boz

Well Lewis Rose certainly was the trump card tonight - paid 16 from him compared to paid 6 from both our reserves shows where the meeting was won and lost. A bit of an off night for a couple of the Bears top 5 puts the pressure on the reserves to score and at the moment that is just not happening. Probably Tobias best meeting for us, and his pass of Kus in heat 7 was superb - once Kus gets out in front here not many people get past him. Thought the referee was very, very kind to us however. In my opinion (and from only what I could see, so maybe not correct) I thought he got all 3 big calls wrong. Heat 7, I thought Robbo was very unlucky to be excluded. Either all 4 back, or maybe Kus out at a push. Then I thought to exclude Kus was very harsh. He was in front, and from my view Bjerre tried to go round outside for a gap that was not really there. Heat 15 - and I thought again to exclude Worrall was very harsh - Busch went wide to go round and whilst Worrall was hard again he was in front and had the line. Would be interesting to hear other peoples viewpoints as like I say, t hat was just from my vantage point. Based on that, justice probably prevailed with a Newcastle win. Looking back, the heat two 5-1 looks very costly. With the best will in thew world, Phillips is struggling to buy points in the Premier League so disappointing to lose a 5-1 there. Very decent crowd though tonight - swelled by a good number of travelling fans.

Would agree with most of that. We are definitely a different prospect now than earlier in the season, and our top 5 have been in good form at home. Mush will depend on Etheridge and Payne at reserve - I'd expect Rose to have the edge on those but they should have the beating of Phillips. Lambert in strengthens Newcastle compared to last home meeting so should be close. Looking forward to it - hopefully a good meeting.

Robson will be guesting for Newcastle I think, r/r for Palovaara.

Yep, does not really weaken us too much at all (if any!). Rain has cleared up now.

Been fairly light but steady rain most of the morning, but brightening up now a couple of miles from track and no further rain on the forecasts I have seen.

Teams: Redcar Bears: David Bellego, rider replacement for Tobias Busch, Hugh Skidmore, Jonas B Andersen, Lasse Bjerre, Jye Etheridge, Lee Payne Workington Comets: Ricky Wells, Mason Campton, Kenneth Hansen, Rasmus Jensen, Claus Vissing, Adam Roynon, Matt Williamson Been some rain yesterday evening and still some around this morning. Forecast to clear up for around 10 so fingers crossed that is correct. Will try to keep this updated as often as i can for anyone travelling. Should be another close meeting, Bears looking for 3 home wins on the bounce. Busch will be a miss, but r/r should cover his rides nicely. A lot will depend on Roynon at reserve, if he has a good night should clean up at reserve.

I had heard Tobias was scheduled to be riding in Germany tonight, but was not aware until this morning. He told the German authorities he was unable to ride, and they have suspended his start position until Tuesday. Blow for us as Tobias has started well, but rr should not weaken us too much as believe anybody is eligible to take his rides.

I'll get my grumbles out the way first. Why start 15 minutes late with the weather looking like it was. I can understand wanting to get the Ben Fund collection in (where no riders made it to us on second bend!), but in the circumstances could have been done better. Then to have an interval after heat 10 smacked of we have got the required number of heats out the way, we don't care. Did not agree with that at all. On to the meeting I thought the Bears were excellent, but slightly disappointed with some of the Bandits. Doolan and Pijper normally go well here but struggled tonight. Thought TJ gave it everything as always and was impressed with Gappmeir at reserve. Bears top 5 for me were all excellent. Bellego has been a different class this season and his pass of TJ in heat 6 was superb. And if only we had started the season with Busch. Alongside Bellego I would be getting their signatures sorted for next year. Bjerre was a bit hit and miss, but Jonas was quick and arguably Skidmores best performance this season. Slight concerns at reserve for me though. I think Nielsen is a tad unlucky, in that all his big scores seem to be away from home. Payne battled hard tonight for little reward and though he was unlucky to be replaced in his fina lride.

Weather still fine. Been overcast all day but no rain.

He has certainly took me by surprise this year. Always been decent round STMP, but did not think he would be as good as he has been. Seems to be much more consistent too. Fingers crossed we can tempt him back next season!

Been try and overcast all day a couple of miles from track - some rain yesterday but nothing to cause any concern. Last forecast i saw agrees with above, a chance of a light shower at 9 but ok till then. In terms of the meeting, I fancy a Bears win but not by much. The likes of Doolan, Pijper and TJ go well around here and Liam Carr at reserve tends to go well too.

Have to admit, we thought the same. Not complaining mind!

Great win for the Bears - for the second home meeting on the bounce I thought the tactical had screwed us over. Possibly fair to say the reserves were the difference, paid 9 from the excellent Bewley against the 0 from Phillips. Great battling display from the Bears though and Bellego and Bjerre were superb all night. I have said it before but Bellego is a joy to watch around the STMP and I'd be knocking on his door very heavily for next season already. Thought Lawson and Summers had their worst Redcar meetings in a while, but would probably still have gone with them for heat 15. Not the most passing in the world, but plenty of close racing and the close score towards the end kept it exciting.

Still dry a few miles from the track - seem to have missed most of the showers around. No further showers seem forecast so should be good to go.

Branford is guesting in place of Danny Ayres for Glasgow I believe. Not sure if Payne is fit for the Bears. For any Glasgow fans, had some light rain the last half hour or so and forecast seems to suggest further showers till 4 then just overcast. Barring any downpours we should be ok and the water may well help the track. I'll keep this as updated with I can regards the weather though. On paper should really be an away win - we have been better of late but would be surprised if we had enough to beat the Tigers.

No topic for this meeting yet. Both teams at full strength as far as im aware. We have seen some entertaining speedway this year, but would good to get a win on the board! Will be tough against a Rye House side on decent form, with riders who have gone well here in the past. Was impressed with Busch last week and looking forward to how he goes tonight. Need the reserves to step up again to get the win I feel. Narrow Bears win (although I say that every week)

I have it as Josh G, Skidmore, Bjerre, Starke

A pretty entertaining meeting I thought, and considering how dusty the track was there was some pretty decent racing. Draw probably just about the right result - Tigers certainly missed Bates but we definitely missed JBA as well. Bellego again excellent, seems to have found a really good setup and consistently looks very quick. Bjerre had another solid meeting and Busch improved as meeting went on. Looked very good in his last two rides, give him another week or two and think we will have a very decent rider on our hands. Stead was as you expect for Sheffield, Berge started off well but then had an ef and was on the end of a hard but fair move from Busch. Howarth was excellent value, and pulled off possibly the best ride i have seen at the STMP in heat 13. Right round the boards to pass first Bellego and then Bjerre. Great ride. Both Tigers reserves impressed me as well, couple of excellent wins for Sissis

Jonas big miss for us, but Bates normally flies round here so probably evens itself out. Would expect Lambert to outscore Nielsen, think a lot rests on which Kus turns up. Could score 15 or 5. Always optimistic, will go for narrow Bears win.

To be honest, there are not that many other viable options. From the little bits I have seen he will be a big step up from Bukhave so will improve the team. Should at least give us a chance of winning our home meetings.

Tobias Busch is the man

4 home and 4 away I believe (league or league cup meetings)

Have to admit thought the change would have been made by now - we have been waiting for Bukhave to hit the required matches so have had plenty of time to get something lined up.

Mikkel would be my preferred choice. Good form it seems this season on continent and would become an asset. Think Nielsen has done ok for us - although his best meetings seem to be away.

Was good too see two committed guests almost literally throwing the bikes at each other!