boz

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.

Plenty of rumours in the Premiership section of fixed race nights next season with the Premiership running Mondays and Thursdays. Change of racenight next season for the Bears?

Full 1-7 back for the Bears as far as i'm aware. Think Proctor is guesting for Masters.

I believe Charles Wright is also riding for Somerset so will be without him..

I believe there is r/r for both sides - JBA missing for Redcar and Bjerre for Sheffield.

Have to feel for Jye and Berwick - he was excellent tonight. Not many riders will beat Andersen and Barker like he did tonight - they were all over him and passed him a couple of times but he kept coming back for more in a superb heat. Best wishes to him. Fairly standard other than that - first bend caught a few riders out which led to a few restarts.

Been no further rain, and sun is out so meeting should be in no danger.

Had been dry in last hour or so in Middlesbrough, although just having a shower as we speak. Kev posted a pic of track on Facebook and it looked good so fingers crossed the rain keeps away for rest of day as forecast.

Weather wise feels like im typing the same thing as the last few weeks! Fairly steady rain at the moment, but from the latest forecast I have seen should stop around 12-1 with no further rain.

A decent enough meeting - feel a bit robbed by Workington getting a point if im honest. Were a 2.5 man team really and think we threw away some points along the way. Harris was outstanding though - never seen him make 4 out of 5 starts! And I will never tire of watching Proctor round here, joy to watch and never gives up. Good to see Garrity getting back to form - his ride to beat Harris was excellent. Pretty much all the Bears had their moments - Perks was again excellent at number 2 and Busch got better and better.

Rain has now passed - track looks a bit wet from the picture Kev posted on Facebook but if no more rain should be all systems go.

To be fair, Ully was already 3rd before his crash with Bears on a comfortable 5-1. Busch got steadily better as meeting went on. Thoroughly enjoyable meeting - draw probably the right result. Lunna as expected by Bears fans was a great guest. Battling performance by both sides with some very hard racing. Heat 13 was as good as you will see anywhere - how on earth Jack Holder stayed on the bike I'll never know! Good to see Tobias back - tentative first couple of rides but got better as night went on.

Rain has now stopped about 2 miles from track and sun trying to break through. Dont think anymore rain is forecast.

Kev Keay posted a photo around half an hour ago on Facebook and track looked good. Been raining again for the last 45 mins or so but due to stop in the next half hour so fingers crossed if no mroe rain after that should be good to go.

I guess thats the problem with forecasts - met office has rain until 2 then nothing. Just had some fairly heavy rain for the last 30 mins or so but brightening up a bit now. Expecting more rain around lunchtime. Agreed NB - would rather the track was better than the last time we met a few weeks ago. I think the heavy rain just before the start contributed to that though. Hopefully if we get no more rain after mid afternoon it gives them time to prepare the track.

We had some rain overnight (not too much though) - and due some rain any minute now from looking at forecast. Meant to be clear and sunny from early afternoon from the forecast I saw. Will try and keep this updated through the day - i'm about 2 miles from the track.

Kind of agree with most of this to be fair. Holder goes well here, plus Starke was excellent a couple of weeks ago. Worrall will score decent points and Lunna is a good choice of guest at 2. Still fancy us to run them close (at least closer than last time!). Jonas has been riding very well recently, Perks has done well in main body and Barker around the STMP is excellent. Totally agree about the season though - been a breath of fresh air this season even when things have not gone to plan the promotion has fronted up and apologised on the microphoen etc. Long may it continue.

Agreed. Once Busch is back and race fit should be the best reserve in the league from the form he shown at the STMP last year. Garcia has done well - I have no doubt he will find another club and would be happy to see him as a Bear again next year.

Lunna is always excellent value here, in terms of points and entertainment. Good choice of guest.