BEARS EDGE OUT CHEETAHS

REDCAR held off Oxford to win a tense Cab Direct Championship battle 48-42 at the ECCO Arena.

The Cheetahs led the early stages but new Bears signing Jody Scott played a key role on his debut, and his 5-1 with Jake Mulford in Heat 8 put the home side ahead for the first time.

Their victory was confirmed in the penultimate race when Scott and Danny King team-rode for a 3-3 to leave Oxford skipper Sam Masters at the back when he had been introduced as a tactical substitute.

Erik Riss (11+1) and King (10+1) scored double figures for the hosts with Scott contributing a vital 7+2 at reserve, whilst Masters led the way for the Cheetahs with 13 from six rides, and Francis Gusts impressed with 9+1.

Bears manager Gavin Parr said: “We knew we were as fast as them, but they were just trapping. Once we started trapping with them and getting in front, all of a sudden it changed a bit, and our home advantage came into it.

“We had a long talk with Jody at the beginning and took him on a track walk with Danny, we just wanted him to relax and enjoy it, and he came in after every race with a smile on his face. He definitely paid dividends today.”

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “It was a very close meeting, and we just fell slightly short. But a six-point defeat isn’t much and we’ve kept ourselves right in the hunt for the aggregate point when Redcar come back to our place later in the season.

“Both Francis and Mitch (McDiarmid) were very impressive in their first meeting around this track. For Francis, it was a performance that should boost his confidence, since he beat both Charles Wright and Danny King during the evening.”

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE