After a lengthy break from track action the Redcar ‘TLS/Simpson Racing UK’ Cubs travel south and face a hectic schedule of three meetings in three days.
The recent financial uncertainty at the club led many to believe that the Cubs would be withdrawn from the Conference League but promoter Glyn Taylor has now given the go ahead for them to continue. The team are in action at Devon on Friday evening and then travel to Dorset on Saturday before travelling to Kent on Sunday.
The Cubs face a mammoth task at Plymouth’s St. Boniface Arena at 7.30pm taking on the Conference League favourites on their own circuit. It was the beginning of May the last time the Cubs rode together as a team and there have been numerous changes in personnel on the riding front.
Appleby-based Martin Emerson recently requested to stand down from first team duty following a series of crashes (not his fault) which have taken their toll on both man and machine. The club’s two reserves who started the season: David Wallinger & Guy Kendrew are both out. Wallinger dislocated his shoulder in a crash at King’s Lynn in May and is out for the season whilst Kendrew has retired, sold all his equipment and intends to concentrate on trials riding. Another absentee is Greg Blair who made an abortive comeback bid at Newcastle recently. The Jedbergh youngster broke his leg back in March whilst riding for Berwick at Glasgow and has not ridden for the Cubs since July 2007.
Team manager Jason Pipe has had to work overtime in securing replacements not helped by the on/off transfer of Ben Hopwood. The Manchester youngster was all set to join the Cubs from Plymouth and was introduced to the spectators six weeks ago. 24 hours later he was on his way to Scunthorpe following a disagreement over sponsorship issues which could not be resolved. A couple of weeks later a deal was sorted for former Scunthorpe & Sheffield rider Benji Compton to join the club as a squad member as cover for any of the Cubs’ heat leaders, as it happens Compton now find himself a regular set to make his debut against Plymouth. Workington-based Richard Lawson, the son of former Glasgow & Workington Steve Lawson, has also agreed terms for this season. The 23-year old is well known in motocross circles but fancied having a go at speedway and has adapted well from initial outings. Finally Halifax-based Mike Mitchell, 23, who has experience with Sheffield & Stoke agreed to come out of retirement to help the Cubs out at reserve.
Aaron Summers is riding for his parent club Edinburgh tonight so the Cubs will utilise the rider replacement facility in his absence at Plymouth. Former skipper Gary Beaton also moves to reserve whilst Richard Lawson has been guaranteed at least three rides from the rider replacement facility.
Plymouth have strengthened their team since the two teams met at STMP back in May. On that occasion the Cubs staged a miraculous fightback that stunned the Devils camp. The Devils have been hitting the sixty point mark at home every week and it will take a determined effort from the Cubs to make any inroads. Former Exeter rider Mark Simmonds and former Elite League rider Seemond Stephens will give the Cubs plenty to think about on the tiniest circuit – 216 metres, in British Speedway. Curiously the Devils were hammered by Boston Barracudas last week so perhaps the Cubs can put up a better performance than most opposing teams. Last year against all the odds they took the Devils to an unexpected last heat decider, a controversial refereeing exclusion adding insult to injury.
Team Line-up for PLYMOUTH:
1 Scott James (c); 2 Steve Jones; 3 Rider Replacement; 4 Jade Mudgway; 5 Benji Compton; 6 Mike Mitchell; 7 Gary Beaton; 8 Richard Lawson.
The team then travels to Dorset on Saturday evening at 7pm to take on the Weymouth Wildcats at Radipole Lane. Aaron Summers will be flying down to this fixture and go straight into the team at No.3. Weymouth is a track the Cubs never do well at but with Summers and Compton in their line-up they might make more of a match of it.
Team Line-up at WEYMOUTH: 1 Scott James; 2 Steve Jones; 3 Benji Compton; 4 Jade Mudgway; 5 Aaron Summers; 6 Mike Mitchell; 7 Gary Beaton.
There will be no time to celebrate or commiserate after the meeting at Weymouth as the Cubs are in action against the Sittingbourne Crusaders for a noon start on Sunday. The Crusaders are currently lying at the foot of the table with no wins from ten matches, their best performance coming in the 44-46pts home defeat against Buxton. The Cubs will be weary as the Crusaders forced a surprise draw when the two teams last met on Teesside and team manager Jason Pipe will have to make sure his riders are not complacent.
Lack of team action recently may have caused consternation in the Cubs’ camp but several of the team have ridden in individual and team events for other clubs recently. Aaron Summers, together with Jade Mudgway & Benji Compton rode in an individual meeting at Belle Vue recently. Summers needed a victory in his final ride to take the championship but could only finish second, therefore Workington’s John Branney took the title. Jade Mudgway has recently ridden in two meetings at Weymouth, scoring 8pts for a Bristol team and appearing in the Bronze Helmet individual. His appearance with the Cubs will be his fourth of the season at Weymouth.
Despite all the recent off-track financial problems sponsorship itself remains buoyant within the club. Middlesbrough-based North East Bearings & Transmission of Riverside Industrial Park have concluded an exclusive deal to provide all contracted riders with the club free bearings for one year. Spectators of the club can also receive a discount on any product they buy from the company on production of the company’s programme advertisement. Meeting sponsors in August include SBV Fabrications & Site Services, Laminate Flooring Direct and Kone Cranes of Middlesbrough & Chatfields DAF of Stockton on Tees. Transmore Vehicle Hire of Middlesbrough are also thought to be interested in concluding a sponsorship arrangement in the near future.
Courtesy Steve Hardland, Redcar Speedway.
