BEARS got their season off to a positive start with victory at Hull's Craven Park against the Hull Angels last week.

The match went to a last heat decider and a superb performance from Paul Cooper and John Branney against the Angels' Mike Pickering and Phil Downes, saw the Bears take maximum points.

It was a miracle that the meeting went ahead at all due to the amount of rain that had fallen immediately prior to the main match starting. Fifteen miles from Craven Park the rain was bouncing off the road yet the Hull track staff did a sterling job, the meeting starting just 20 minutes late.

Even that wasn't a guarantee that the junior match would get the go ahead but a positive attitude from all eight riders prevailed.

The match was a triumph for Teesside teenager Ashley Johnson. Barely a year ago it was feared he may never walk or talk again and suffer permanent brain damage, yet he has made a full recovery and made the most of his comeback in Scott Bros Bears colours. The 19-year old Ingelby Barwick-based youngster won his first race on his comeback and then scored a third and second place to finish joint top scorer with Cooper and Branney. The comeback was tempered by the damage incurred by Ashley's ignition and teammate John Branney was on hand to loan him a bike for his third ride.

Newcastle Gems, who race in the Conference League, have now officially signed Ashley on contract and he made an immediate impact by scoring four points against the Newport Mavericks at Brough Park. The good news is that he can ride for both Middlesbrough and Newcastle because the Bears compete as a non league club and the fixtures don't often clash with the Gems.

The inclusion of Paul Cooper in the Scott Bros Bears line-up was something of a coup.

The 21-year old York-based rider is the current 350cc British Grasstrack Champion and fully intends to defend his title whilst harbouring progress in grasstrack and longtrack racing in Europe. Cooper's impact in speedway has been nothing short of miraculous. He made just five appearances for the Sheffield Prowlers last season yet he has had a host of Premier League clubs chasing his signature including Berwick, Hull, Stoke and Workington Since appearing in the Carlos Villar Benefit meeting at Berwick in March, where he beat former world champion Gary Havelock and home stars David Meldrum and Simon Cartwright, Cooper has become speedway's most wanted man. On Sunday he scored 15pts from six rides for the Sheffield Prowlers at Mildenhall in a Conference League encounter, yet he wants to concentrate on grasstrack and longtrack for 2004.

The Scott Bros Bears management first approached him at a speedway social evening organised by Northallerton Road Racing Club in October last year. On Wednesday he honoured that agreement and has asked to be considered for other meetings too.

Scott Nettleship returned to the team line-up following Jonathan Bethell's withdrawal due to work commitments. He scored two third places but for more luck could have had even more; a fall in his first ride when in second place and being overtaken in another reducing his impact.

A new website featuring the exploits of the Scott Bros Bears is now 'live' online.

Supporters wishing to keep up-to-date with the latest news and fixtures should locate the following web address: www.borobears.com

The Scott Bros Bears next fixture takes place in Scotland against the West Lothian Wildcats who are based at Armadale near Bathgate in Edinburgh on Friday, May 28.