boz

Think I would definitely keep Perks - career only seems to be going one way for me and didn't particularly struggle moving into the main body, especially at home. Barker is a no brainer, and would be looking to keep Wright, Andersen and Busch. Would love to see Proctor back if we decide to get a sponsors licence. Has been an excellent season and full marks to Kev/Jitendra. Was good to hear Kev sound so positive as well about the future. Just as important as riders wanting to come back was the fact he has sponsors already asking about next year as well. Will be interesting to see the makeup of the leagues next season - looks like a change of racenight for us next season?

Meeting postponed

Rider replacement for Garrity. Ayres is also out ill so Carr guests for him

Well, if last night was our last home meeting then I would like to say a big thank you to the promotion and the team this season. It has been a breath of fresh air this season, and great to see much larger crowds this season which will hopefully continue into next year. The team has been a joy to watch this year, topped off by a hugely entertaining meeting last night. Whilst the racing itself was not the best due to the weather, full credit to all the rides who really gave it a go and not a single complaint from any of them on a wet night! And the idea for prize money for the best after race celebration worked brilliantly, many wheelies, donuts and more. Kevin Doolan roly-polying down the home straight and Ben Barker stripping down to his underwear before doing a lap of honour and then falling off! Daft little things, but really added to the entertainment on the night. Fingers crossed we can pull something out over the next three away meetings, but if not I have thoroughly enjoyed this year and am eagerly awaiting next season. With hopefully Ben Barker as the first signing.

To be fair, Wright would have won it without the ridiculous decision to exclude him whilst he was trying to avoid Jacobs who was in the middle of doing a 360 in front of him.

Certainly not the case for this one - unfortunately there have been meetings re-arranged for tonight taking riders away and then a couple of others receiving guest bookings and having to withdraw. A couple of late injuries/illness has also made things tougher but I know Jitendra especially has not been off the phone for the last two weeks trying to get riders to ride.

In what is hopefully the final change, Thomas Jorgensen has withdrawn and Ryan Douglas will replace him.

Jye Etheridge has unfortunately had to withdraw - he will be replaced by Kevin Doolan.

Joe Jacobs completes the lineup

Due to his injuries suffered last week, Jason Garrity will no longer be riding in this. Newcastles Ashley Morris will take his place.

Provisional lineup (in racing order): 1 Charles Wright 2 Scott Nicholls 3 Aaron Summers 4 Ellis Perks 5 Ben Barker 6 tbc 7 Jacob Bukhave 8 Richie Worrall 9 Jason Garrity 10 Ty Proctor 11 Coty Garcia 12 Ludvig Lindgren 13 Richard Lawson 14 Thomas Jorgensen 15 Paul Starke 16 Jye Etheridge R1 TBC R2 TBC Lewis Kerr has withdrawn as he now has a guest booking for Sheffield on same night - his replacement will be announced soon. format is 20 heats, with top two going straight to final and 3-6 in a semi final.

Much, much improved rider this season.

Bates will be a miss - he is excellent around the STMP. I enjoy watching Douglas as well aroudn here, but he never seems to get the points his efforts deserve.

Danny Ayres is a great example of this - he was at one point tripling up this season but still had a 'proper' job. He actually said that has made his speedway better - feels less like a job as he knows he has guaranteed money coming in.

Ty Proctor and Aaron Summers added to the lineup, as well as Jye Etheridge. First 70 kids through the gate will receive a free gift.

Scott Nicholls announced as first rider for what should be a good meeting. Will be joined by 6 of the Bears, with Danny Ayres riding for Cradley that night. Bears are hoping to announce another big name rider very soon.

I might be one of an odd breed, but I still really enjoy my speedway. It probably helps that my club Redcar have had their best season in years, with good racing and a much improved atmosphere around the club combined with a good increase in crowds.I try not to pay attention to the rules and politics that go on, and just enjoy 4 blokes riding around a track with no brakes. Something definitely needs to be done around the consistency of meetings and riders though. We have been lucky to have a meeting pretty much every week but you see some clubs go 4/5 weeks without a meeting and people just get out of the habit of going. And guests/doubling up/missing riders needs to be sorted or minimized somehow, people want to see the same 7 riders turn up (injuries permitting).

Bears currently at full strength, Tobias currently down to ride although that may change depending on his fitness. Sheffield will use r/r for Todd Kurtz but otherwise full strength at the moment.

Jitendra Duffill appointed co-promoter. Great news and well done to Jitendra.

He was excellent at the start of the season, but i think his injury has affected him quite a lot. Made of a couple of comebacks and then re-aggravated it. Has developed a habit of jumping the start/making the perfect gate which has seen a number of 15 meter starts. On his day is still superb, and is excellent to watch but if I had to pick one to keep it would be Barker.

My guess is purely habit - as far back as I can remember Speedway night is Thursday night. I guess that if that night changed permanently the crowds may hold up once they get used to it but it's a leap into the unknown. I agree that in theory it should be more accessible - but hard to break that habit!

Looking at this from a purely Redcar point of view it would be interesting to see what happens. Kev Keay has worked miracles this season. He earlier stated crowds were up 20% - and I would not be surprised to see this be even higher as crowds to the naked eye have seemed to continue to rise. We have used Friday as our off night for when Sheffield visit - home fans numbers definitely decline on a Friday night although Sheffield always bring a good support which helps balance that out. Cant see every team bringing that on a Friday to top the numbers up. And i can't see Redcar opting to move up to continue riding on a Thursday - we still have one of the smallest budgets in the CL and live within our means. I dare say a choice of moving racenight or one big league I would favour one big league.

Some superb racing tonight - Ben Barker was absolutely sublime. Could not imagine myself saying this a year ago but surely first name on the team sheet for next season. JBA and Charles Wright both excellent as well, and a well deserved heat 15 for Perks. Busch was excellent and Davey was very good value. Schlein was very good value for Ipswich - some very tough first bends from him. Newman also had a good night but not much else to write home about. King was very poor - the one time he gated looked fast but nothing apart from that.

Sounds like no Garrity tonight, will be r/r

Sarjeant will guest for Greaves, Doolan will guest for Sedgmen and r/r for Heeps. Bears at full strength.