Isle of Wight vs Redcar Bears 11/09/07

[marron]

Isle of Wight ‘Wighlink’ Islanders Vs Redcar Bears

Isle of Wight ‘Wighlink’ Islanders

Last 2 Home Meetings

1. Chris Holder 11+1 (5), 13+2 (5)
2. Cory Gathercole 9 (4), 12+1 (5)
3. Jason Bunyan © 12+1 (5), 11 (5)
4. Glen Phillips 8+1 (4), 7+2 (4)
5. Krzsystof Stojanowski 9+1 (4), 7 (4)
6. Andrew Bargh/Guest DNR, DNR
7. Chris Johnson 9+3 (5), 6+2 (4)

Redcar Bears

Last 2 Smallbrook Appearances

1. Gary Havelock © 9 (5), N/A
2. Josh Auty N/A, N/A
3. James Grieves 10 (5 in.c 4pt TR), 0 (3)
4. Chris Kerr 4+1 (4), N/A
5. Matthieu Tresarrieu 10+1 (5), 7+1 (4)
6. Dan Giffard 9+2 (5), 1+1 (3)
7. Jack Hargreaves 0 (3), 1 (3)

Only Previous Meeting: PL: IOW 50-40 Redcar (2006)

This match see’s the return to Smallbrook of former Isle of Wight man Matthieu Tresarrieu. He rode for the Islanders during the 2003 season and was their asset before being sold onto Redcar at the end of last season. The Islanders will may have Andrew Bargh returning from injury but if not they will once again use a guest reserve to cover for him. The bonus point is safe for the Islanders after thumping the Bears in their own backyard last month, 55-35.

Isle Of Wight have carried on this season’s good home form over that last few weeks with convincing victories over Mildenhall, Workington and Sheffield. Chris Holder has been putting in good scores at home and away and also broke the Sheffield track record last week during his Heat 1 win. Jason Bunyan and Corey Gathercole have been providing strong back-up with the latter beginning to make an impression in British Speedway after showing promise in Australia over the last few years. Glen Phillips has scored well in the last couple of meetings at Smallbrook and at home has a good partnership with Bunyan at 3+4. Chris Johnson will need to be on good form to cover for the absence of Bargh and has risen to the challenge in recent weeks. Stojanowki, last season’s captain, will also chip in with a few points.

For the Bears, they will surely go to the island hoping to restore some pride after the aforementioned beating at home to the Islanders. Their captain Gary Havelock did well on his visit last season and last week showed some signs he is recovering from his illness with 2 great rides, under pressure, against Workington. I cannot find any eveidence Josh Auty has visited Smallbrook before and he will surely rise to the challenge to put in his usual gutsy and exciting performance. At 3+4 the Bears have a strong partnership in James Grieves and Chris Kerr. They rack up 5-1’s at home and provide a stiff test for the opposition during away meetings. Grieves has been a revelation this season for the Bears and is surely the favourite to scoop the ‘Bear Rider of The Season’ award. Kerr seems to be finishing the season strongly once again, just as he did last season. As previously mention Matthieu Tresarrieu returns to his former club and hoping to put in the same performance as he did in the corresponding fixture last year with. That fixture will be best remembered for Kevin Little’s bike catching fire at the start tapes during and eventful Heat 14. Jack Hargreaves will have to score a few points each if they are to keep this fixture competitive throughout the meeting.

Prediction: 53-37

[admin]

And the actual score was:

Isle of Wight 50 : 40 Redcar

So, quite a good performance from the Bears, especially when you consider that Gary Havelock got caught in traffic and didn't make it, meaning the Bears fielded just a lone rider in three heats. However, the flip side of this was that Islander Jason Bunyan remarkably managed to have engine failures in all his rides.

[marron]

Top effort from the lads regardless of Bunyan's situation.

WELL DONE BOYS!!!

[admin]

What really helped the Bears, of course, was that their numpty team manager also missed the meeting.

[Deleted]

I wonder if a penalty will be imposed on Gary Havelock for failing to make the meeting?

It's a while since I remember this happening so I can't recall what happened.

[marron]

merlin said:

I wonder if a penalty will be imposed on Gary Havelock for failing to make the meeting?

It's a while since I remember this happening so I can't recall what happened.

It happened to Matty Tresarrieu just after the London and Glasgow security scares. Matty couldn't get through from France because everything in his van needed to be checked thoroughly first. Nothing became of that and to be honest i think the team is punished on the night for having only 1 rider in 3 heats so there is no need to impose a further ban IMO.

[marron]

admin said:

What really helped the Bears, of course, was that their numpty team manager also missed the meeting.

i agree with the comment about him missing the meeting, but if he misses the meeting so does Havvy as they usually travel down together

[admin]

marron said:

i agree with the comment about him missing the meeting, but if he misses the meeting so does Havvy as they usually travel down together

I was at the Workington versus Redcar meeting and his tactical moves left me scratching my head. And looking rather foolish, to be honest. I'd taken ssamyarse and his wife along to their first ever meeting and was explaining the Tactical Ride rule ahead of Gary Havelock's certain appearance as a TR in Ht 11. Only it never happened. I consoled myself with the knowledge that I wasn't the complete idiot - Brian Havlock was.

[marron]

Yes I agree, hopefully Havvy Jnr. will be TM next season or Rider/TM if he is still racing. If not i would love to see Jason Pipe doing it as he does a great job with the bays and was one of the few who carried on the the Teeside + speedway link whilst Cleveland Park was shut and before Redcar started up. He organised numerous second half and challenge meetings.

There have been a few questionable decisions this season from Havvy snr. And you can't even say he was behind the Josh Auty T/S move vs Somerset as someone else bloody told him to do it!