns to the Cubs side to face Plymouth after missing last weekend’s defeat at Scunthorpe. Jade Mudgway, who broke his wrist in that match, is replaced by Steve Jones.
CUBS
1 Scott James, 2 Steve Jones, 3 Gary Beaton, 4 Martin Emerson, 5 Aaron Summers, 6 David Wallinger, 7 Guy Kendrew.
DEVILS
1 Seemond Stephens, 2 Kyle Hughes, 3 Tom Brown, 4 Ben Hopwood, 5 Nicki Glanz, 6 Paul Starke, 7 Jamie Pickard.
CUBS CORNER
By Steve Harland ~ Saturday 3rd May 2008
CONFERENCE LEAGUE title favourites Plymouth Devils are the visitors to South Tees Motorsport Park on Saturday evening (7.30pm). The ‘TLS/Simpson Racing UK’ Cubs will be without the services of kiwi Jade Mudgway, who sustained a fractured wrist following an incident involving Scunthorpe’s Jonathan Bethell last weekend. The good news is that Aaron Summers returns to the team whilst squad member Steve Jones goes straight in at No.2 to make his seasonal debut whilst Martin Emerson, who displayed great tenacity in three of his rides at Scunthorpe to defeat both of their top two riders, moves to the No.4 position. Jason Pipe, the Cubs team manager, is confident that the match will be won at reserve with David Wallinger averaging 9pts in meetings so far and although Guy Kendrew did not score at Scunthorpe he can be very quick out of the starts.
The action takes place immediately following the rearranged Redcar Bears v Scunthorpe Scorpions Premier Trophy fixture at 6pm. That’s 30 heats of speedway for £14 adult admission.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
REDCAR ‘TLS/SIMPSON RACING UK’ CUBS
1 Scott James; 2 Steve Jones; 3 Gary Beaton; 4 Martin Emerson; 5 Aaron Summers; 6 David Wallinger; 7 Guy Kendrew.
PLYMOUTH ‘GT MOTORCYLES/SILVERLINE TAXIS’ DEVILS
1 Seemond Stephens; 2 Kyle Hughes; 3 Tom Brown; 4 Ben Hopwood; 5 Nicki Glanz; 6 Paul Starke; 7 Jamie Pickard.
A THRILLING top of the table Conference League clash between Scunthorpe Saints and the ‘TLS/Simpson Racing UK’ Cubs with the final result in doubt until a traumatic race in the penultimate heat finally ending the Cubs chances of taking a surprise victory last weekend. Both teams served up some thrilling racing spoiled only by some bizarre refereeing decisions and the skulduggery of the Scunthorpe management. Cubs team manager Jason Pipe was delighted with the way that his team – minus their number one rider Aaron Summers – who was riding for parent club Edinburgh at Berwick, dug deep to grind out a result.
Things got off to a grand start when the Saints pairing both fell and were excluded in separate incidents and both Scott James & Jade Mudgway looked impressive. David Wallinger then rode a superb racing line to keep the h |
