Brilliant Bears beat Tigers!
Redcar got their league campaign up and running with a stunning 50-40 win over the reigning Cab Direct champions Glasgow. Charles Wright continued his brilliant form with paid 12 whilst Chris Harris hit paid 14 for the visitors.
The first race of an entertaining evening’s racing saw Chris Harris take the win, but with his partner Paul Starke at the back, the Tigers could not gain a heat advantage on Teesside. However, the visitors did take the lead in heat 2 as the impressive Jack Smith held off the hard charging Jake Mulford, and with Ace Pijper in 3rd, the Tigers hit the front in the early stages.
Nevertheless, Redcar seized the initiative in heat 3 as the new Bear, Dan Gilkes took a comfortable, crowd pleasing win. The race looked set for a 4-2 until James Pearson shed a chain on the final bend with Jason Edwards (who was close to Pearson throughout) coming through for 2nd to give Redcar a 10-8 advantage at the ECCO Arena.
After a pair of shared heats won by Steve Worrall and Chris Harris (who passed Gilkes and Edwards for the 3 points), the Bears extended their lead to 4 as Wright muscled his way past Jack Smith on the opening bends for a 4-2 heat advantage for Redcar. The Bears, riding with vigour and grit, stretched their lead to six with another 4-2 as the impressive guest, Tate Zischke took the chequered flag, and with the unfortunate Pearson falling whilst in 3rd, the Bears had another heat advantage with Ben Trigger happily grabbing 3rd place.
The Tigers task was made harder as Pearson withdrew with injury, leaving the visitors without one of their star men from the season so far. Heat 8 saw ex Tiger Connor Bailey take a superb win, and with Mulford holding off the more experienced Paul Starke for 2nd, Redcar extended their lead to 10.
With the visitors more than 6 behind, their team manager, Cami Brown brought in a tactical substitute in the shape of Chris Harris to try and turn the tide. However, the Tigers did not account for the flying Dan Gilkes who won comfortably with Harris having to use all his experience to hold off Jason Edwards for 2nd, but it was another Redcar heat advantage with the hosts now holding a welcome 12 point lead.
The Bears were firing and heat 10 saw the 2019 KO Cup winners take yet another 5-1. Wright took a convincing win whilst Bailey rode superbly to hold off Leon Flint for the paid win which sent the Redcar support into delirium, with a first league win looking to be on the cards.
However, things were never going to be completely plain sailing and the Tigers hit back as Harris and Starke combined for a 5-1 to reduce the gap to 12 points on Teesside. The Glasgow freight train was beginning to gain momentum as they hit another 5-1 as Flint and Smith combined to set the Redcar hearts racing.
Nevertheless, the Bears were not to be denied as Zischke and Wright strode clear of Worrall and Harris for a 5-1 to give Redcar a much needed victory.
Heat 14 saw Edwards take a masterful heat win as he passed Smith on bend 3 of the opening lap, and with Mulford comfortable in 3rd, Redcar stretched their advantage to 14 at the ECCO Arena. The final race of an entertaining afternoon’s racing saw the Glasgow pairing of Flint and Harris team ride superbly to hold off Wright which gave the visitors a consolation 5-1 to end the match.
Redcar Bears = 50
1. Charles Wright = 11+1
2. Connor Bailey = 7+2
3. Dan Gilkes = 8+1
4. Jason Edwards = 8+1
5. Tate Zischke (G) = 8
6. Ben Trigger = 2
7. Jake Mulford = 6+2
Glasgow Tigers = 40
1. Chris Harris = 13+1
2. Paul Starke = 3+1
3. Leon Flint = 10
4. James Pearson = 0 Withdrawn
5. Steve Worrall = 6
6. Jack Smith = 7+1
7. Ace Pijper = 1
