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. 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. 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. In 2007, the Bears won the Premier League consolation tournament the Young Shield, 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. In 2019, Jitendra Duffill became co-promoter replacing Kevin Keay, with Jade Mudgway continuing as the team manager and co-promoter. Former World Speedway Champion and Redcar rider Gary Havelock also re-joined the club as rider coach. 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. During the 2019 season, the Bears beat Newcastle  Diamonds in the Championship Knockout Cup final. 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. For the 2020 season the Bears retained five of the previous years team but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19. 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. Riders. Previous seasons. 2021 Team 2020 Team 2019 Team Also Rode: 3 July 2019 changes 2019 Competitions & Results 2018 Team Also rode: Jade Mudgway deputised for Team Manager Jitendra Duffill. 2018 Competitions & Results 2017 Team Also Rode: 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: 2007 Team Also Rode: 2006 Team