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LATEST NEWS ~ JUNE 2007
TIGER BY THE TAIL
By Redcar Speedway ~ Tuesday 3rd July 2007
With home and away victories over Edinburgh in late June and a last-heat decider for the aggregate bonus point at Rye House Speedway on Sunday afternoon - despite the absence of Mathieu Tresarrieu - the Redcar Bears are showing what could have been but for the majority of the squad having been hospitalised between mid-April and mid-June. A plus point for the Bears as they face the Glasgow Tigers in Premier League action at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening from 7.30pm is the input of 16-year-old reserve Josh Auty. Having completed his GCSEs he is available for consistent selection and scored eleven plus two bonus points at home against Edinburgh; eleven points at Edinburgh; and ten plus two bonus points at Rye House. The last 16-year-old Bear to have such an impact in the early days of his full-time racing career was one Gary Havelock who went on to win every individual and team honour in the sport including becoming World Champion and is now Redcar club captain so at hand to help and advise young Josh.
The Glasgow club has recently signed Australian Craig Watson who has been one of the league's top scorers since beginning his career with the Newport Wasps in 1997. He left the South Wales club at the beginning of the season after a contractual dispute and joins his new team after a short spell at Elite League Poole Pirates. Along with Tigers' club captain Shane Parker he featured in the final of the Premier League Pairs at Somerset Speedway last Friday when they finished runners-up in the competition to the Isle of Wight duo Chris Holder and Jason Bunyan.
REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Arlo Bugeja, 3. James Grieves, 4. Chris Kerr, 5. Mathieu Tresarrieu, 6. Josh Auty, 7. Benji Compton
GLASGOW TIGERS:
1. Craig Watson, 2. David McAllan, 3. Shane Parker (C), 4. Robert Ksiezak, 5. Trent Leverington, 6. Michael Coles, 7. Lee Dicken
BEARS LOOK TO AVENGE DEFEAT
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 30th June 2007
REDCAR BEARS make their second visit of the season to Rye House tomorrow afternoon. And boss Brian Havelock believes they have the potential to improve on their last performance at the tight Hoddesdon track. Havelock’s team opened their season with a 53-39 challenge match defeat away to the Rockets, a nevertheless respectable score against one of the Premier League’s top sides. But James Grieves scored only four (paid five) on that occasion and is fancied to do much better second time around given the stunning form he has found this season. The Bears also struggled at reserve last time, with Rusty Hodgson and Jamie Courtney managing only three (paid four) points between them. But they have teenage sensation Josh Auty to bolster their ranks now he has completed his GCSE exams and he can realistically be expected to collect more than the one point Courtney managed on his return to his parent track.
The Premier League aggregate point looks out of reach due to the close nature of Redcar’s 47-43 triumph over the Rockets at South Tees Motorsports Park last month - but Havelock is heading there in an optimistic mood. “We usually go reasonably well there,” he said, “and with not having a home meeting this week we’ll go there fresh. They’ve got three riders with an eight-point average and you can expect them to go better than that at home - but our boys will be keen to get at them.”
The exact make-up of the Rockets team remains unclear as they have been without Tai Woffinden and Steve Boxall due to injury in recent matches, but both are keen to ride tomorrow. One rider definitely in the line-up is Robbie Kessler who made a big impression on Bears fans while deputising for Mat Tresarrieu while the Frenchman was ruled out with a broken collarbone. Incredibly the Rockets were able to use him at reserve, although he moves into the top five tomorrow when the new averages take effect.
Meanwhile promoter Chris van Straaten says he will “keep a close eye on the situation” after Benji Compton was axed by Berwick. Compton has been a regular choice as guest during Courtney’s ongoing injury-enforced absence.
BEARS: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Arlo Bugeja, 3 James Grieves, 4 Chris Kerr, 5 Mat Tresarrieu, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Rusty Hodgson.
BID FOR PAIRS TITLE ENDS IN MISERY
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 30th June 2007
REDCAR Bears’ bid for the Premier League Pairs title ended in disappointment in Somerset last night. Gary Havelock and James Grieves had arrived in good spirits and with high hopes of winning the title. But from the moment Havvy touched the tapes at the start of their opening heat - an occurrence virtually unheard of as far as the former world champion is concerned - they looked destined to miss out. With everyone taking points off everyone else, it still left them in the mix, especially as Havelock finished third after making up so much ground after coming off a 15m handicap for the restart of his first race that you really fancied he'd have won if he had started from the same place as the other three riders. But although Havelock finished strongly with a pair of victories, Grieves was uncharacteristically off the pace and they failed to progress from the group stage.
“We were up against it from the moment Havvy touched the tapes,” admitted Grieves. “This isn’t one of my best tracks - I always seem to struggle with the set-up here. But it’s not the end of the world and we must have a good chance of getting something out of our match at Rye House.”
The Isle of Wight deservedly took the title after Chris Holder - beaten only once all night - won the final after blasting round Glasgow’s Shane Parker on the final lap with the Islanders’ Jason Bunyan third. Surprise package Newcastle claimed the bronze medal after beating Workington in the third/fourth place play-off.
RESULTS - Group A: Isle of Wight 24 (Chris Holder 16, Jason Bunyan 8); Glasgow 22 (Shane Parker 13, Craig Watson 9); Somerset 21 (Magnus Zetterstrom 13, Emil Kramer 8); Rye House 15 (Chris Neath 10, Tommy Allen 5); Sheffield 8 (Ricky Ashworth 6, Andre Compton 2).
Group B: Workington 24 (Kauko Niemenen 15, James Wright 9); Newvcastle 21 (Josef Franc 13, Christian Henry 8); King's Lynn 17 (Daniel Nermark 9, Tomas Topinka 8); Birmingham 16 (Ulrich Ostergaard 12, Emiliano Sanchez 4); Redcar 12 (Gary Havelock 10, Jams Grieves 2).
1st semi-final: Isle of Wight (Holder 3, Bunyan 2) bt Newcastle (Henry 4, Franc 0) 5-5.
2nd semi-final: Glasgow (Watson 3, Parker 2) bt Workington (Niemenen 4, Franc 0) 5-4.
3rd/4th place shoot-out: Newcastle (Henry 4, Franc 2) bt Workington (Niemenen 3, Wight 0) 6-3.
Final: Isle of Wight (Holder 4, Bunyan 2) bt Glasgow (Parker 3, Watson 0) 6-3.
HAVELOCK IN CARDIFF
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 30th June 2007
IT’S the biggest event on the world speedway calendar - and Redcar Bears skipper Gary Havelock will be in the thick of the action. Around 50,000 fans will flock to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium tonight for the British Grand Prix, round five of the world individual championship. And Teessider Havvy, who won the world title in 1992, will be current British No 1 Scott Nicholls’ right-hand man in the pits. Coventry Bees star Nicholls lines up in a field featuring 16 of the world’s top speedway stars, and Marton-based Havelock’s job is to help him focus on the job in hand. Havvy began working with the Great Britain skipper last year and accompanies him to every Grand Prix.
“I always try to get to the practice session with him,” explained Eaglescliffe-born Havvy. “And I’ll watch to see what lines all the riders are taking. Then we’ll have a meeting with the mechanics to see which bike is working best. Scott likes to arrive at around 5pm on race day so I’ll help him to chill-out during the day doing something not connected with speedway. Last year we played golf a few times although with my ribs and his thumb injury we haven’t managed that this season. In Copenhagen we bought a football and had a kick-around in the park.”
Having reached the very top and been one of the world’s best riders for more than a decade, Havvy knows exactly what it’s like to be in the pressure cooker situation of a big meeting. And that’s why he’s ideally placed to be at Nicholls’ side on Grand Prix race night. “I’m an extra pair of eyes and ears in the pits,” he explained. “I’ll take a close look at every race and see which lines are being used and who’s doing what. I fill in the programme too, because that’s crucial in a Grand Prix. You can be heading for the knockout stages with three or four other riders all on the same number of points. When that happens it goes to countback, so I need to be able to tell Scott ‘you need to do this or that to go through’.”
Nicholls has yet to win a GP and has had terrible luck this year - but Havelock believes that will change. “In Italy he crashed and I wasn’t there because I was injured,” he said. “In Poland he was only 40% fit and could hardly pull the clutch lever in; in Sweden one of his bikes lost power and we didn’t realise what it was until after his third ride; and in Copenhagen we didn’t have the right set-up - it was super slick and he got a lot of wheelspin on the rear wheel. He looked slow but his engine was actually too fast. It could be like that in Cardiff too because, again, it’s a man-made track. They pack it hard so it doesn’t break up and that can make it quite slick.”
The other Brits going for glory on their home shale are Nicholls’ Coventry team-mate Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris and wild card David Howe of Wolves. Denmark’s Nicki Pedersen currently tops the world championship leaderboard with 74 points, ahead of Australian Leigh Adams on 61 and Dane Hans Andersen on 54. Reigning champion Jason Crump of Australia is a distant fifth on 38.
Line-up (in draw order): 1 Andreas Jonsson, 2 Hans Andersen, 3 David Howe, 4 Scott Nicholls, 5 Wieslaw Jagus, Tomasz Gollob, 7 Rune Holta, 8 Matej Zagar, 9 Nicki Pedersen, 10 Jason Crump, 11 Jaroslaw Hampel, 12 Chris Harris, 13 Antonio Lindback, 14 Leigh Adams, 15 Bjarne Pedersen, 16 Greg Hancock. Reserves: 17 Edward Kennett, 18 Daniel King.
ALL AGES SHINE IN BAYS' TRIUMPH
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 29th June 2007
AN exciting combination of youth and experience spearheaded Cleveland Bays’ stylish 57-36 Conference League victory over Stoke Spitfires last night. The Bays went into the match having lost all their previous three home matches this season, but they broke their duck in emphatic fashion. The visitors had been expected to provide stiff resistance at South Tees Motorsports Park but were effectively a two-man team, with Barrie Evans and former Redcar Bears favourite Jack Hargreaves scoring all but 11 of their side’s points between them. The Bays, on the other hand, looked a strong unit with every one of their riders producing at least a paid win. Most impressive were veteran skipper Mark ‘Buzz’ Burrows and teenage Scottish braveheart Greg Blair.
Burrows dropped his only point to Evans in heat 13 while Blair was unbeaten by an opponent in every race he finished – his only blemish coming in heat 11 when he hit the fence in a scrap for more points. The young Kevin Little protégé has come on leaps and bounds this season – a fact which was especially evident in heat seven. Hargreaves came out as a tactical double and made the gate – but Blair whizzed past.
Victory was assured with two races left. However, Burrows and Blair ended the night on a high, both diving inside the fast-gating Evans to score the Bays’ sixth 5-1 of the night. “The track was really smooth and the team just clicked together,” said a delighted Blair. At Weymouth some riders weren’t doing so well but it was all about the track and getting experience. I was a bit annoyed I hit the fence. It was my fault – I should have cut back under him but I decided I’d go for the run round. But other than that I was pleased with my performance.”
BAYS: Mark Burrows 14, Greg Blair 11+1, Ashley Johnson 7+3, Gary Beaton 7, Adam McKinna 7, Martin Emerson 6+3, Rusty Hodgson 5.
SPITFIRES: Barrie Evans 13, Jack Hargreaves 12, John Branney 4, Sam Dore 3+1, Gareth Isherwood 2, Gary Flint 1+1, Guy Kendrew 1.
DUO ON FORM
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 29th June 2007
WE can win it! That’s skipper Gary Havelock’s confident prediction as he leads Redcar Bears into tonight’s Premier League Pairs Championship. The former England skipper teams up with James Grieves for the big meeting at Somerset’s Oak Tree Arena - and both riders are bang on form. Havvy is back to his blistering best after more than six weeks out with two broken ribs and a torn lung while Grieves has proved to be the signing of the season. The duo both went unbeaten by a home rider in their most recent Bears outing at Edinburgh last Friday and are among the strongest pairings in the event. The home pair of Magnus Zetterstrom and Emil Kramer will start as favourites while Daniel Nermark and Tomas Topinka will be eager to bring more glory to all-conquering King’s Lynn.
But Havelock insisted: “We’re not going there to make up the numbers. James is flying and I’m delighted to be paired with him - he’s the only person I have met in a long time who wants to win as badly as I do. Somerset are at home and will start as favourites, but that can bring extra pressure. I was near-on unbeatable in my 10 years at Bradford but I never won at open meeting there - the weight of expectation can work against you. I’m certainly not going there thinking about Somerset or King’s Lynn because, if we ride to the best of our ability, we can win it.”
Having ridden most of his career in the top flight, Havvy doesn’t have too much experience of the Oak Tree Arena oval. But it rates as one of the best racing strips in the country and the Bears captain too is a fan. “It’s got big bends and short straights,” he said, “it’s full gas all the way!”
Havelock’s father Brian - the Bears team manager - became the first rider to win the competition when he partnered Newcastle team-mate Tom Owen to victory at Belle Vue in 1975. The Bears are grouped with Birmingham, King’s Lynn, Newcastle and Workington in Group B, with the top two in each section advancing into the semi-finals. Each pair meets once over the 10 qualifying heats before the competition reaches its knockout stage.
Group A: Somerset (Magnus Zetterstrom and Emil Kramer); Glasgow (Shane Parker and Craig Watson); Isle of Wight (Chris Holder and Jason Bunyan); Sheffield (Andre Compton and Ricky Ashworth); Rye House (Steve Boxall and Chris Neath).
Group B: Birmingham (Jason Lyons and Ulrich Ostergaard); King’s Lynn (Daniel Nermark and Tomas Topinka); Newcastle (Christian Henry and Josef Franc); Redcar (Gary Havelock and James Grieves); Workington (James Wright and Kauko Nieminen).
BAYS TO STEP UP
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Thursday 28th June 2007
CLEVELAND Bays go in search of their first home win of the season tonight when Stoke Spitfires visit South Tees Motorsports Park (7.30pm start). And manager Jason Pipe believes the riders owe it to their team-mates and the fans to finally come up with the goods. With just one Conference League win this year - away to struggling Sittingbourne - Pipe’s side could well do with getting some more points on the board. The Spitfires won’t be an easy team to overcome, especially as former Redcar Bears favourite Jack Hargreaves spearheads a trio of Premier League riders in their ranks. Barrie Evans and John Branney are the others. And, after defeats at both Plymouth and Weymouth last weekend, Pipe is expecting his side to step up a gear.
“We can only afford to carry one rider,” warned Pipe. “We carried three at Plymouth and four the following night at Weymouth. I know it’s not all about winning - but try telling that to the riders and the fans! There’s got to be a happy medium.” Ashley Johnson is brought back into the side at the expense of fellow Teessider Jitendra Duffill and Pipe hopes he will use his recall as a platform to establish himself in the Bays septet. He’s been chomping at the bit,” said Pipe, “so this isn’t a one-off - he’ll get a run in the side.”
Duffill, meanwhile, has been promised a recall for the first leg of their double header away to Boston a week tomorrow. But Pipe warned: “He had three wins out of four there in a Southern Track Riders meeting recently so I’ll be expecting a good performance from him.”
BAYS: 1 Mark Burrows, 2 Rusty Hodgson, 3 Gary Beaton, 4 Ashley Johnson, 5 Adam McKinna, 6 Greg Blair, 7 Martin Emerson.
SPITFIRES: 1 Barrie Evans, 2 Gary Flint, 3 Jack Hargreaves, 4 Sam Dore, 5 John Branney, 6 Gareth Isherwood, 7 Guy Kendrew.
THE Bays’ Conference League match at Scunthorpe, scheduled for August 19, has been brought forward to Sunday, July 15.
THE BEARS ROAR TO ANOTHER TRIUMPH
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 23rd June 2007
CAPTAIN Marvel Gary Havelock and Flying Scotsman James Grieves both went unbeaten by an opponent last night as Redcar Bears stormed to a 50-40 win at Edinburgh. It was their second away victory over the Monarchs this season – and maximum No 2 for Grieves at Armadale - and it boosted their hopes of a Premier League play-off place, having beaten the Scottish side 52-41 at home just 24 hours earlier.
The Bears were never behind and always looked in control of the match. Edinburgh held a narrow lead from heat four but, from the moment Grieves and Josh Auty scored a 4-2 over Ronnie Correy and Matthew Wethers in heat 12, the Bears looked like they had the edge. The unfortunate Wethers fell in that race and was able to take no further part in the meeting, but the visiting side had the bit between their teeth and secured victory with a race to go. Grieves and Havelock ended the night on a high note with a 5-1 over Correy and Pijper in the nominated riders’ race.
Team manager Brian Havelock said: “It was a great performance and we never looked like losing after heat 11. Theo Pijper didn’t win at all and Ronnie Correy only won once – I think that says something. James Grieves was on fire. I told him he didn’t have to go out for the nominated riders’ race, but he wanted to.”
MONARCHS: Matthew Wethers 11+1, Ronnie Correy 10, Theo Pijper 8, Derek Sneddon 7+4, Andrew Tully 4+3, Jack Roberts 0, Henrik Moller R/R.
BEARS: James Grieves 15, Garry Havelock 14+1, Josh Auty 11, Mat Tresarrieu 6+1, Chris Kerr 3+1, Benji Compton 1+1, Arlo Bugeja 0.
SEEKING CROWN
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 22nd June 2007
VICTORIOUS Redcar Bears head to Edinburgh tonight eager for their second double of the year over the Monarchs. After five successive home last heat deciders, there was never any doubt about the destiny of the Premier League points at South Tees Motorsports Park last night. For the Bears defied both the threatening weather and their opponents to chalk up a comfortable 52-41 win. And this evening they head north of the border for the return match at Armadale - scene of their 46-44 victory in the Premier Trophy earlier in the season.
“The lads are saying we can win up there tonight,” revealed manager Brian Havelock, “and, if the track’s as good as it usually is, we might be in with a shout.” The backbone of last night’s win came from skipper Gary Havelock, James Grieves, Chris Kerr and reserve Josh Auty. Havvy had been on course for a 15-point maximum until the final race, which had to be restarted after Theo Pijper touched the tapes at the first time of asking. When the tapes went up again, Ronnie Correy - who had hit form after a slow start to the meeting - made a flying start and led all the way to the flag. Havvy, however, isn’t convinced he was on a level playing field. “People watching near the tapes told me that their riders were rolling at the start all night,” he said. “I didn’t see it because I was looking the other way, but I’m told that’s what Ronnie did in the last race.”
The Bears’ winning margin was their biggest since the end of April, but might have been even higher. Arlo Bugeja and Benji Compton were on the wrong end of an 8-1 in heat eight after Derek Sneddon went out on a tactical double, slashing the Bears’ lead from 27-15 to 28-23. The fearless Josh Auty had won the previous race - his second victory in as many starts - and boss Havelock explained: “I pulled Benji back to put Josh out when I saw the black and white helmet, but Josh said his primary chain had gone and he wouldn’t have time to put it right. “He had two bikes and I thought one of them would be ready. But I partly blame myself for not seeing it - I shot myself in the foot a little bit there.”
Havelock could also realistically have expected more from Mat Tresarrieu who couldn’t be faulted for effort, but returned only three (paid four) points. “His gear isn’t quick enough,” said Havelock. “He’s riding his socks off but he’s running a standard motor.”
Edinburgh are sweating on the fitness of Henrik Moller for this evening’s match after he crashed in Denmark on Wednesday and was ruled out of last night’s fixture, while Redcar track the same seven that rode at home.
BEARS: Gary Havelock 14, James Grieves 12+1, Josh Auty 11+2, Chris Kerr 8+2, Mat Tresarrieu 3+1, Arlo Bugeja 2, Benji Compton 2.
MONARCHS: Derek Sneddon 12+1, Matthew Wethers 10+2, Ronnie Correy 10, Theo Pijper 7, Andrew Tully 2+1, Jack Roberts 0, R/R for Henrik Moller.
CLEVELAND Bays make the long trek to take on Plymouth tonight in the Conference League. Rusty Hodgson returns after making way for Josh Austy in the Bears side at Edinburgh, while Jitendra Duffill makes his first appearance of the season. The Bays then make their way to Weymouth for another CL clash tomorrow night.
BAYS: 1 Mark Burrows, 2 Gary Beaton, 3 Jitendra Duffill, 4 Rusty Hodgson, 5 Adam McKinna, 6 Martin Emerson, 7 Greg Blair.
MAKE IT SAME
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Thursday 21st June 2007
AFTER a weather enforced break, Redcar Bears are back on track tonight in the first leg of their bid to dethrone the Monarchs. For Brian Havelock’s men entertain Edinburgh Monarchs tonight at South Tees Motorsports Park (7.30pm start) before heading north of the border for the return match tomorrow. They did the double over their opponents in the early season Premier Trophy campaign with James Grieves famously roaring to a 15-point maximum against his former club up at Armadale. However, much has changed since then, with the Bears hit hard by an injury crisis which continues to leave them without 2006 rider of the year Dan Giffard and reserve Jamie Courtney.
On top of that the Monarchs have strengthened their septet, bringing back Theo Pijper after a spell in the Elite League with Wolves. Matthew Wethers has been sidelined with a leg injury recently but was hoping to be fit for tonight’s Premier League match. Stoke’s in-form reserve Lee Complin - who scored 18 in Edinburgh’s first away win of the season at Newport on Sunday - is lined up for another guest appearance if he is ruled out. Another eye-catching name at reserve is teenager Jack Roberts who scored paid 21 on his last visit to STMP last October as he helped Buxton to a Conference League win over the Cleveland Bays.
However, the Bears have Josh Auty available for both this week’s matches following the completion of his GCSE exams, and have drafted in Benji Compton as a guest replacement for back injury victim Courtney. The last five Bears matches at STMP have gone to a last heat decider and team boss Havelock joked: “They’re giving me grey hairs - and not just on my head!”
His side have remained unbeaten at home during that time, but he’s hoping to put a bit more distance between them and their opponents this evening, though he accepts it could well be a closely-fought affair. “The two matches will be tight,” he predicted, “but I’m hoping we can get the aggregate point. I’m hoping we can build up a bit of a lead to take to their place tomorrow. We were without a meeting last week because of the weather, but that will give our lads a fresh approach.”
BEARS: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Arlo Bugeja, 3 James Grieves, 4 Chris Kerr, 5 Mat Tresarrieu, 6 Josh Auty, 7 Benji Compton.
MONARCHS: 1 Theo Pijper, 2 Derek Sneddon, 3 Ronnie Correy, 4 Andrew Tully, 5 Henrik Moller, 6 Jack Roberts, 7 Matthew Wethers or Lee Complin.
BAYS HEAD SOUTH
By Steve Harland ~ Tuesday 19th June 2007
THE race rusty Burnt Tree Bays head to the south coast this weekend with tough matches in store at Devon on Friday (Plymouth) and Dorset (Weymouth) on Saturday. Due to the wet weather the Bays have lost three fixtures and it’s been three weeks since they last raced a meeting and on Friday evening they face a monumental task down at Plymouth’s St.Boniface Arena (7.30pm) – all 233 metres of it. Plymouth are one of the teams who are favourites for the Conference League play-offs. The good news for the Bays is that Rusty Hodgson is available and returns to the team in place of the unfortunate Ashley Johnson. The Bays will be heavily reliant on the experienced Mark Burrows and teenage sensation Greg Blair. Hopefully Hodgson having been rested recently, he will be able to rediscover his gating techniques. Also Adam McKinna is expected to prove more of menace now that he has had a couple of meetings under his belt following a run out for Newcastle against King’s Lynn last Sunday. Martin Emerson gets a rare opportunity to start from the reserve berth with Ampleforth-based David Wallinger on standby should the team need him.
The Devils are at full strength and recently demolished Stoke Spitfires on what was described as a bumpy circuit more akin to a motocross track. In Seemond Stephens they have one of the most outstanding riders and Barrow-based Adam Roynon returns to the line-up, his father Chris having ridden for Plymouth back in 1969. The Devils have also signed highly rated Bolton teenager Ben Hopwood who finished second in the British U15 Championship at Redcar last season. Hopwood begun the season riding for Oxford Lions but due to them going into administration recently clubs are allowed to sign their riders. The only team to have beaten them on their own track are the reigning league champions, Scunthorpe and the Devils won the opening match at South Tees Motorsport Park back in April, a meeting that the Bays contrived to lose.
The action then moves across the south coast to Weymouth’s Wessex Stadium (7.15pm) where the Bays will face a Wildcats team strengthened by the inclusion of 22-year old Jay Herne, who scored 20pts on his debut last week against Plymouth. Australian Herne is the youngest son of former Birmingham, Bristol & Swindon rider, Phil and is eligible to ride because he has an English mother.
The Bays will field the same teams both evenings:
1. Mark Burrows; 2. Gary Beaton; 3. Jitendra Duffill; 4. Rusty Hodgson; 5. Adam McKinna; 6. Martin Emerson; 7. Greg Blair; 8. David Wallinger (standby).
LAST week’s Knockout Cup match against Boston Barracudas was postponed as early as Friday morning. The rain from the previous two days having done the damage, it also meant the cancellation of the Redcar/Workington Premier League fixture. Despite no rain on the Saturday morning the heavens opened again on the afternoon proving that it would have been impossible to have even considered running the meeting. The fixture will now be staged after the Cleveland Bays v Weymouth Conference League match on Saturday, 28 July. The first leg of the fixture will take place as a double header (weather permitting) at King’s Lynn’s Norfolk Arena on Friday, 6 July, as part of a double header; first the Conference League match followed by the Knockout Cup meeting.
NEXT action in the Conference League at home for the Burnt Tree Bays takes place against the Sittingbourne Crusaders on Saturday, 7 July. A full five weeks since they last raced at home. The Bays will be looking to complete a rare double having won the away fixture in some style by 54-38pts, however the Kent side have been strengthened with the inclusion of former Berwick rider Danny Warwick, who now rides for Somerset in the Premier League.
BEARS IN HIGHLAND FLING
By Redcar Speedway ~ Monday 18th June 2007
The visit of the Edinburgh Monarchs to the South Tees Motorsport Park in Premier League action on Thursday evening at 7.30pm will revive memories of an exciting Premier Trophy double for the Redcar Bears over the Scottish team earlier in the season. The Bears won at the Armadale Stadium by 46 points to 44 on March 30th with a 51-42 victory following at the Motorpark on April 12th. Within days the Bears lost the services of both skipper Gary Havelock and Mathieu Tresarrieu in a traumatic afternoon at Glasgow Speedway with the team only recently feeling its way near to a full team roster and reasonable fitness.
The Monarchs are spearheaded by American Ronnie Correy and returning Dutchman Theo Pijper. Ronnie has moved into the Premier League at the veteran stage of his career. He made the World Speedway Final on four occasions and won the World Pairs title for the USA with current world number two and former World Champion Greg Hancock. Theo started the season in the Elite League with the Wolverhampton Wolves but has recently returned to the Monarchs camp with William Lawson making a full-time move in the other direction. In support of the internationals are local products of the club's former Conference League operation - Derek Sneddon and Andrew Tully. Both have moved up from reserve berths to the main body of the team and are ensuring the future looks bright for Scottish speedway.
Scotland's number one is James Grieves - no longer a Monarch and these days a very potent Bear. James relishes fixtures against Edinburgh and indeed scored a 15-point-maximum against them at Armadale in March. He retains the number three spot in a Bears line-up reshuffled for the postponed fixture against Workington last Thursday and ready to flex its muscles this. With Josh Auty having completed his GCSE examinations the Bears look forward to his concentrated input with the Yorkshire lad having been invariably an exciting double-figure scorer whenever he has been available in recent months. he is joined by a guest reserve in the shape of Berwick's Benji Compton. They will have to be on top form against Monarchs guest Lee Complin at number seven who took a real liking to the Motorpark circuit for his club Stoke at the Motorpark a fortnight ago.
REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Arlo Bugeja, 3. James Grieves, 4. Chris Kerr, 5. Mathieu Tresarrieu, 6. Josh Auty, 7. Benji Compton
EDINBURGH MONARCHS:
1. Theo Pijper, 2. Derek Sneddon, 3. Ronnie Correy (C), 4. Andrew Tully, 5. Henrik Moller, 6. Jack Roberts, 7. Lee Complin
STAR INTERVIEW with Bob Tasker
By Keith McGhie of ‘Speedway Star’ ~ Friday 15th June 2007
Last year you may have seen him on top of the speedway office, next to the announcer’s box, hanging on bravely amid the gales that sometimes blow off of the River Tees. Nowadays he stands perched on dodgy-looking set of scaffolding poles overlooking the exit to the second turn. Bob Tasker is the man behind GRT Media – the people who produce the fine DVDs here at Redcar and also at Workington, Berwick and Newcastle. Bob won’t mind me saying (well maybe he will, but he’s on the other side of the stadium now and I’m hoping I can outrun him!) but he has “the perfect face for radio”!
Fortunately he is very, very talented behind the camera and his DVD recollections of the action across all four tracks in the north of England are as good as any I’ve seen in speedway. More importantly he is a genuine and self confessed “fan of speedway” rather than one particular club (but anyone who was brought up supporting Berwick Bandits and now has to go to Newcastle once a week surely has to be a die-hard enthusiast of the sport!?).
Tonight we welcome Workington – a club that figures largely in the recent history of the hugely popular Garry Stead, who so tragically suffered multiple fractures, including serious spinal injuries, in a crash racing for his current club Stoke at Somerset on May 18. At the time of writing Garry, who spent all last season with the Comets, is still in hospital in Leeds and faces the cruel possibility of being paralysed below the waste and spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Bob obviously got to know Garry during his spell at Derwent Park and immediately friend, fellow rider and near West Yorkshire neighbour Andre Compton – the Sheffield skipper - launched an appeal to help Garry’s obvious future financial needs, he began work on his own contribution. Bob explained: “Rather than just chuck ten pounds in a bucket, I thought it would be worth more if I invested the money in some blank DVD’s. I had a ready made compilation of Garry’s 30 best races for Workington last season, which ironically, as it turned out, began and finished with heats in which he beat Andre Compton (we won’t tell Andre, Bob!). These rider compilations actually sell like sand to the Arabs – but the riders themselves often appreciate them and can use them to show sponsors, etc.”
After re-branding the DVDs for the Garry Stead Appeal, Bob has been selling these through track shops and mail order with ALL proceeds going to the fund. Bob has already donated £400 via Andre and, by the time Havvy and Carl Stonehewer come to the tapes for heat one tonight, he hopes to be close to raising £1000 in total – a great effort. “Garry always comes across as a really nice genuine guy and if the rules forced every track to have a Garry Stead in their side, the sport would be better off for it. I’m pleased to be able to do anything I can to help – I’m just sad the situation is such that I need to do it…”
So say all of us. Many thanks Bob and good luck Garry!
The 90-minute Garry Stead Appeal DVD’s are available at the track shop for a minimum donation of £10.
BAYS MEET POSTPONED
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 15th June 2007
Saturday's schedueld Cleveland Bays v Bostson Barracudas Conference League KO Cup clash at South Tees Motorsports Park was postponed due to the continued heavy rain.
TEESSIDERS Jitendra Duffill and Ashley Johnson are set to make their first Cleveland Bays appearances of the season tomorrow. The pair have been called up by manager Jason Pipe for the Conference League KO Cup clash with Boston Barracudas at South Tees Motorsports Park (3pm start). They had been due to ride in last week’s scheduled league and KO Cup double header with the Barracudas, but the meeting was called off because of heavy rain. Duffill has been showing some good form in the second halves at STMP recently while Johnson has been riding at reserve for Newcastle in the Premier League. Their inclusion could be the key to the Bays’ first home win of the season, having lost narrowly on each of their three other home matches this term. The pair have been promised three matches as Rusty Hodgson recovers from a series of falls that have cost him both physically and financially.
Adam McKinna, who returned from injury in the Bays’ 48-41 defeat by Rye House last time out, should be able to muster more than the three points he scored on his return from injury on that occasion, while Martin Emerson makes a welcome return to the reserve berth to pair up with in-form teenager Greg Blair who has really caught the eye lately. Scottish youngster Blair, a protege of former Redcar Bear Kevin Little, has been a regular race winner this season. The visitors had originally intended to use Paul Cooper at No 1 but will now use James Brundle instead.
BAYS: 1 Mark Burrows, 2 Gary Beaton, 3 Jitendra Duffill, 4 Ashley Johnson, 5 Adam McKinna, 6 Martin Emerson, 7 Greg Blair.
The first 100 people through the gate tomorrow will receive a brochure from the Bays’ team sponsors, Burnt Tree Vehicle Solutions, offering an opportunity to hire a vehicle for a discounted rate.
SHUFFLE THE PACK!
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Tuesday 12th June 2007
REDCAR Bears boss Brian Havelock has swapped his riding order for this Thursday’s Premier League clash with Workington. Arlo Bugeja moves from No 4 to No 2 in place of Mat Tresarrieu, who now pulls on the No 5 racejacket. Chris Kerr, who has been riding at No 5, fills the hole left by Bugeja at No 4. The reshuffle means that the promising but inexperienced Bugeja has three programmed rides with skipper Gary Havelock, while Kerr teams up with the flying James Grieves and gives the Bears extra strength in heat 14. The move comes after last Thursday’s draw against Stoke - the Bears’ second in succession at South Tees Motorsports Park.
Team manager Havelock went on record as saying he believed alterations were necessary to help the Bears regain the winning thread. While he sympathises with Havelock’s frustrations, promoter Chris van Straaten has pointed out that the strict rules governing team building make bringing in new faces extremely difficult. And, in any case, the Bears supremo is convinced his side will continue to entertain and improve. “You don’t need to be Einstein to work out our strengths and weaknesses,” said van Straaten. “We’ve been hit hard by injuries and we’re still missing Dan Giffard. But Chris Kerr and Mat Tresarrieu have both put a point on their average and James Grieves has put on two points. I certainly didn’t sense any derision from the crowd as I walked back to the office after we snatched a draw last week - you can’t fault the breathtaking entertainment we are treated to every week. I understand Brian’s frustrations - we all want to win but it’s a difficult situation and it takes time. If somebody is available and they can be accommodated, I will act accordingly.”
One of Havelock’s concerns last week was the low scores of the more inexperienced members of the side. But, while Jamie Courtney is injured and Josh Auty finishes his studies, the Bears are forced to use a guest for one of the reserve positions. And he said: “I feel sorry for Rusty Hodgson - the experience he has on a speedway bike can be measured in hours rather than days. We have put extra pressure on him because of our injury problems. Arlo Bugeja is inexperienced too - but he is learning all the time. When Dan Giffard was injured, the alternative was to bring in a 43-year-old, and my prime concern is the future of Redcar Speedway.”
THE Bears will host Newcastle at STMP on Thursday, August 30 - a date which was initially left blank on the fixture list before the Elite League Riders’ Championship was switched from Sheffield to King’s Lynn. But there will no be no home meeting a week earlier to avoid clashing with Garry Stead’s benefit meeting at Sheffield.
BURNT TREE OFFER AS BAYS GO FOR CUP GLORY
By Steve Harland ~ Tuesday 12th June 2007
THE Burnt Tree Bays take a welcome break from domestic competition when they entertain the Boston Barracudas in a second round Cup match at South Tees Motorsport Park on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. Bays team manager Jason Pipe has made two changes to the line-up that lost recently to the Rye House Raiders. Hartlepool-based Newcastle rider Ashley Johnson and Middlesbrough-based Jitendra Duffill replace Rusty Hodgson and the rider replacement rule. Johnson has been having outings with Newcastle in the Premier League but has found things tough going and should be able to make an impact at this level. Duffill has begun to show some form in second half rides and has been given an opportunity to impress. Hodgson had work commitments prior to last Friday’s matches with Boston at King’s Lynn, however the weather intervened and was called off on the lunchtime, saving a wasted trip to Norfolk. Pipe promised Johnson and Duffill three matches whilst Hodgson recovers from a series of falls that have cost him physically and financially.
Boston have signed York-based former 250cc British grasstrack champion, Paul Cooper. Cooper rides for Sheffield in the Premier League and was recently promoted into the main part of the team. It will be a tall order for the Bays to cope with a rider the standard of Cooper but the Bays are hoping for strength in depth. Adam McKinna, who returned from injury in the Rye House defeat should be able to muster more than the 3pts he scored on his return whilst Martin Emerson makes a welcome return to the reserve berth to pair up with Greg Blair, who is in outstanding form lately.
BURNT TREE BAYS Line-up:
1 Mark Burrows; 2 Gary Beaton; Jitendra Duffill; 4 Ashley Johnson; 5 Adam McKinna; 6 Martin Emerson; 7 Greg Blair.
SPECTATORS arriving early for Saturday afternoon’s Knockout Cup match against Boston have an extra incentive in doing so. The first 100 people through the gate will receive a brochure from the Bays team sponsor Burnt Tree Vehicle Solutions offering them an opportunity to hire a vehicle for a discounted rate. This is one of a number of initiatives that have seen the club and the company introduce to show some loyalty to those willing to reciprocate. Representatives from Burnt Tree and a number of others including Cleveland Police Driver Safety Training, Marske Site Services, Middlesbrough & Hartlepool Council were also in attendance in last week’s dramatic last heat decider between the Redcar Bears and Stoke Potters.
THE scheduled Conference League fixture planned for Oxford on Sunday 17 June has been cancelled. The senior team recently went out of business in the Elite League but four parties were interested in the club continuing at Conference League level. West Country businessman Allen Trump is the man behind the rescue package. He is currently behind plans to re-introduce speedway to Exeter at Haldon Racecourse but in the meantime has proven a lifeline for Oxford supporters. No new date has been arranged for the Cleveland Bays fixture as yet. Another big disappointment is the cancellation of the Bays trip to Rye House, Sunday 1 July, the day after the British Grand Prix at Cardiff. The senior team, Redcar Bears, are in Premier League action and the Bays were originally down to follow on after them but now the fixture has been changed to another Premier League encounter with Workington leaving a considerable number of supporters unhappy with such late changes.
ON a brighter note Bays teenage rookie Greg Blair currently sits in second place in the averages. The 16-year old from Jedbergh has made tremendous strides already this season and because of the strict rider gradings can continue if the reserve position for the remainder of the season. Competition is fierce amongst the team with just two points separating seven riders.
OH BROTHER!
By Redcar Speedway ~ Monday 11th June 2007
The attractive Workington Comets arrive at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening for Premier League action at 7.30 pm with not one but two sets of brothers in their riding ranks. James Wright made a big impact when he stepped up from initial success in the Conference League with the Buxton Hitmen and now younger brother Charles is following in exactly the same tyretracks. Meanwhile Cumbrian John Branney landed a team place with his local side in season 2006 with his more experienced brother Craig delighted to also join up this year with the team they supported from the terraces.
All these young riders provide happy support to a Comets spearhead that features of the greatest riders in the history of the Premier League in the shape of Carl Stonehewer. Carl has won a multitude of winners medals at Premier League Individual, Pairs and Fours level. The England international also has the rare distinction of racing for several seasons in the World Championship Grand Prix series whilst competing in British Speedway's second professional tier as a Workington rider. In solid support at the top end is Finnish international Kauko Nieminen and the younger James Wright who also doubles-up with Elite League Belle Vue Aces for whom his grandfather Jim Yacoby rode.
Meanwhile the Redcar Bears management shuffle their pack. Newcomer Arlo Begeja moves to the number two spot with Chris Kerr moving back to number four to team up again with the consistent James Grieves. They were a formidable pairing in the first phase of the season and Chris also features in the vital penultimate heat. Matty Tresarrieu had two heat wins last Thursday and is getting back to form after a long absence through injury. He resumes the number five spot in the team order. Josh Auty has now completed his core GCSE subjects and returns at number six. The number seven spot will be confirmed from Tuesday AM.
REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Arlo Bugeja, 3. James Grieves, 4. Chris Kerr, 5. Matthieu Tressarieu, 6. Josh Auty, 7. To be confirmed
WORKINGTON COMETS:
1. Carl Stonehewer (C), 2. Mattia Carpanese, 3. James Wright, 4. Craig Branney, 5. Kauko Nieminen, 6. Charles Wright, 7. John Branney
On Thursday evening there will be a collection for the stricken Stoke Potter Gary Stead. Gary was seriously injured in a crash at Somerset Speedway last month and is expected to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. In addition the Redcar management have rearranged their fixture list so as not to run at the Motorpark on the evening of Thursday August 23rd when Gary's parent club Sheffield stage a benefit meeting for Gary and his family.
On Saturday afternoon the Cleveland Bays will be in action at the Motorpark against the Boston Barracudas in the Conference Knockout Cup. Tapes are up at 3pm with that special brand of unpredictable speedway entertainment featuring the up and coming stars of British Speedway such as the Bay's 16-year-old starlet Greg Blair.
STAR INTERVIEW with Arlo Bugeja
By Keith McGhie of ‘Speedway Star’ ~ Saturday 9th June 2007
Apart from noticing what a smooth and controlled style the latest newcomer to the Bears’ ranks has, you might also have spotted the name? The British stereotype Australian’s as being called Shane or Bruce or Scott… not so often Arlo… and certainly not Bugeja! The instantly likeable 21-year old who has emerged from second half outings to fill the void left by Dan Giffard’s unfortunate broken collarbone is pure Aussie – born and bred in Adelaide. But his father’s family originates from Malta and his mother’s parents were born in Italy – hence the name but to any folk who struggle with pronunciation (maybe a stereotype of us in Britain?), he says: “Call me Budgie if you like?”
“I started racing junior speedway on 125cc machines at the age of about seven, but shortly after switching to a 500cc bike, I broke my leg at my home track – Gillman - and was out for quite a while after that. “I first came over here two years ago and stayed with Shane Parker but at that time I didn’t have an Italian passport so wasn’t able to ride. I went home and finished my apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic and saved up as much money as I could. I’m staying with Lee Smethills – we met when he toured Australia with a British Under-21 squad about five years ago and he stayed with us on that occasion. We’ve kept in touch and being able to stay with Lee in Bolton has given me the opportunity to have a go at making it in England."
“I gave up my job in March and decided to give it a go – I came over here and did second halves everywhere I could…Newcastle, Berwick, Belle Vue, Edinburgh… and now it’s paid off with a place in the Redcar team. I’m really pleased to be here – the place has a new feel about it and everything’s growing and getting better. The supporters have been really friendly and now I’ve been given my chance, I’m going to give it my best.”
Arlo’s first two matches couldn’t have been much tougher than triple champions King’s Lynn and a power-packed Rye House side, and having to ride on an assessed average of five points, at number four in the team, means there have been no easy races. Yet far from look out of his depth the keen-as-mustard young man from Down Under was immediately on the pace and has even picked up a few crucial points – none moreso than his from the back effort over Adam Roynon to help the Bears’ to a narrow victory against the Rockets. “I’m giving it everything I can and then will go home to Australia during the winter, work hard and save up enough money to come back again next year,” he says determinedly.
HAPPY TO SPREAD HIS WINGS
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Saturday 9th June 2007
WHEN Arlo Bugeja waved farewell to the hot Aussie summer in favour of the murky early throes of British spring he had one aim - to make the grade as a speedway rider. Now his determination, dedication and hard work have paid off with a place in the Redcar Bears side. It’s been a steep learning curve for the 21-year-old and he’s still adapting to the demands of Premier League speedway. But he’s rarely looked too far off the pace and has scored some important points since being handed his first taste of Premier League action following the injury to Dan Giffard. Bugeja left his Adelaide home at the start of our season to stay in Bolton with Lee Smethills, who made several appearances for the Bears at the end of last term. Armed with a bike and an Italian passport, courtesy of his Italian mother, he tried his hand at second half racing at a number of tracks. South Tees Motorsports Park was one of them and, when Giffard broke his collarbone against Sheffield last month, Bugeja - or Budgie as he’s nicknamed - was handed his chance by Bears promoter Chris van Straaten.
His most recent appearance came last Thursday when, after two pointless rides, he scored three points to help the Bears snatch a 45-45 draw against Stoke. The last two of those points came when he passed Lee Complin in the penultimate race to prevent the visitors from clinching victory. “I was struggling with my bike in the first two races,” he admitted, “so I jumped on Lee’s bike for the next two and it was much better. I feel a bit more confident now - I’m very happy with the two points I got in my last race.” And, just as his second half performances improved as he became accustomed to British racing, he believes there’s much more to come from him in the Premier League. “The second halves I did were to show who I am and what I’m here for,” he explained. “It’s a dream come true to get this chance and try to prove myself.”
He was thrown in at the deep end with an assessed five-point average but he hasn’t let that phase him. “It’s very hard,” he admitted, “but they said to me that they didn’t expect me to be up there with the very best, they just told me to go out and do my best. “That’s what I’ve done. I’m taking it meeting by meeting and trying to get better and better. Hopefully they’ll be happy.” Having achieved his first aim of nailing down a team spot, Budgie’s next step is to become an established rider at Premier League level. “Now I want to get a team position for the rest of the season so I can get some track time,” he said. “I want to improve myself and get my bikes and everything set up so that, if I do come back next year, I can come here and be ready. “Obviously I’ve got no set-up here - I’m, staying with Lee and that’s a big help because I’ve got nothing myself. I want to set myself up and hopefully get a team for next year.”
It’s Bugeja’s second visit to the UK, having come over two years ago to stay with Aussie ace Shane Parker, the former Boro Bears captain. On that occasion, however, he didn’t bring a bike with him and potential suitors may well have been put off by the fact he only had at Australian passport at the time - and that would have pushed his assessed average up. “I stayed with Shane for two months,” he said, “and that was a real good experience. “I just brought my race suit and Shane let me borrow a bike and I did some second halves. I didn’t have an Italian passport then so, that has been a help this time.”
Australian speedway is mainly run on an individual basis so, with a league structure in place over here, he is becoming accustomed to more regular doses of action that back home. “The main difference is that you are riding a lot more,” he said, “and it’s mainly team riding, which is good. Having more rides means you can concentrate on it more. Back home you ride one week, then go to work and sort of forget about speedway until the following weekend and then you’ve got to concentrate on it again.”
He’s been warmly welcomed into the side however, and says his team-mates have been a great help. “They’ve been giving me tips and helping me with my bike set-ups,” he said.” It was a bold move, paying his own way to come from the other side of the world in an effort to make a serious stab at a speedway career. He’s not the first to do it, however. Ivan Mauger did - and look how far he went!
BEARS BOSS VOWS TO WIELD AXE
by Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Friday 8th June 2007
ANGRY boss Brian Havelock has vowed to wield the axe after his side were held to a shock 45-45 draw at home to Stoke last night. It was a match he had expected them to win comfortably but in fact, at one point, it looked like even a draw was going to be out of the question. After setting a club record five successive wins earlier in the season, the Bears have now failed to win in three attempts and their last five home matches have gone to a last heat decider. Only captain Gary Havelock and James Grieves rode either to their potential or to Premier League standard last night - and now the manager’s patience has snapped.
“I’m gutted,” said Havvy snr. “We’re going to have to have to name another 1-7 for next week - we can’t use this team when Workington come. I’ve told Chris van Straaten (the Bears promoter) that he’s going to have to sort it out. The tail is far too long and it can’t go on - we’ve got to do some alterations. We should have been away and gone - a team like Workington will come and mow us down.”
It’s hard to disagree with Havelock, especially as the Bears were only in front once, after heat six, and that was immediately cancelled out by a Stoke 5-1 in the very next race. And the scenario would have been even worse had the Potters’ Rusty Harrison not suffered engine problems on no fewer than three occasions, the first when leading heat four. Mat Tresarrieu - who somehow sandwiched two wins between a pair of lasts - and Chris Kerr were again blowing hot and cold. And the simple fact was that the remaining members of team didn’t look like scoring a point unless they were handed it gift-wrapped. The only exception came in the penultimate heat which had “5-1 to Stoke” written all over it - an outcome which would have sealed an away victory.
But with guest Karlis Ezergailis ruled out of the re-run after falling while bravely trying to have a go, Arlo Bugeja came from the back to beat Lee Complin and keep the match alive. That left the Bears 44-40 behind and needing a 5-1 from the nominated riders’ race to salvage a draw. Havelock and Grieves duly made the gate and, despite the best efforts of Claus Vissing and Glenn Cunningham, stayed in front to send a mixture of cheers and sighs of relief around South Tees Motorpsorts Park.
BEARS: Gary Havelock 13+1, James Grieves 12+1, Chris Kerr 8+1, Mat Tresarrieu 6, Rusty Hodgson 3+1, Arlo Bugeja 3, Karlis Ezergailis 0.
POTTERS: Claus Vissing 9+2, Glenn Cunningham 9+1, Barrie Evans 9+1, Lee Complin 7+1, Ben Barker 6+1, Jack Hargreaves 4+1, Rusty Harrison 1.
TEESSIDERS Ashley Johnson and Jitendra Duffill make their first appearances of the season in Cleveland Bays’ double header away to Boston tonight. They sides will clash first in the Conference League and then in the CL KO Cup.
BAYS: 1 Mark Burrows, 2 Gary Beaton, 3 Jitendra Duffill, 4 Ashley Johnson, 5 Adam McKinna, 6 Martin Emerson, 7 Greg Blair.
IN FOR A WIN
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Thursday 7th June 2007
WE’LL bounce back with a win tonight! That was manager Brian Havelock’s confident prediction after his side’s Premier League KO Cup defeat at King’s Lynn last night. For, although the Bears went down 59-33 in their second round, second leg clash at the Norfolk Arena to lose 104-78 on aggregate, only Glasgow have posted a better score there against the 2006 treble holders this year. Stoke Potters visit South Tees Motorsports Park in the Premier League tonight (7.30pm start), and Havelock expects a comfortable win. “I’m expecting two or three maximums,” said Havelock, whose side have been taken to a last heat decider at home in each of the last four weeks. “It gives us a bit of respite from having strong teams come to visit.”
The Potters include recent signing Claus Vissing who has replaced Garry Stead who was seriously injured at Somerset last month. Stead, it was revealed today, is paralysed below the waist and likely to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Havelock’s son Gary (13 points) was the key player at a wet and miserable Norfolk Arena last night although James Grieves scored a useful seven. Chris Kerr and Rusty Hodgson both fell twice and the Bears’ only heat advantage came in heat 11 when skipper Havvy finished second as a tactical double. “Gary looked quite sharp again,” said Havelock senior, “and Rusty looked a bit better - the trouble is he goes off as the meeting wears on, but that’s inexperience. “We always knew it was going to be a daunting task, but we’d have been closer to them if they hadn’t got 5-1s in the last two races. A couple of 3-3s instead and it would have been a reasonable score.”
Last night’s scorers.
STARS: Daniel Nermark 14, Tomas Topinka 13+1, Paul Lee 9+1, James Brundle 8+1, Trevor Harding 7+2, Chris Mills 5, Shane Waldron 3+1.
BEARS: Gary Havelock 13, James Grieves 7, Mat Tresarrieu 4, Chris Kerr 4, Karlis Ezergailis 3, Rusty Hodgson 1+1, Arlo Bugeja 1.
Tonight’s teams.
BEARS: 1 Gary Havelock, Mat Tresarrieu, 3 James Grieves, 4 Arlo Bugeja, 5 Chris Kerr, 6 Karlis Ezergailis, 7 Rusty Hodgson.
POTTERS: 1 Glenn Cunningham, 2 Ben Barker, 3 Claus Vissing, 4 Lee Complin, 5 Rusty Harrison, 6 Barrie Evans, 7 Jack Hargreaves.
PILE ON POINTS
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Wednesday 6th June 2007
REDCAR Bears face a massive test of character tonight when they attempt to keep their Premier League KO Cup hopes alive at King’s Lynn. And manager Brian Havelock will be looking for an improved performance from his side in the Norfolk Arena cauldron. The Bears were held to a 45-45 draw in the home leg of their tie at South Tees Motorsports Park last week - the first time they have ever prevented the Stars from beating them. And with the 2006 Premier Trophy, league and KO Cup winners still near on invincible at home, Havelock’s side will be given a stern test tonight.
“We’ll be hoping they have a few engine failures or fall-offs,” quipped the team boss. “We know it’s going to be tough. They seem to want a bit more dirt on the track than most, but they are a very good side. Unfortunately for us, Mat Tresarrieu and Chris Kerr haven’t quite hit the heights since they’ve come back from injury. Matty had a good first meeting back but he’s gone backwards since then - he should be getting scores of six, seven or eight. We can get more out of Chris too. He got five points last Thursday - that’s not his score at home is it?"
“James Grieves has increased his scores but, the two we expected to, haven’t. Havelock is also aware than his son Gary, the team skipper and No 1, is still working his way back to full fitness after six-and-a-half weeks off with two broken ribs. He was off the pace in the British Final on Monday,” said Havvy snr. “He’s still not fully fit after being out for so long - it was a tough meeting to go into so soon after coming back but he wanted to ride to get it under his belt.”
Havelock would also welcome some more scoring power at reserve. Teenage whizz kid Josh Auty is unavailable this week because of his GCSE exams so Rusty Hodgson is back for both tonight’s match and tomorrow’s home clash with Stoke. Partnering him at reserve in both matches is Aussie Karlis Ezergailis who starred in Rye House Raiders’ Conference League win over the Cleveland Bays at STMP on Saturday. Ezergailis would have scored 14+1 from five rides had he not suffered an engine failure in the closing stages of his second race and Havelock said: “He rode very well on Saturday so hopefully he’ll be able to produce the goods for us.”
Ezergailis replaces Jamie Courtney who was due to have an X-ray on his injured back this week. Shane Waldron has been brought in to ride for the hosts at reserve in place of broken leg victim John Oliver after first choice Nicki Glanz became unavailable.
STARS: 1 Tomas Topinka, 2 Chris Mills, 3 Daniel Nermark, 4 Trevor Harding, 5 Paul Lee, 6 James Brundle, 7 Shane Waldron.
BEARS: 1 Gary Havelock, 2 Mat Tresarrieu, 3 James Grieves, 4 Arlo Bujega, 5 Chris Kerr, 6 Karlis Ezergailis, 7 Rusty Hodgson.
HAVVY'S TURNING BACK THE CLOCK
By Martin Neal, Evening Gazette ~ Monday 4th June 2007
FORMER world champion Gary Havelock aims to turn back the clock tonight when he lines up in the British Final at Wolverhampton. The Redcar Bears skipper won the title back in 1991 and 1992, going on to win the world crown on the second occasion. He openly admits his glory days on the world stage are behind him now and he had left the Elite League behind for the Premier League arena with the Bears. But the winner of tonight’s British showpiece - or whoever finishes closest to Grand Prix regulars Scott Nicholls and Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris - will get a wild card entry into the British GP and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. And the next two finishers will also be assured of a trip to South Wales on June 30 - as meeting reserves.
The world championship was decided on a round-by-round knockout basis when Havvy won it, and the British round had not yet switched to Cardiff when he was a GP rider. And that’s a big incentive for Teessider Havvy who said: “I’d love to ride at the Millennium Stadium - it’s an awesome occasion. Wolverhampton is a track I enjoy riding. It’s only my second meeting back after being out with my rib injury, but it’s usually a nice smooth track which shouldn’t be that hard to ride. Every meeting I do now is going to put me nearer to race fitness again.”
Line-up: E Kennett (Poole), J Wright (Workington/ Belle Vue), S Nicholls (Coventry), O Allen (Coventry), C Louis (Ipswich), C Harris (Coventry), W Lawson (Wolves), D Howe (Wolves), L Bridger (Eastbourne), D King (Peterborough), J Screen (Belle Vue), G Havelock (Redcar), L Richardson (Swindon), S Stead (Belle Vue), T Woffinden (Rye House/Scunthorpe).
REDCAR Bears have been confirmed as qualifiers for the PL Pairs at Somerset on June 29 when they will be represented by Gary Havelock and James Grieves.
CLEVELAND Bays boss Jason Pipe has warned that no-one’s place is safe following Saturday’s 48-41 home defeat by Rye House Raiders in the Conference League. The Bays have now lost all three of their home matches this year and Pipe complained: “The main concern at the moment is the inconsistency of the riders. They can go out and win a race and then, in the next race, go out and run a last. A couple of the riders will have to buck up their ideas or they will find themselves without a team place. That goes for any rider - whether he is doubling up in the Premier League or not. Greg Blair was again the Bay’s most impressive rider on Saturday and gave them two of their four race wins.
BAYS: Mark Burrows 12+1, Greg Blair 10, Gary Beaton 8+1, Martin Emerson 4+2, Rusty Hodgson 4, Adam McKinna 3+3, R/R for Kye Norton.
RAIDERS: Robert Mear 14, Karlis Ezergailis 11+1, Lee Strudwick 10+1, Daniel Halsey 9+1, Gary Cottham 3. Harland Cook 1, RR/R for Ben Powell.
LOCAL HEROES – BOSTON/RYE HOUSE
By Steve Harland Redcar Speedway ~ Monday 4th June 2007
A THIRD consecutive Conference League home defeat was the frustrating result from last Saturday’s action at South Tees Motorsport Park between the ‘Burnt Tree’ Bays and Rye House Raiders. The unfortunate Oxford Lions having to pull out of the fixture 48 hours before having seen the senior club go out of business.
Once again the Bays flattered to deceive in front of their biggest crowd of the season. Captain Mark Burrows, teenage rookie Greg Blair and Gary Beaton all figured prominently but the damage was done by low key returns from heat leader Adam McKinna and Rusty Hodgson. Both teams were a man short and had to operate rider replacement.
Bays recent target Karlis Ezergailis was most impressive in the first race with a time that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Premier League. The next race was a total disaster as Greg Blair flipped his bike over at the tapes and was excluded then Rusty Hodgson was penalised 15 metres for touching the tapes in the rerun and then excluded for anticipating the start in the third rerun to leave the Raiders the easy task of completing four laps unopposed. The Bays responded immediately when Burrows and Beaton rode well to keep out the advances of Robert Mear. A 4-2 heat advantage in race five saw the Bays briefly take the lead but when Raiders reserve Lee Strudwick beat Burrows in race seven with teammate Daniel Halsey back in third things looked ominous. Race eight saw Blair and Martin Emerson conjure up a maximum heat advantage and restore a 3pt lead, however this was completely undone in the next race when Blair fell on the last bend of the last lap whilst chasing Strudwick hard, therefore gifting the Raiders a valuable 1pt lead. The killer blow came in race 14 when Mear and Halsey raced to an all too comfortable 5-1 heat advantage over Beaton and a disappointing Hodgson. The match was all but over. To add insult to injury Blair blew his main engine in an eight point defeat as that man, Ezergailis, won the final race and give his team a 49-41pts victory.
SCORERS: Mark Burrows 12, Greg Blair 10, Gary Beaton 8, Martin Emerson & Rusty Hodgson 4, Adam McKinna 3, Rider Replacement for Steve Jones.
THE home defeat against Rye House Raiders had more significance than most people would have imagined. A fortnight ago Bays team manager Jason Pipe had been alerted to the fact that former Newport Mavericks rider Karlis Ezergailis was flying back from Australia and looking for a Conference League club to ride for. The two did actually speak and up until last week Ezergailis was set to make his Bays debut against Boston Barracudas in the Knockout Cup on Saturday, June 16. However, Rye House had been struggling to put a team together and prior to declaring their line-up only had five fit riders both Ben Powell and Barry Burchatt had been signed up for Premier League clubs: Birmingham and Newport. Imagine then how Pipe must have been feeling when he was informed by his Hertfordshire counterpart the day before that Ezergailis would be riding at No.5 for the Raiders. Especially as he then went out and finished second top scorer with 11pts from five rides, but for an engine failure he would have had a paid maximum. It transpires that Ezergailis is courting Chris Neath’s sister, Neath is the captain of the Premier League Rye House Rockets and lives in Worcester. It’s a 400-mile round trip from there to Middlesbrough and back, understandably perhaps given standard Conference League travelling allowances Ezergailis chose to travel the shorter distance to Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and spend less time on the motorway. Ezergailis is just the type of rider the Bays are lacking to be more potent in home matches. The search for a more geographically based rider to Middlesbrough who can do a job continues – watch this space.
NO time to dwell on the Rye House Raiders result as the ‘Burnt Tree’ Bays travel to Norfolk on Friday in a rearranged ‘double header’ to take on the Boston Barracudas in both the Conference League and also the first leg of a second round Knockout Cup match. Team manager Jason Pipe is allowing Rusty Hodgson time off due to other work commitments. Hartlepool-based Ashley Johnson and Middlesbrough-born Jitendra Duffill are the replacements. Johnson, 20, rides for Newcastle in the Premier League and spent a season with Scunthorpe; Duffill, 27, has a bit more experience and has been showing up well in second half races. Ampleforth-based former British youth grasstrack champion David Wallinger is also included in the squad. Boston have raced in exile at King’s Lynn’s Norfolk Arena for seven years now. First up at 7.30pm is league action as the ‘Burnt Tree’ Bays look to overcome a 1pt home defeat, a task made even harder by the inclusion of York-based Paul Cooper, signed to replace Jon Armstrong who has joined Premier League Birmingham. Cooper is a seven point Premier League rider with Sheffield and the Bays don’t have anyone in their squad of his standard.
Team Line-up: 1 Mark Burrows; 2 Ashley Johnson; 3 Jitendra Duffill; 4 Gary Beaton; 5 Adam McKinna; 6 Martin Emerson; 7 Greg Blair; On standby: David Wallinger
ON a brighter note another last heat decider between Redcar Bears and King’s Lynn Stars last Thursday saw guests Tyre Exchange of Cannon Park, Middlesbrough, in attendance. The Bears managed to halt their losing sequence against the reigning league champions by clinching a draw, however, perhaps of more significance was the provisional agreement of another sponsorship deal agreed between the company’s managing director Geoff Smith and Steve Harland, the club’s community development officer. Geoff said: “I had never seen speedway before though two of my staff go every week. It was a big eye opener for me and I can see why it is such a big attraction live.” The company have agreed to sponsor a banner at the track and put an advert in the club’s programme.
REVIVED POTTERS AT THE MOTORPARK
By Redcar Speedway ~ Monday 4th June 2007
The Redcar Bears entertain a revamped and revived Stoke Potters side in Premier League action at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening at 7.30pm. For a club which traditionally did not have a high turnover of riders the Stoke management decided on a revamp for the beginning of the 2007 season. Following a bad run of results plus the serious injury to Gary Stead last month they have rung the changes again. 20-year-old Dane Claus Vissing has joined the Potters on a permanent basis having made his Premier League debut as an international visitor to the South Tees Silver Helmet at the Motorpark last October. He has made an immediate impact with several double figure top scores at home and away. The Midlands side also snapped up former Premier League Riders' Champion Glenn Cunningham and brought 22-year-old Lee Complin back into the speedway fold after a five-year absence from the sport. Lee has kept sharp and active though short-track and grasstrack racing.
So the only survivor of the corresponding fixture last season is reserve Barrie Evans who is joined in that position by 2006 Bears' favourite Jack Hargreaves. There is no doubt Stoke see 18-year-old Hargreaves as a potential 'secret weapon' but with the hometeam getting back to full strength and fitness - young Jack will not have matters on track his own way. Some fascinating clashes lie ahead.
The Bears cause was boosted by the return of Gary Havelock last Thursday. Although not fully recovered from his rib injuries the club captain decided to get race sharp as soon as was physically possible and his initial race victories were very encouraging. Absent on this occasion will be 16-year-old reserve Josh Auty as he is now, understandably, concentrating on his GCSE examinations. Once those priorities are met Bears fans can look forward to see the exciting development of a rider who scored eleven plus three bonus points last Thursday against the most formidable team in the Premier League.
Bears draft in former Newport Wasp Karlis Ezergailis as a guest replacement with the young Australian hungry for opportunities. Mathieu Tresarrieu continues his return to match fitness from the number two position while stalwart James Grieves looks forward to continuing to maintain a run of points-scoring consistency that signals his move to the Redcar Bears has completely revived his speedway career.
REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C), 2. Mathieu Tresarrieu, 3. James Grieves, 4. Arlo Bujega, 5. Chris Kerr, 6. Karlis Ezergailis, 7. Rusty Hodgson, Team Manager: Brian Havelock
STOKE POTTERS:
1. Glenn Cunningham, 2. Ben Barker, 3. Claus Vissing, 4. Lee Complin, 5. Rusty Harrison (C), 6. Barrie Evans, 7. Jack Hargreaves, Team Manager- John Adams
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