It’s been a tough start to the season, but Redcar Bears are determined to put it right.
That was the message from team manager Jitendra Duffill as the Ecco Finishing Bears prepared to take on Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Premier League Cup at the Media Prima Arena tonight (7.30pm start).
The Bears have lost all three of their meetings so far this season and look set to again be without skipper Stuart Robson who was left battered and bruised after an opening night crash.
Duffill has admitted there is no quick fix to his side’s early season woes, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be doing their best to turn things around in time for their first Premier League fixture of the year against Peterborough next Thursday.
“The League Cup is gone now,” he said. “You need to win all your home meetings if you’re to progress out of ther group and we’ve already lost once.
“Our focus now will be to turn things around before we start our league campaign. We are better than we’ve shown so far, so we have to prove that by getting that first win.
“We all need that boost. I understand it is really frustrating for the supporters - it’s really frustrating for the team manager as well.
“But I’d ask the fans to get behind us and we will do our best to repay their faith and put it right.”
Captain Robson looks likely to again be on the sidelines, which means the Bears will use rider replacement at No 1.
“I don’t think he is going to be ready,” condeded Duffill.
“I spoke to him a couple of days ago and he wasn’t 100%. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to be fit in time.
“It’s a shame but his health is the main priority.”
Despite last week’s 50-40 derby defeat by Newcastle there were some bright spots, with No 1 Lasse Bjerre roaring to a paid 16 total and second string Jan Graversen also posting a double figure return.
“That’s not where the problem lies,” said Duffill.
“Jan made a slow start in his first meeting but did his job at Sheffield and did his job and more against Newcastle - you can’t ask for any more.”
It’s the reserve berths which are currently giving particular concern in the Bears camp.
But the Scorpions track inexperienced duo Ellis Perks and Nike Lunna at reserve so Duffill is hoping that this is the week when Ben Morley - who scored seven points in Tuesday’s British Under-21 Final at Coventry - and Rafal Konopka click into gear.
The Scorpions are also looking for their first win on the season having slumped to home and away defeats against Sheffield in their only fixtures so far.
However with former Bears Carl Wilkinson and Josh Auty in their ranks, they have no shortage of track knowledge.
BEARS: Lasse Bjerre, Jan Graversen, Rafal Konopka, Matej Kus, Ben Morley, Hugh Skidmore, R/R for Stuart Robson.
DIAMONDS: Josh Auty, Alex Davies, David Howe, Nike Lunna Ellis Perks, Theo Pijper, Carl Wilkinson.
Updates on Twitter @gazettespeedway - for match report and scorers, visit inthepitsspeedway.wordpress.com from around 11pm. Report and video reaction from manager Jitendra Duffill online at http://bit.ly/1Fpcnal tomorrow, follow-up with picture in Saturday’s Gazette and online.
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