Following a 47-43 away victory at Glasgow Speedway on Sunday afternoon with a depleted team that lacked Mathieu Tresarrieu and Josh Auty - the brave Bears won 96-84 on aggregate to earn a semi-final first leg match against the Workington Comets in the Jack Young Shield at the South Tees Motorsport Park this Thursday evening at 7.30pm.

The Cumbrian team overcame the Newcastle Diamonds on Sunday with their formidable heat leader trio of James Wright, Kauko Niemenen and Ulrich Ostergaard to the fore.

James Wright recently became the Premier League Riders' Champion and will receive a warm welcome on parade at the Motorpark under all circumstances as all speedway fans welcome the elevation of a young Englishman in the sport.

James now has the distinction of having won both the Conference League Riders' Championship and the Premier League Riders' Championship in his short career. The former achieved whilst a Buxton rider.

He will enjoy good support from Dane Ulrich Ostergaard who has shown a real liking for the South Tees circuit this season plus the lively Finnish number one Kauko Niemenen.

In addition to the double-figure top scores of James Grieves and Gary Havelock on Sunday there were strong performances from Chris Kerr at second string and Daniel Giffard at reserve. With the Bears operating the rider replacement facility for the injured Matthieu Tresarrieu and both taking an additional ride to cover for the Frenchman's absence - then both young Bears will need to keep up their end-of-season momentum.

REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C)
2. Rider replacement for Mathieu Tresarrieu
3. James Grieves
4. Josh Auty
5. Chris Kerr
6. Daniel Giffard
7. Jack Hargreaves
WORKINGTON COMETS:
1. Kauko Niemenen (C)
2. Rider replacement for Mattia Carpanese
3. James Wright
4. Craig Branney
5. Ulrich Ostergaard
6. Charles Wright
7. John Branney

The competition is named after the late Jack Young. Having won the World Speedway Championship as a Second Division rider with the Edinburgh Monarchs in 1951 - the only rider so far to achieve the sport's ultimate prize whilst competing at that level - Jack became the first consecutive World Champion in the history of the sport when he took the title again in 1952. This time as a First Division rider with the West Ham Hammers.

The second leg of the Jack Young Shield semi-final between Redcar and Workington will take place at the Derwent Park Stadium on Saturday evening from 7pm.

The Bears will be racing at Brough Park, Newcastle on Sunday evening October 14th from 6.30pm in the first leg of the Tyne Tees Trophy. Subject to the Bears progression to the final of the Jack Young Shield the second leg is currently scheduled at the South Tees Motorsport Park on the eveing of Thursday October 25th from 7.30pm.

Bears fans are reminded that the end-of-season presentations and awards evening takes place at the Marton Hotel and Country Club, Middlesbrough on Saturday November 3rd. Tickets can be ordered from the speedway office during Thursday's home meeting versus Workington.