boz

Ayres in for Hall from next Thursday.

I think a change was needed as Richard has not been getting the points we need him too - not sure I agree with the way it has happened but after a couple of years of just settling for under performing riders good to see us take some action if we think it is neccesary. Would Graversen fit? Danny Ayres?

If the meeting goes ahead there will be a couple of changes for the Bears. Charles Wright is out injured (struggled with knee injury at Sheffield), it will be r/r for him. Ellis Perks is also out injured after his crash at Poole, Shelby Rutherford will guest in his place.

No Perks tonight after his fall last night, Tom Bacon will guest. Does obviously weaken us further, puts the pressure on Richard Hall to have a good night!

Agree with Mad Max - Busch's injuries certainly sounded like it would take more than 28 days to heal. If he was fit enough to make a comeback would be straight back into our side I would think. Am surprised no-one has picked up Ayres though.

All depends on Tobi's fitness..

If that does fit then would be a no brainer for me. Would put us in the bracket of play off contenders.

I'm pretty certain Shanes has said he wouldn't ride in the CH due to his grasstrack commitments. May change if he loses his Poole place I guess - but people complain as it as about riders missing meetings so not sure signing someone who we know would miss a lot of meetings would be a good idea.

I do tend to agree unfortunately. There no real names that spring to mind at the moment to replace him though - the likes of Bickley and Brennan are too young I think and most other CH standard riders are either already in the league or ruled out due to other commitments.

Full credit to the Bandits for a well deserved point tonight, their 3 heatleaders rode very well. Happy for another win for the Bears, especially with Garrity being withdrawn from the meeting with the flu. Charles Wright was excellent, with Perks again doing the work of two riders and Barker working very hard for his points. Heat 11 was very interesting between Barker and Morris. Second attempt at the heat Morris appeared to try and lean and Barker and slip off, perhaps fortunate to be allowed back but he was not happy. Third attempt Morris rode Barker almost into the fence exiting the second bend and the red mist looked to descend on Barker as he dive bombed Morris going into bend 1 on the second lap. Morris held on well but an aggressive move by Barker and a few handbags after the race between the two. I'm not one for wanting rid of riders generally, but Hall has got to be on thin ice at the moment. Only 1 point and that was gifted in hear 2. I think at this point I would prefer a National League 2 pointer in - would probably score similar points but at least you know he might make some progress. I do appreciate Richard's dad is ill at the moment, but we are on the verge of being a pretty decent team. Very impressed with Doolan tonight, was quick and looks like he is really enjoying his racing at the moment.

Steve Worrall will be guesting for Bridger. Would expect a Bears win, but maybe a bit closer than some are thinking. Nick Morris if memory serves me well goes well here, and Worrall is normally good for 8-10 at least.

There was no (at least from my standpoint) reaction to Morris falling, only when he then theatrically started throwing his hands in the air at the referee and when he was excluded. Thought it was all fairly tame stuff which added a bit to the atmosphere and certainly seemed to motivate Morris as had a good two final rides. Agreed about the juniors by the way - looked frightening when Alex almost took off. Glad to see they all appeared to be ok after the meeting.

Pretty poor from Lambert that I have to say. Track was certainly wet at the start, and from his interview on Redcar facebook before the meeting was clear he did not fancy it. After 3 or 4 heats the track settled down though and we saw some pretty good racing - not least from the likes of Lindgren and to a lesser extent Rose and Morris. IMO he was beaten before even taking to the track last night - if he approached it differently the track was there to be attacked.

I think Newcastles biggest mistake was winning the toss and deferring to heat 15. With a greasy track it was always going to be imperative to get out the gate in the early heats. Bears started off like a house on fire and never looked back. Track was tricky to start but produced some superb racing later on - heat 11 in particular had Rose, Wright and Perks three abreast on the second lap. Thought Lindgren was again excellent for the Diamonds, the rest were pretty up and down and Lambert wont have many worse nights. Bears were dominant throughout and Perks was absolutely terrific. Garrity and Barker are excellent, if not terrifying, to watch - especially when out together! Backed up with a solid engine room performance by JBA and Wright. Only real concern is Hall - we are not far off being a very good team if he can get going or a replacement can be found.

Latest update from Bears Facebook is they are very confident the meeting will be on

Heavier rain at the moment. Looking at weather radar should move through quite quickly but definitely the heaviest rain of the day.

I'm about a mile and a half from the track. Had a short spell of drizzle but not enough to even dampen the paths. Dry at the moment.

i will try and keep this updated throughout the afternoon. Latest forecast I seen was for showers till around 5 and then clear. Has been on and off drizzle this morning so far, but nothing that should threaten the meeting

As others have said - could go either way! On paper we have the edge at reserve so that could be key tonight. Perks has been excellent so far, hopefully Hall can have a good night which could see us over the line. I'll go for a Bears win, but with Newcastle maybe sneaking a point. Hoping for a more exciting clash than the other North East Derby last night!

Wright has been excellent so far this season - I can only imagine he has withdrawn otherwise this is baffling.

He was told yesterday he was required in Denmark. I'm guessing some negotiations took place over night.

It is hard to quantify really. Heats 13 and 15 could have gone either way and it is hard to tell if Nico's injury would have had any affect on the Ippo riders (I'm sure on some level it must have). I would have been confident without the injury the Bears would have done enough to win the meeting and prevent any away points though.

Jonas WILL now be riding for the Bears at Edinburgh tonight.

Redcar were only informed about Jonas at 2pm this afternoon according to Kevin Keay on the microphone. Did apologise to any fans who might be making the trip.

Good all round performance from the Bears - great to see Coty pick up some points. Hopefully a springboard for him. Garrity and Barker superb to watch, first time in years I have genuinely felt we could get 5-1s in 13 and 15. Rode both heats hard but fair. Best wishes to Nico - really nasty smash. Was on the track for a long time before being put in ambulance and very obviously in a lot of discomfort.