The Management of Plymouth Gladiators Speedway have announced that fortnightly - Saturday Training/Practice Days will commence as soon as Government / ACU and SCB restrictions are eased sufficiently to allow Practice Sessions to commence.

The Coliseum Arena which has seen a number of major upgrades over the winter; is currently being prepared to be compliant with any Covid 19 related Health and Safety Restrictions that may be required.

Promoter mark Phillips explained:

"We are keen to get Open Practice Sessions started as soon as we are permitted to do so. The Track has been fully prepared and is in fantastic shape, smooth with a nice dirt line.

We have undertaken some Stadium and Pit Area improvements and have the ability to socially distance up to 40 Riders by utilising the Area behind the Back Straight Stand and Tractor Track Entry Gate as a secondary Track Entrance.

We are already preparing all Spectator and Staff interface Areas including the Turnstile, Bar and Refreshment and Track Shop Areas; with Health and Safety compliant protection screens ready for the commencement of Racing with public access, and will be able to ensure that any Riders attending our Practice Days will be safe and properly looked after.

We anticipate that a large number of Riders from the youngest Youth Age Group right up to experienced Professionals; will be keen to take advantage of an opportunity to Practice at Plymouth; as we will be one of the very few available and very easily accessible facilities (direct access from M5 via A38/A30) to be able to offer Track time in the whole South West, Southern England and South Midlands.      

We have designated the following dates for Training and Practice subject to the necessary restrictions being lifted:

Saturday 11th and 25th July

Saturday 8th and 22nd August

Saturday 5th and 19th September

Saturday 3rd and 17th October 

(There is contingency for 13th and 27th June if the circumstances allow but these would be Closed Practice to invited Riders only)

We expect a significant interest so in the first instance we would ask that any Rider / Parent wishing to consider coming to a session to signify their interest via the contact form below, so that we can gauge interest and numbers in total and also in specific age groups and classes.

We will also set a limit on number of Riders (+mechanics) relevant to Guidelines and Regulations at the time that the Training Sessions commence.

Please confirm your name, e-mail and rider class (e.g. Youth/ Professional) and your phone number using the form below.

You can help Plymouth Gladiators Speedway without spending an extra penny, indeed you may save more than a few pennies and turn them in to pounds, by Shopping in a slightly different way.

We are delighted to launch our new Partner/Affiliate Range today giving you fast access to 6 major Brand names.

By coming to our website and clicking on the website links of our first 6 Brand Partners; if you shop there through our link, you generate a small Commission for Plymouth Gladiators Speedway every time you shop.

Have a look at our Affiliate Partner page here and welcome our first 6 Affiliate Partners:

Currys PC World; Goldsmiths Jewellers; Trade Counter; Vintage Wine Gifts; Vodafone; Wickes DIY

We have consciously chosen as our first 6 Partners some Companies whose goods and services may help you through “lockdown and shopping restrictions” and as the Covid 19 safety measures ease, we will have plenty more Shopping and Trade options that will be suited to the more normal or “new normal times”.

It is important to always shop via the Gladiators website and NOT directly with the merchandiser as we will have SPECIAL offers and deals not always available on the main website of each Partner.

PLEASE tell your friends, as they too can help us to safeguard and build the business to ensure that The Gladiators grow and develops in to a world class proposition both on and off the Track.

We have added a Contact email at the bottom of the Partner / Affiliate page for your comments and feedback and suggestions of any Businesses that you would like us to approach to become “Partners”.

View the Affiliates Partner Page here

The winter may have been very cold and wet, and will go down in history as the time of a great Global Pandemic (Covid 19) but it has not stopped some incredible work being completed by a Team of Volunteers at The Coliseum to set Plymouth Gladiators up not only for the 2020 season but also for the seasons to come, in the hope that we can build a secure and profitable long term future, and we hope, persuade the BSPL (British Speedway Promoters Ltd) who run the Sport in the UK, that we would be worthy Members of the higher Tiers of the Sport.

Having knocked down the old Stand work commenced on building a completely new Structure that will run from The Pit Gate the full length of the Straight, right up to the Track Shop and Sponsors Lounge. Here are a few pictures that show the structure.

Home Straight Stand

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The Stand will be finalised by the addition of 400-500 seats and Mark has launched a Crowd Funding Appeal to help to Fund these.

The Stand is designed for use as a Standing or Seated Area, but our aim is to make The Coliseum as comfortable as possible for all Spectators and Visitors.

Click here to view the Crowd Funding Appeal

The building of the New Stand necessitated the relocation of Disabled Stand/Platform and this has been done.

Disabled Stand / Platform

The Platform has been completely renovated and been given a prime location with a superb view, possibly one of the best in Speedway anywhere in the UK, on the exit of Turn Two.

There has been a lot of work to give ease of access and the location is also much closer to both Toilet and Food/Bar Facilities on the First Bend.

The location has been sited to be outside of the line of any flying shale from the first Bend; to further assist comfortable viewing and directly adjacent to the Stadium Car Park Area to ensure ease of access.

Here are some pictures:

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The Track

The Track was underwater for most of the Winter (literally) but as the water-table has fallen and thanks to a lovely dry April, a lot of work has been done to aerate, re-grade and tyre pack the Track and the following pictures will show that it is billiard table smooth but with a lovely dirt line and plenty of grip:

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Our Thanks

Mark; Gill; Mattie; and Ian would like to publicly thank the wonderful regular helpers and weekend volunteers without whom this project would not have been possible, with many many man/lady hours and lots of other assistance. Truly the best Support Team in the world of Speedway - THANK YOU...

Philip Smallridge, Ed Lee (Quiche man), John White, Barry Mills, Gary Andrews, Rod Hart, Viv Bath,Margaret Jollands, Kai Ward, Richard Andrews Lewy, Brian Royle (Pastie Man) Pete the Carpenter, Arthur the Painter, Ross Lawson, Richard Hemings, Helen Charlesworth and Mark Crittenden the Electrician

and to anyone else we may have inadvertently missed out (sorry)

Wishing our Gladiator Richard Andrews a Very Happy Birthday from all at the club. Have a great day Richard!

There will be a couple of positive and major announcements on the website in about 2-3 weeks time, not necessarily Speedway related but all linked to the long term stability and growth of the business and therefore of the Club.

We have tried to focus more on Social Media as this is also visible on the website Home Page so covers both genres.
(check out GLADIATORS SOCIAL about 1/2 way down the Home Page)

There has been a lot of news and updates on Facebook and the new Plymouth Gladiators Group on Facebook. 

That has included live filmed interviews by Gerry with Mark; Richard and Henry, Alfie and Nathan and Sheldon and Aaron. All are available for viewing.

Gerry has also launched his new "Speedway Chat" on Facebook and his first interview was an hour with Chris Holder and followed by 90 minutes with Tai Woffinden.

Next up are Greg Hancock on Tuesday 5th May and Olly Allen/ Simon Stead (Team GB Managers) on Friday 8th May

Gerry will have a LIVE Interview with Mattie on Saturday 2nd May at 7pm

Work has continued (within Government Social Distancing Guidelines) on the New Stand, the upgraded Disabled Area and generally tidying up and improving the infrastructure. The Track is looking in excellent shape, helped by the recent rain.

The Pits have also been extended to tie in with the New Stand and extra Toilets have been put in the Pits and also for Spectators close to the Referees Box.

We'll get some Pictures next week and put them up on the website for you all to see

We are planning for a series of Practise and Training days (subject of course to Government and Local Authority / Health and other approvals being allowed).

The No 7 spot remains vacant and we are waiting for opportunity to trial a few options, some will be riders who are well known and/or already in the Sport, but we may have a few surprise contenders too currently from other branches of motor sport / motor cycle Sport.

Please keep checking the Social Media Pages via the website or direct, and we will be back with a further update on Monday 18th May

Most importantly, stay safe, stay healthy and keep following the Government Guidelines.

We're all in this together