The reigning Premier League Riders' Champion Magnus Zetterstrom - known as Zorro - will lead his Somerset Rebels team into Premier League action at the South Tees Motorsport Park this Thursday evening at 7.30pm.

The Swedish international is a former team-mate of Redcar skipper Gary Havelock at both Poole and Masarna in Sweden but their friendship is left in the changing room when the tapes rise as they are justly regarded as the top two racers in the league. Zorro is strongly backed at the top end of the Rebels team by fellow Swede Emil Kramer who has proved a prolific points scorer since being initially acquired on a temporary contract in season 2006. Missing on this occasion will be German star Stefan Katt who, like the Bears' Mathieu Tresarrieu, will be away in France on World Longtrack duty. Both clubs operate the rider replacement rule for their missing internationals by which other team members can cover their programmed rides.

For the Bears' 16-year-old sensation Josh Auty - Thursday will be a red-letter day. For he steps up into the main body of the team from reserve and finds himself paired with the one and only Gary Havelock. The Bears' skipper and former World Champion is one of the greatest British speedway riders of all time and many tip young Josh to follow in the maestro's tyre tracks eventually and find international honours during his own career. It will be a tough baptism as he lines up alongside his captain and Zorro in the very first heat of the match but no doubt the experience of racing at that standard will assist his development. Josh's elevation allows Arlo Bugeja to step down to a reserve berth. 'Budgie' has been on the pace in the opening phase of his career without a great deal to show for his endeavours and the move should benefit him too.

REDCAR BEARS:
1, Gary Havelock (C)
2. Josh Auty
3. James Grieves
4. Chris Kerr
5. Rider replacement for Mathieu Tresarrieu
6. Arlo Bugeja
7. Benji Compton
SOMERSET REBELS:
1. Magnus Zetterstrom (C)
2. Rider replacement for Stefan Katt
3. Emil Kramer
4. Jordan Frampton
5. Ritchie Hawkins
6. Simon Walker
7. Danny Warwick

With the Redcar Bears Speedway Club having decided not to operate on the evening of Thursday August 23rd as Sheffield Speedway are staging a benefit meeting for the recently paralysed rider Garry Stead - coach travel is being organised to the Owlerton Stadium by Graham Porter who can be contacted via www.redcarspeedway.co.uk or on race nights at the South Tees Motorsport Park.

World Champions Gary Havelock and Sam Ermolenko have already confirmed their presence in what will be an all-star line up.