It's Knockout Cup action at the South Tees Motorsport Park this Thursday evening as the Redcar Bears face the Edinburgh Monarchs in the first leg of a second round clash at 7.30pm.

The Monarchs are on hot form at the moment having crushed Scunthorpe away in the Premier League on Monday and the second leg will be tough for the Bears as the Scottish septet have also been running up some cricket-like scores at their Armadale Stadium base.

With William Lawson competing in the British Final at Swindon on Thursday evening the Monarchs have selected Carl Stonehewer as a formidable guest replacement. Stonehewer is a former League Riders' Champion and Grand Prix racer. The Monarchs will also track Aaron Summers at reserve and he could take up to seven rides if the Monarchs team manager so decides. Aussie Aaron doubles up with the Redcar Cubs in the Conference League and is a maximum man on the Motorpark track at that level.

The Bears are hoping for a Scottish double having been victorious in the Premier League at Glasgow Speedway on Sunday afternoon. They return to Scotland for the second leg of the Knockout Cup on Friday evening. Josh Auty returns to the fold after his absence last weekend competing in a qualifying round of the World Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. Josh scored a creditable ten points including two heat wins on his debut at this level of international competition losing a run-off with Matej Kus of the Czech Republic for full progression to the next round but is on stand-by as a reserve. The 17-year old Yorkshire lad will have a vital role to play in the balance of the match in countering Aaron Summers and also being ready to take additional rides if required. The Bears will depend heavily on their top two riders Gary Havelock and James Grieves to score heavily over the two encounters and both have recorded maximum returns in recent fixtures and are in generally good form. James was unbeaten in five outings at home against Stoke a fortnight ago whilst Gary was unbeaten in his five races on the Isle of Wight last week.

An interested spectator at Thursday's encounter will be injured Bear Chris Kerr. The young American will no doubt be updating the Bears' management about how his rehabiliation back in California has progressed. Chris broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg at Scunthorpe Speedway on April 17th having started the season in storming form. He has been advised that he may be able to return by early July and his points return will be a bonus when that moment arrives.

This week's meeting sponsors are Kettlewells of Ripon in Yorkshire.

REDCAR 'TLS' BEARS:
1. Gary Havelock (C)
2. Joni Keskinen
3. James Grieves
4. Daniel Giffard
5. Ty Proctor
6. Josh Auty
7. Arlo Bugeja
EDINBURGH MONARCHS:
1. Carl Stonehewer
2. Rider replacement for Thomas H. Jonasson
3. Derek Sneddon (C)
4. Ryan Fisher
5. Matthew Wethers
6. Andrew Tully
7. Aaron Summers