Redcar Bears

The Redcar Bears are a British speedway team who currently compete in the SGB Championship (division 2 of the British speedway leagues). Their major team honour to date is the SGB Championship KO Cup win in 2019 against rivals Newcastle Diamonds. The team also run a junior side called the Redcar Cubs.

Redcar Bears
Club information
Track addressMedia Prima Arena
Dormor Way
Southbank Road
Middlesbrough
TS6 6XH
CountryEngland
Founded1994
Team managerJade Mudgway
LeagueSGB Championship
Websitewww.redcar-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursRed, White, Black and Grey
Track size271 metres (296 yd)
Track record time52.2 seconds
Track record date22 October 2009 and 29 April 2022
Track record holderChris Harris and Lewis Kerr
Current team
Rider CMA
Charles Wright 8.28
Erik Riss 7.84
Lewis Kerr 7.67
Kasper Andersen 5.87
Adam Roynon 5.08
Jason Edwards 2.16
Jordan Jenkins 3.52
Total 40.42
Major team honours
SGB Championship KO Cup2019
Young Shield Winners2007

History

The Bears started life as the Cleveland Bays during the 1994 British League Division Three season, they finished as runner-up before entering the 1995 but failed to complete the season and withdrew from the league.[1]

It was not until 2006 that speedway returned to Middlesbrough, at the Media Prima Arena, South Tees Motorsports Park with a new team name of Redcar Bears. The team entered the 2006 Premier League speedway season, the Premier League was division 2 at the time.[2] In 2007, the Bears won the Premier League consolation tournament the Young Shield,[3] beating the Birmingham Brummies.

From 2008 to 2016 the team continued to compete in the Premier League with a best placed finish of 5th in 2009. In 2017, the team joined the SGB Championship (the new name for division 2) and finished in 5th place. The Bears were awarded the 2017 Championship Track of the Year by the Speedway Control Board, an award voted for throughout the season based on referee's match reports.[4]

In 2019, Jitendra Duffill became co-promoter replacing Kevin Keay, with Jade Mudgway continuing as the team manager and co-promoter.[5][6][7] Former World Speedway Champion and Redcar rider Gary Havelock also re-joined the club as rider coach.[8] Race nights switched to Friday from Thursday and the club were branded as the Redcar Agilia Bears after London based company Agilia Infrastructure Partners Limited became the club's main sponsor.[9][10] During the 2019 season, the Bears beat Newcastle Diamonds in the Championship Knockout Cup final.[11] Additionally Bears' rider Charles Wright became the 2019 British Speedway Champion after winning the final at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester and Erik Riss won his first Championship Riders title at Sheffield.[12][13]

For the 2020 season the Bears retained five of the previous years team but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19.[14][15]

2021 saw the Bears lose their reign as K.O. Cup holders in Preliminary Round defeat to the Birmingham Brummies and despite qualifying for the end of season Play-Offs, were beaten in the Quarter Finals by the Edinburgh Monarchs.

League history

First team
  • 2022 – Championship - Due to commence Spring 2022
  • 2021 – Championship – 4th;[16]
  • 2020 – Cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic;
  • 2019 – Championship – 3rd; play off semi finals
  • 2018 – Championship – 10th;
  • 2017 – Championship – 5th;
  • 2016 – Premier League – 13th;
  • 2015 – Premier League – 13th;
  • 2014 – Premier League – 10th;
  • 2013 – Premier League – 6th;
  • 2012 – Premier League – 9th;
  • 2011 – Premier League – 10th;
  • 2010 – Premier League – 14th;
  • 2009 – Premier League – 5th;
  • 2008 – Premier League – 7th;
  • 2007 – Premier League – 9th;
  • 2006 – Premier League – 6th;
  • 1995 – Academy League – withdrew; (as Cleveland Bays)
  • 1994 – British League (div 3) – 2nd; (as Cleveland Bays)

Juniors
  • 2008 – Conference League – 8th;

Riders

Notable riders

2022 Team

Previous seasons
Extended content

2021 Team

2020 Team

2019 Team

Also Rode:

3 July 2019 changes[19]

2019 Competitions & Results

2018 Team

Also rode:

Jade Mudgway deputised for Team Manager Jitendra Duffill.[25]

2018 Competitions & Results

2017 Team

Also Rode:

  • Fernando Garcia

Replaced Tobias Busch on a 28-day loan period.

Replaced by Danny Ayres 17 May 2017.

2017 Competitions & Results

2016 Team

Also Rode:

2015 Team

Also Rode:

2014 Team

Also Rode:

2013 Team

2012 Team

2011 Team

2010 Team=

2009 Team

2008 Team

Also Rode:

  • Joni Keskinen

2007 Team

Also Rode:

2006 Team

References
  1. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  3. Neal, Martin (29 October 2007). "Shield-winning Redcar Bears now go for double". Gazettelive.co.uk.
  4. "Bears win an award!". Redcar-speedway.com.
  5. "New Promoter for Bears". Redcar-speedway.com.
  6. "Duffill steps up". Redcar-speedway.com.
  7. "Mudgway and Terry the Track return". Redcar-speedway.com.
  9. "BEARS MOVE TO FRIDAYS - British Speedway Official Website". Speedwaygb.co.uk.
  10. "Agilia Infrastructure Partners Ltd the Bears main backers in 2019!". Redcar-speedway.com.
  11. "Bears through to KO Cup Final!".
  12. "Erik Riss wins Championship Riders title!".
  13. "RISS MAKES REDCAR HISTORY - Speedway Star : Weekly Speedway Magazine and Xtra".
  14. "Bears complete side!".
  15. "OFFICIAL STATEMENT - British Speedway Official Website".
  16. "BRITISH SPEEDWAY UPDATE - British Speedway Official Website".
  17. "Bears release Barker". Redcar-speedway.com.
  18. McGhie, Keith (4 June 2019). "Redcar Bears bring in Danish star to replace former skipper". Gazettelive.
  19. "Bears make three changes".
  20. "Bears make team change". Redcar-speedway.com.
  21. "Team news update". Redcar-speedway.com.
  22. "Bears release Kus". Redcar-speedway.com.
  23. "Bears bring in two". Redcar-speedway.com.
  24. "Bears swoop for Lunna". Redcar-speedway.com.
  25. "Duffill steps down as team boss for now". Redcar-speedway.com.
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