Big weekend ahead for Agilia Bears

JAKE Mulford hopes to finish a painful week on a high as he enters the biggest weekend of the year for Redcar speedway.

The Agilia Bears face Scunthorpe at home tonight (7.30pm) and then, less than 24 hours later, visit Workington with their BSN Series hopes hanging by a thread, before also Ecco Arena-based Middlesbrough Tigers kick off their National Development League campaign at Leicester on Sunday.

Mulford, who suffered a freak crash in France last Saturday, plus teenage newcomer Ben Trigger are set to play a big part in all three meetings.

Mulford, 20, says the bruising sustained in the accident at Morizes is “improving by the day”, while collecting a recently re-tuned engine on Wednesday that he hopes will help kick-start a difficult start to the season.

“My ankle is fine, although my shoulder isn’t the best but I’ll be OK to ride,” said the rider who is only just back after missing much of last season through a lower leg break also received in south-west France.

The Agilia Bears have lost both of their opening matches; 52-38 in Lincolnshire and a surprise 44-46 reverse at home to Workington last Friday.

“We have to win both meetings to stand much chance of qualifying for the semi finals now,” added Norfolk-based Mulford. “Scunthorpe have started the season really well but anyone can beat anyone in this league (Championship) so hopefully this will be our night.”

Bears team manager Gavin Parr said: “We are only two matches in so, although it hasn’t been the start we wanted, let’s not panic yet – it’s early days.

“We need to win both meetings and we need to beat Scunthorpe and Workington by more than they beat us to take the bonus point but there are other scenarios that could see us qualify as ‘best’ second place finisher from the three qualifying groups.”

Mulford and Trigger face three meetings in less that 48 hours with Sunday afternoon’s trip to face defending NDL Champions Leicester.