Yearbyred

Well I wasn’t at the social event, but it was posted on the Bears facebook page pretty much as soon as it was announced and I posted it on here soon after. So a bit unfair to say it was only the privileged inner circle.

Confirmed as the team. Think most Bears fans will be happy with that.

I won’t feel bad with some of my cultural references now seeing as though Frank Spencer last appeared on our TV 46 years ago! If Edwards and Mulford can kick on it’s a decent team, but reserves look weak. However given the top 3 that was always going to be the case. If that’s the team of course.

Looks like a good line up to me. Doubt we will see many better looking (on paper) teams at the start of the season. Glasgow and Poole should be fighting it out at the top.

As usual the Bears full 1-7 will be announced at the Xmas party on 7th December.

Excellent meeting I thought watching the stream and congratulations to Josh Pickering, fully deserved winner, the sort of rider people want to watch.

Troy Batchelor.

Well you can at all Redcar meetings so assume it’s no different.

Edwards more likely to be Bears captain than leave in my opinion. Would be daft to get rid of him in my opinion and don’t see it happening.

Congratulations to Oxford. Those who predicted the changes would affect their chances either haven’t seen the Bears ride much this season or Boughen ride at Redcar. It was all downhill after Masters was somehow allowed in the re-run of Heat 1 after sliding off and taking Wright out and then Wright messing up bend 3 on lap 4 and dropping points. Oxford far too good for the Bears who surrendered without much of a fight. Don’t let the draw fool you in thinking this was close. Boughen superb, fair play young fella, hell of a future if he keeps progressing. Redcar must be his favourite track so if he wants to keep progressing he should consider a move north…. Watched on the stream and wish I hadn’t bothered tbh.

There’s always one! (I mean him and not you btw)

Track, graphics, entertainment and commentary all of similar level so far. It’s not a high level either.

Pleased for Redcar obviously but not a great way to end the meeting. Really difficult decision for the ref, could have gone either way.

Always better to use R/R at the birth, rather than at the conception.

Why is Cook not riding?

Can’t make it tonight - haven’t seen a meeting since mid June due to the sparse fixture list and holidays/family commitments and won’t see another meeting until mid August. A very strange season. As for the match you would think that Poole would be too strong given how well they ride our track. Think the track is likely to be very slick and dusty given how hot it is. Hopefully an entertaining meeting for those watching at the stadium or online.

Your last sentence would feel more sincere if you hadn’t thrown blame and baseless accusations of ill intent against another rider at the start of your post.

Nice to win a close meeting for a change. Must admit I had my doubts before Heat 13 but credit to Charles and Danny they pulled it out in their last 2 rides. Solid team performance and could even have an often have an off night for Jason. Really good to have Danny back and a full 1-7. Monarchs had more heat winners than the Bears - Pickering,as expected, entertaining. Sedgmen, as expected, excellent when he gated and Paco had his best meeting at Redcar. Wood deserved more and battled really well, certainly improved since I last saw him. Racing wasn’t great again with a lot of FTG but Heat 13 was a cracking race.

He has now

Well he beat both Mulford and Trigger last week guesting in the NL match. But I would hope that the Bears reserves out score the opposition reserves tonight.

In terms of the meeting itself, as always it’s hard to call. Depends what version of each team turns up on the night. Danny King back, will be interesting to see if he’s fully back upto speed. Need solid showings from the rest of the team to make sure he’s not under too much pressure. Monarchs can be as unpredictable as the Bears but always a pleasure to watch Josh Pickering, one of the leagues great entertainers on a track he rides really well (although he’s not seen this seasons version of it!).

Currently raining in Middlesbrough but forecast to stop in next half hour or so and forecast for the rest of the day (currently) isn’t too bad. I’m not that close to the track so not sure how much rain it’s taken over the last few days but facebook page was just updated and no mention of the meeting being in doubt atm.

When a rider like Wright can’t make a move on Hagon you could say the same too. Similarly Ben Cook was way off the pace if he didn’t gate.

Good performance from the Bears - Jason Edwards in particular but Wright, Bailey and Mulford all had their moments too. With a fully fit Danny King it might have been even closer. Obviously Lawson losing a chain helped but Bears deserve some luck after the season we’ve had so far. Lawson and Brennan very good for the Pirates, but the rest of the team very up and down. As others have said the racing wasn’t good, only 2 passes of note (Wright and Brennan) and the rest decided by turn 3 lap 1. Noticeable too how strung out the races were after the blue groove appeared. BSN stream good as usual but watched without sound as I just can’t listen to Roynon.

Obviously pleased with a Bears win and a solid team performance but it was a really poor watch. Every race was just about decided after bend 2 lap 1. Think we saw 2 passes in the 15 heats. They showed a replay of Heat 2 and I thought it was in slow motion but it was just the 2 lads at the back tootling round to try and stay on. I know the rain caused some issues but track didn’t produce any meaningful racing all night. On the plus side, good stream from Plymouth despite a few technical issues.