MIDDLESBROUGH Bears travel north to Scotland today to face the West Lothian Wildcats at Armadale Raceway near Bathgate with a much changed line-up.

Only Wallsend-based Scott Nettleship remains from the side that won against the Hull Angels in east Yorkshire three weeks ago. Paul Cooper has work commitments and both Ashley Johnson & John Branney are on a southern tour taking in Wimbledon and Weymouth for the Newcastle Gems Conference League team. Unfortunately the Conference League fixtures came out after the Scott Bros Bears match had already been arranged.

Replacing Cooper at No.1 is the club's rider of the year in 2003, Jonathan Bethell. The Kendal-based rider will be making a welcome return to the team having already ridden at Armadale for his parent club Buxton, where he is now the club captain. On that occasion he featured in some of the afternoon's best races and tonight should be no different. Hull junior Phil Downes generally rides the smaller tracks better whilst Berwick-based 16-year old rookie John Morrison makes his Bears debut following a recommendation from injured Bears captain Gary Flint, who was unfortunate to break his leg at Sheffield's practice day.

The six heat match begins at 9pm immediately following the Edinburgh Monarchs/Rye House Rockets meeting which features former Middlesbrough riders Scott Robson & Cameron Woodward.

Bears line-up: 1 Jonathan Bethell; 2 Phil Downes; 3 Scott Nettleship; 4 John Morrison.

The Bears have accepted an invitation to race at Elite League track Oxford next month against their juniors having received an offer they couldn't refuse. Oxford promoter Nigel Wagstaff has offered to pay the team's expenses, which was a surprise as they were only seeking permission to use Workington-based Craig Branney for occasional challenge matches. A four man team will visit Cowley and take part in six races following the main meeting against Buxton.