WITH still a month to go before the event, organisers of the 2016 Riponian Rally on Sunday, February 28, have received about 50 entries so far for the joint venture between Ripon Motor Sport Club and Whitby and District Motor Club.

The number is considerably higher than at this time for last year's event, but the organisers still need a number of competitors to commit to ensure the popular rally runs.

The format of the event is largely unchanged, featuring two runs through a group of stages on the western edge of the North York Moors National Park to give just over 40 stage miles. While much of the stage mileage will be familiar to regulars on the Riponian, one stage uses some completely new mileage coupled with mileage not used for more than 10 years, while another stage features some mileage never before used on the Riponian.

Another change is that while Thirsk Auction Mart will again form the hub of the event, with rally HQ, scrutineering, documentation, main service and finish all contained within one site, this year's event will start from Ripon Market Square at 8.31am, raising its profile and giving competitors and their sponsors increased exposure.

The event will again be sponsored by local competitor Peter Stephenson, of ABLE UK, together with a significant contribution from Matthew Robinson, of Robinson Road Planing Services. Both are on the entry list. Also included is multiple winner Charlie Payne, from Ripon, in his Ford Fiesta, former national champion Steve Petch (Ford Fiesta) and rising star Ollie Mellors (Proton).

Regulations and the online entry form are available on the club website, riponian.co.uk, and entries finally close on February 20. Due to new MSA rules, no late entries are available after that date. The event will again need plenty of marshals and all offers of help can be made to Mark Williams by email to atmarshals@riponian.co.uk.

DESPITE a challenging season in 2015 which saw the Redcar Bears speedway team finish bottom of the sport’s second division, and a struggle to sign a high-scoring rider to complete their line-up for the forthcoming campaign, local motor dealers SG Petch have stepped in to help the team.

For 2016, the Premier League club will be known as the SG Petch Bears following a period in which the company has been involved in meeting sponsorship for many years, promoting its five branches in Middlesbrough, York, Durham, Darlington and Richmond.

Bears’ marketing manager Ian Drinkel has arranged, via the company’s local dealership on Skippers Lane Industrial Estate, virtually adjacent to the stadium, to step up its involvement.

Senior staff have been regular visitors to the Bears’ Dormer Way track in recent seasons, during which time examples of the branch’s specialist brands, Fiat, Abarth and Hyundai, have become increasingly regular features in the centre.

In addition to the latest deal, the Bears have also agreed to continue with two other backers, including Dubai-based publishers Media Prima, who will continue to have naming rights to the speedway arena – constructed as part of the South Tees Motorsports Park a decade ago – for a second successive year.

The third company to be involved is Pioneer Procurement, which is based on Teesside. New sponsors last season, the company's involvement continues by naming the stand along the home straight after it.

With a great commercial package now in place, Bears’ promoter Brian Havelock can concentrate on building his squad for the forthcoming season, which gets underway on March 24 with a Tees-Tweed Challenge match at home.

Havelock is hopeful that Media Prima boss Graeme Wilson might help persuade unsettled star Matej Kus to remain on Teesside as the Czech rider is a good friend. The former Czech champion is a target of local rivals Newcastle, but Havelock has said he will only be interested if the Diamonds meet his asking price and the rider will not be going on loan.