The Redcar Bears face the Newcastle Diamonds in the second leg of the Tyne- Tees Trophy on Thursday evening at the South Tees Motorsport Park, South Bank, Middlesbrough with tapes up at 7.30pm. The Bears lead 48-42 following their away victory at the Newcastle Stadium last Sunday evening.

The Diamonds are spearheaded by young Englishman Jason King who has been one of the success stories of the Tynesiders' season and who has accepted an invite to take part in the prestigious South Tees Silver Helmet on October 23rd such is his prowess around the Motorpark's 271 metre shale racing oval. Giving firm support to Jason will be two Czech Republic internationals Josef Franc and George Stancl. Josef was unfortunately missing from the first leg of the Trophy because of  riding commitments in his homeland and so the Diamonds will be happy to see his potential points contribution on Thursday evening. Stancl is one of the most stylish performers in the sport and always capable of providing competitive opposition.

However a lot of friendly attention will be paid to Newcastle's new signing - also from the Czech Republic - Matyas Hlavacek. Matty, as he is fondly known, is based in Middlesbrough and was the mechanic to compatriot Tomas Suchanek when he was a Redcar Bear in season 2006. Matty has since assisted other Bears' team members whilst also enjoying after-match practice at the Motorpark. His assessed seven-point average meant that he was not considered for a team spot with the Bears even though he is an accomplished member of the Mseno team in the Czech Extraleague. With Christian Henry suffering persistent shoulder problems the Newcastle management have snapped the 21-year-old up and even though Bears-Diamonds encounters are pretty tense affairs then there is likely to be some goodwill towards this popular young man as he takes his first tentative steps in British Speedway.

For the Bears Benji Compton should be recovered from a heavy fall suffered during the Sunday encounter up on Tyneside while Josh Auty seems to have sorted the mechanical problems that devilled him during his latter races against Glasgow at home last Thursday. Chris Kerr meanwhile undertook extensive tests of his motors at Wolverhampton Speedway on Monday in a bid to build further on the good points tallies that he has earnt since returning from months away through an early season injury.

REDCAR 'TLS' BEARS:

1. Gary Havelock (C) 2. Josh Auty 3. James Grieves 4. Chris Kerr 5. Ty Proctor 6. Benji Compton 7. Arlo Bugeja

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS:

1. George Stancl 2. Sean Stoddart 3. Josef Franc 4. Matty Hlavacek 5. Jason King 6. Jerran Hart 7. TBA

Club captain Richard Juul will not be available due to a family funeral in his native Denmark.

The End-of- Season Presentation Evening has been confirmed for Saturday October 25th at 7pm for 7.30pm start. The venue is the Marton Hotel and Country Club, Marton, Middlesbrough. The evening will commence with rider and mangement interviews then several awards for the Redcar Cubs and Redcar Bears climaxing in the 2008 'Bear of the Year' as voted for by the fans.

The awards will be followed by a gargantuan buffet with the evening finishing on the extensive dancefloor. Tickets at £17.50 per head can be ordered from the Speedway Office on Thursday evening. Admission will only be by advance ticket on the evening.

"Courtesy Steve Harland/Redcar Speedway"