Bears are given boost by signing star rider

REDCAR’S hopes of picking up silverware have been boosted by the signing of experienced Kyle Newman ahead of next week’s potentially season-defining four matches in six days.

The 30-year old former British finalist has been out of action since being released by Oxford to facilitate the signing of Paul Stark, made available by the closure of Newcastle, at the end of June.

The Agilia Bears hopes of a treble trophy haul have been badly hit by the broken leg sustained by German star Erik Riss but Newman’s acquisition should give the middle order, also weak as points have slipped away in recent weeks, a more solid feel.

Newman comes in to replace Kyle Bickley, whose month at the Ecco Arena hasn’t gone as either party would have hoped.

“Kyle Newman gives us another really strong reserve,” said co-promoter Jamie Swales.

“Sadly it just hasn’t worked out with Kyle (Bickley) and, unfortunately for him, everyone else except Jason’s (Edwards) average has fallen which gives us the opportunity to take advantage of a little bit of play in the total averages.

“We can’t overlook the fact that we can bring in someone with the experience of Kyle Newman to help our final push for the playoffs.

“We have Plymouth and Poole away next week and, at the start of the year we might have felt we’d be lucky to get anything from those two matches, but at the moment I sense that they are both vulnerable.

“Plymouth have been injury racked while Poole had to even use a tactical substitute at home to get a win against Oxford last week.

“Kyle also spent 2014 to 2016 doubling up between those two clubs so knows both tracks well.

“He comes to us before an incredibly busy week with Plymouth and Poole away, then Edinburgh away in the cup on Friday and Glasgow at home on the Sunday.

“We set off into the season with full intentions of having a good go at all three competitions and started the Jubilee Trophy well (with a commanding victory over Championship table toppers Leicester), only to really suffer when we lost Erik Riss. “Had Erik been at Scunthorpe I think he would have scored more than we got from rider replacement and probably got us a point while he might have helped us do the same at Leicester the next night, which would have put us through to the final.”

During the time spent riding in his native Dorset and Devon, Newman regularly racked up averages of over seven points a meeting.

Bears will now be hoping the former British Finalist can bolster the middle order and, if so, with the possible return of Riss before the end of this month, still harbour realistic chances of a league and cup double.

There is no speedway at the South Tees Motorsports Park this Friday as, in the absence of Riss, Redcar’s top two remaining riders Charles Wright and Lewis Kerr represent the club in the Championship Pairs at Poole.

Kyle Newman gives us another really strong

reserve

Jamie Swales