Matchday update

It’s another chilly start to raceday in TD15 with the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS, keen to put last night’s heavy defeat behind them and look forward to the visit of Redcar Bears.

Team manager Stewart Dickson pulled no punches after the 59-31 reverse at Scunthorpe. “It was a very disappointing performance after the standard we have set ourselves this season,” he said. “It makes tonight even more important.”

And tonight means the visit of a Bears side who had their own Friday frightnight, losing 36-48 at home to Poole Pirates.

Jordan Jenkins pulled out after three scoreless rides and remains missing tonight, the Bears calling up Simon Lambert as a National League guest, a move which arguably strengthens them considerably bearing in mind the former Scunthorpe captain’s record around Shielfield Park.

But it wasn’t all bad news last night with Drew Kemp warming up for his much-awaited Shielfield Park return with paid nine guesting for Edinburgh in their 54-36 victory over Oxford while on the other side of Scotland Sam Hagon was part of a Glasgow side which took the points off Workington in a last-heat decider at Glasgow. Along with Nick Morris and Jack Smith they arrive in form while Lasse Fredriksen and mechanic Davie McAllan have already been in the workshop trying to get to the bottom of his mechanical issues.

Both line-up in what is a much more potent-looking Bandits side after a lack of guests forced us to use rider-replacement for our missing number one Peter Kildemand.

As always accompanied under-16 go free, E-tickets are on sale Here and cash turnstiles will open at 7pm. E-tickets and cash are the only admission options available.

Stadium owners Northumberland County Council have again rented out some of the extensive car park which surrounds Shielfield Park, this time to the annual bike rally. But there remains plenty of space for the free speedway parking – it might just not be in your usual spot!

Bandits: Drew Kemp, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Lasse Fredriksen, Nick Morris, Jack Smith, Sam Hagon

Bears: Nikolai Klindt, Jake Mulford, Simon Lambert, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Ace Pijper, Jody Scott