MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS travel to Scotland on Sunday to face the Ashfield Giants at Glasgow's Saracen Park in Possilpark. And the son of a former Middlesbrough rider is set to make his debut against his hometown team.

Adam McKinna, 16, is the son of Kenny McKinna who rode for the Bears at Cleveland Park in 1993. He also rode for Glasgow, Belle Vue and Edinburgh. Also making his seasonal debut is Hull-based Oxford junior Danny Norton who raced to an unbeaten 9pt maximum at Berwick on his only appearance last season, helping the Bears to their first victory of the season. Regular Phil Downes and 16-year old Berwick youngster John Morrison complete the line-up.

Team Line-Up: 1 Danny Norton; 2 Phil Downes; 3 Adam McKinna; 4 John Morrison.

The match takes place after the Glasgow Tigers/Reading Racers Premier League Knockout Cup match at 3pm. The Glasgow team features three former captains of the Middlesbrough Bears: Shane Parker, Paul Bentley and Graham Jones. Hopefully the weather will stay dry enough for the meeting to be completed. Last year's fixture was rained off after less than two laps.

It is the beginning of a busy period for the club with five matches in a four week period. Sunday's visit to Glasgow is the first of two meetings at the track as the Bears are also racing against Edinburgh's West Lothian Wildcats at Ashfield in two weeks time. The Wildcats are the only team to have beaten the Scott Bros Bears this season so revenge will be sought. The Bears will be hoping to track a much stronger line-up.

Matches at Hull in the return encounter with the Ashfield Giants are scheduled to take place on 21st July, 2004. Other matches include Berwick Borderers 24/7 and Workington Cubs 7/8. Unfortunately local rivals Newcastle have been unable to agree a date despite being offered four dates.

SUNDAY'S match at Glasgow will be the Scott Bros Bears sixth match of the season. The Bears have won four against Hull Angels (twice), Crewe Kings and the Oxford Academy, and lost just the once against the West Lothian Wildcats who are based at Armadale, Edinburgh.

INCREDIBLY none of the riders remain ever present this season. Last season Jonathan Bethell and Scott Nettleship both made nine appearances but matches at Hull have been cut from nine to five. Hull-based Phil Downes has made four appearances so far. Bethell has been limited to one appearance at Hull whilst Nettleship has since departed the club. Teesside teenager Ashley Johnson will not ride again this season. This coupled with the retirements of local lads Chris Hunter and Steve Jones has meant the management have had to look further afield for up-and-coming youngsters. One such rider, Adam Roynon, 15, from Barrow-in-Furness, looks like not riding for the Bears at all. The son of former rider and promoter, Chris, he is currently injured and not so long ago moved from Newcastle Gems to Mildenhall Fen Tigers, but they don't like loaning their riders to other clubs!

MIDDLESBROUGH Bears captain Gary Flint has made an unsuccessful attempt to ride again. The Ashington-born 22-year old had the misfortune to break his leg at Sheffield's press and practice day in March and was advised by specialists not to ride this season. Flint's comeback lasted just two laps at Berwick's Shielfield Park before he was forced to pull up.

FORMER Teesside rider John Robson is set to make a comeback....at the age of 54! John's youngest son, Stuart, celebrates a 'Best Pairs' testimonial at Coventry Speedway on Sunday afternoon at 1pm and together with older son, Scott, all three will feature in a series of match races on JAPs. Sunderland-born John begun his career at his hometown track in 1973 before moving on to Newcastle in 1975 and then joining Teesside in 1977.