boz

I don't think even the most optimistic Bears fan will be predicting a home win in this one! Stewart missing a massive loss on his recent home form, and obviously with no number 1 going to be incredibly tough. Added to that, Ayres superb form around Redcar this season can only see a 10 point away win.

I think it is still r/r for Bacon on Friday. Andersen does not come in until Sunday.

To be fair, the release from Redcar says what happened. Jack said he wanted to leave (rumour has it after being replaced in one of his rides by Nathan Greaves in the Leicester home meeting). He then changed his mind, but deal had ready been done with Andersen. A tad hasty by Redcar perhaps, but if a rider tells you he wants to be released how long do you give him to change his mind.

Riss is a great signing. Gives us a powerful top three. Do have to feel for Ulrich, he was great last night. He has struggled previously though. In the past we have stuck with under performing riders for far too long hoping they will turn it around - this time possibly pulled the trigger a bit too quickly but either way you can't win. Wooley signing will put Greaves under a bit of pressure to score - but we should hopefully be strong enough to cover his rides and I wish him all the best. Andersen flew round our place last season, less so this year but should be a decent replacement for Bacon.

Much better than expected from the Bears - not sure what Ulrich did after his first ride but a completely different rider after that and deserved his rider of the night award. Stewart was excellent again, and not too many people will pass Craig Cook this year so great effort from Wright. Greaves again quick and possibly deserved more points. Cook was in a class of his won for Glasgow - struggle to remember Proctor having a worse meeting here and Starke aside Glasgow did not offer too much support for Cook. I don't think 12 points will be enough, but should at least make Friday interesting.

Proctor in probably makes Glasgow stronger, he normally flies around here. Looking forward to this!

Can only see a tight meeting - a few points either way. Be good to see the clashes between Cook, Wright and MPT. Interesting to see the crowd size as well - running on a Tuesday is a first, hopefully some decent support down from Glasgow!

http://www.redcar-speedway.com/2019/06/30/bacon-blow-for-bears/ Looks like a replacement coming in for Bacon - what can be now build up to?

Another really good meeting. MPT is absolutely dialled in around the MPA now, and Nicol was an inspired choice of guest. Important points from Greaves as well. Douglas was superb for Lions and Harris another great guest. Thoroughly enjoyed it, Bears win and Leicester point probably the right result.

Where on earth has this Heeps been hiding the last couple of years?! He was absolutely superb all night. That heat 15 was one of the best races I can remember - Stewart, Heeps and Wright all giving it absolutely everything. Stunning ride by Heeps to get past Stewart. For the Bears Stewart oozed claas, MPT and Wright both as excellent as always a solid showing for the reserves (against admittedly weak Monarchs pairing) Heeps was the standout for Edinburgh, Pavolaara and Andersson showed flashes but not much else for their good travelling support to cheer.

Gutted for Ben, but not a massive surprise. Hope he can get things sorted. Ulrich would look to be an almost obvious replacement. Not sure on averages, but what would the likes of Becker or Bellego come down on?

Was announced over the tannoy that the curfew was 10:30

A meeting which ended within the curfew? A very unfortunate turn of events has soured the meeting slightly, horrendous first bend incident with all four lads going down. Garrity looked in a lot of pain holding his wrist. Not entirely sure how Nielsen got up to ride again. Best wishes to Garrity and Howarth. Although how on earth the referee excluded him I will never know, shocking decision. Second incident with a member of the crowd looked very serious indeed and something that just cannot be helped. Best wishes to that person. Meeting itself was decent although with such a wide gulf between riders not too much in the way of racing. Paul Starke was excellent, and Danny Ayres again superb. Charles was superb, and on that form got to be a good bet for podium?

Pleased to see Jacob get picked up. Looked impressive in first half of the meeting on Friday, as smooth as I have seen him.

McDonald looked pretty good - couple of excellent rides. List was disappointing, maybe trying a bit too hard. Wright in an absolute class of his own again - difficult to see who can beat him next Friday in the semi-final. Massively impressed by Ayres yet again, and Bukhave was excellent in the individual part but faded.

Should be an interesting meeting, keen to see how List and McDonald get on.

He walked back to the pits under his own steam - was not down for too long so would imagine a couple of days rest and he will be right as rain. Awkward looking fall though.

What Yearby said. A full meeting, 6 second half NJL races and 3 sets of 4 laps by Alex Goldsborough and back in the car for 9:30 - cant argue with that. Word for the track staff as well, considering the amount of rain on Wednesday and Thursday the track was excellent. For the Bears, Stewart just gets better and better. Wright was his usual self and MPT looked quick before his scary looking fall. Jack Smith also excellent - not the quickest out there but gates superbly and rides his heart out for all 4 laps. Somerset obviously looked weak at bottom end. Atkins certainly mixed it but made a couple of mistakes that cost him points. Bomber was superb to watch as always and Schlein and Covatti both mixed it well. Nicely setup for the second leg - would have liked a few more points.

I didnt actually think the dust was too bad at all - standing on the second bend we normally get the brunt of it and was not too bad. Think it is tricky to water the track too much when it was as cold as it was last night, could have easily gone too slippy.

Really enjoyed that. Some great racing from both sides. Wright is on absolute fire at the moment and just never really looks like getting beat. Great to see MPT hit some form, and Jordan after a tough first ride was excellent. Smith has way exceeded my expectations, and Greaves again deserved more points than he got - a great battle with Garrity in particular. For Scunny, Ayres was superb. Allen got better as the night went on and excellent rides in 13 and 15. Reserves did struggle though. Jedd List had a couple of outings in the second half and looked good.

Cold and grey, its been dry today so far and as far as I can see no rain forecast. Agree that taxi is best way to and from train station. Only a 5 minute drive at most.

A thoroughly enjoyable meeting, both sides gave it their all and had a little bit of everything. Was good to see Drew Kemp in action, and thought he was a tad unlucky tonight. He will probably feel hard done by with his heat 8 exclusion, but I think if Bacon had been excluded he would also have been hard done by. Great race between the pair though. Heat 11 was a cracker, super rides by both Wright and Proctor. I thought Proctor very lucky to not be excluded in heat 14 mind, i think Greaves agrees with me.... Stewarts pass of Proctor in the re-run of that heat was also superb - he has really come on superbly over the winter.

Great result for the Bears - Wright has started season superbly and looks like Greaves had a great meeting. Probably raced Newcastle at the right time, before they get dialled in to the home track.

Lewis was superb today at Redcar - would not be too worried about Tofty though.

The Xmas party is next week. Seems to be plenty of whispers around Barker to Brum - hope he sticks with us for next season (especially if he will end up 2nd/3rd heatleader).