One week after Edinburgh's Michal Rajkowski top scored at the South Tees Motorsport Park the Stoke Potters arrive on Thursday evening at 7.30pm for the first Premier League fixture of the season with another reserve who loves racing on the pacy 271 metre shale oval.

For young Dane Klaus Jakobsen was so effective on Teesside last season that other teams booked him for guest appearances if they had a rider missing. Last month he devastated Newport on his debut at the South Wales track by racing to a full maximum and ensuring victory for Stoke.

So no complacency in the Bears camp especially after last week's first home defeat of the season to Edinburgh in the Premier Trophy and with boss Brian Havelock's words ringing in their ears about what his expectations are of a good start to the league campaign.

Besides two effective young Danes in the reserve berths the Potters field a lot of experience in their top five and a lively number one in Lee Complin. Complin resumed racing in season 2007 after a five-year break from the sport and was back on the pace from day one. He is partnered by Tom P Madsen who recently enjoyed a ten-year tesimonial meeting.

With the decision of the Isle of Wight Speedway Club to leave the Premier League and race in the sport's Third Division the Stoke management were quick to snap up Jason Bunyan and Glenn Phillips from the island team. Bunyan has ridden at Elite League level for Poole and Coventry in the formative years of his career while Phillips is one of Britain's most accomplished all-round motorcyclists racing Grasstrack and Longtrack at international level.

Making up the Potters top five is brainy Welshman Phil Morris. Outside of his speedway racing Morris is a regular on TV quiz shows and recently won £63,000 after his appearance on 'The Colour of Money' programme.

He spent the bulk of his previous career riding for Reading in both the Elite and Premier League but this is his second spell with the Staffordshire club.

Redcar finished their away match at Edinburgh with only only five riders after the withdrawal during the fixture of Ty Proctor and Robbie Kessler. Ty having finished the home match in an untidy heap after crashing in heat 15 then fell in his opening ride in Scotland on the Friday evening with the Edinburgh captain Matthew Wethers piling into him.

The young Aussie took two more outings despite being in pain but did not come out for his last programmed ride. Meanwhile Robbie had only lasted two races after aggravating an ankle injury when clipping the fence. Both have since declared that they will be available on Thursday evening.

Manager Havelock was full of praise for the performances of Bears reserves Arlo Bugeja and Benji Compton away on Friday evening: "They got a 5-1 in heat two and covered our problems well with their points return. Now they have to keep it up but I also expect every rider to be on his toes on Thursday evening especially when Klaus Jakobsen goes to the tapes."

REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C)
2. Robbie Kessler
3. Carl Stonehewer
4. Ben Wilson
5. Ty Proctor
6. Benji Compton
7. Arlo Bugeja
STOKE POTTERS:
1. Lee Complin (C)
2. Tom P. Madsen
3. Glenn Phillips
4. Jason Bunyan
5. Phil Morris
6. Jesper Kristiansen
7. Klaus Jokobsen

This first home Premier League match of the season starts a varied programme for the Bears in May.

The following Thursday it will be Knockout Cup action when popular ex-Bear Chris Kerr and the Newport Wasps visit the Motorpark with the crucial Premier Trophy fixture against the Newcastle Diamonds on May 21st which could decide whether the Bears make the national semi-finals of the competion.

For full club details log onto www.redcarbears.co.uk and also for results and news call the club hotline on 09068 664 665 (calls charged at 60p per minute).