The Premier Trophy North leaders Workington Comets are at the South Tees Motorsport Park, off South Bank Road, Middlesbrough this Thursday at 7.30pm and are guaranteed to give the Redcar Bears a stiff test.

Spearheaded by wily veterans Paul Thorp and Gary Stead (both former team-mates of Bears skipper Gary Havelock at Elite League Bradford) the team is balanced by the emerging talents of young Englishmen James Wright, Ritchie Hawkins and Aidan Collins plus the never-say-die Polish international Tomasz Piszcz.

Redcar will be waiting on a late fitness test for Kevin Little who suffered ligament damage in his right shoulder in a first ride pile-up at Kings Lynn the previous Wednesday and had to withdraw from the meeting also missing subsequent fixtures at Redcar, Somerset and Glasgow.

They will be looking for another consistent performance from Tomas Suchanek in support of number one Gary Havelock. The young Czech's performances in Heats 14 and 15, in support of heat winners Daniel Giffard and Gary Havelock respectively, narrowly swung the match in the Bears' favour.

He was also in good form at Somerset Speedway on the Friday night with several heat wins and a total of 14 points in support of his captain's 16 point haul. Both included six point double tactical rides when called upon. Highlight of the Somerset meeting however was the performance of Mathieu Tressarieu in coming from a 15 metre handicap to burst past both home riders on the outside of the final bend in Heat 14 and join Tomas up front - and having lost his steel shoe during the pursuit too! That attitude will be required from all the Frenchman's team-mates on Thursday as the Comets are definitely one of the best teams in Premier League speedway. So yet another night of excitement is guaranteed.

REDCAR BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C)
2. Mathieu Tresarrieu
3. Tomas Suchanek
4. Kevin Little
5. Chris Kerr
6. Jack Hargreaves
7. Daniel Giffard

WORKINGTON COMETS:
1. Paul Thorp
2.Tomasz Piszcz
3. Ritchie Hawkins
4. James Wright
5. Gary Stead
6. John Branney
7. Aidan Collins