The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators earned a well deserved losing bonus point (Away Teams get 1 point if they lose by 6 points of less in Championship League Away Matches) at Redcar last night but left feeling justifiably aggrieved that they could and should have picked up 3 points for an  Away win or even 4 points for an Away Win of 6 points or more.

The result bodes extremely well for the League season ahead; as Redcar are highly rated and considered Play Off certainties by many. The improved form of The Westcolour Gladiators Danish stars, Micheal Palm-Toft who scored an excellent 11 points from 5 rides and Hans Andersen who chipped in with 8 points from 4 rides, was a significant step up and they were well supported by Guest Chris Harris who chipped in with 7 points and Dan Gilkes also with 7 points, but both deserved a lot more for their efforts and were the focal point of much of the controversy on the night.

When Gilkes was clipped by Redcar star Eric Riss entering the Pits Turn on the first lap of Heat 4 it looked like a clear case of Riss causing the accident and being excluded. To the consternation of most of the Crowd and to many, based on social media feedback, of those watching on the excellent new BSN (British Speedway Network) Live Stream, it was Gilkes who found himself excluded by Referee Graham Hunter and what could possibly have been a 5-1 heat advantage in the re-run to the Gladiators ended as a 4-2 to The Bears. It was to the great credit of Riss that he publicly acknowledged that he was at fault and should have been excluded, but little comfort in the final analysis.

The controversy did not end there with seemingly everyone in attendance and watching on the Live Stream from BSN thinking that Harris had caught and passed the Bears Lewis Kerr after a titanic 4 lap duel in Heat 5, Mr Hunter gave the result to Kerr much to the annoyance of the Gladiators management and team. A 4-2 heat advantage to the Bears that should clearly have been a 3-3 race result and a 6 point turnaround in 2 heats that ultimately decided the match.

A further debatable decision in Heat 11 , when Riss and Harris unavoidably touched in a tight first turn which had the domino effect of sending Gilkes crashing in to and underneath the Air Fence may have seen the Heat re-run 9 times out of 10, but not in the eyes of the Referee who deemed Harris the cause and another debatable exclusion for The Westcolour Gladiators. Thankfully Gilkes was extricated relatively unscathed after a worrying few minutes trapped under the Air Fence although he was unable to prevent a 5-1 to the home side in the eventual re-run.

The Bears hammered home a 5-1 advantage in Heat 13 to take a 10 point lead and the Gladiators were perhaps a shade unlucky to only share Heat 14 when Palm Toft won the Heat but a clearly battered and bruised Gilkes was passed by both home riders. Not to be outdone though The Gladiators shocked the home followers with a  stunning 5-1 in the final Heat to close the deficit to 6 points with Palm Toft and Harris romping home  and a slither of justice on the night.

There was an excellent contribution too from Ben Barker with 2 wins in an 8 point return from 4 rides and Henry Atkins 1 point and Alfie Bowtell who was scoreless certainly gave 100% as always and deserved more for their efforts.

The Westcolour Gladiators will now dust themselves down and next race again at Home at The Coliseum against the Leicester Lions on Tuesday 19th April (Tickets available ONLINE from Wednesday 13th April and CASH on the night).

The next action at The Coliseum will be an NDL (National Development League) clash against The Belle Vue Colts next Tuesday 12th April, Tapes Up 7pm and Tickets are available now via the Online store portal here.

Redcar Bears = 48

1.  Charles Wright - 3, 2, 3, 3, 1 = 12

2.  Adam Roynon -  1, 1', 1', 0 = 3+2

3.  Lewis Kerr - 0, 3, 0, 2 = 5

4.  Kasper Andersen - 2, 1, 2, 2 =7

5.  Erik Riss - 3, 3, 3, 3, 0 = 12

6.  Jordon Jenkins - 2, 0, 2', 1', 1' = 6+3

7.  Jason Edwards - 1', 1, 2, RS = 4+14

Plymouth Gladiators = 42

1.  Chris Harris (G) - 2, 2. Ex, EF, 1, 2' = 7+1

2.  Alfie Bowtell - 0, 0, F, RS = 0

3.  Ben Barker - 3, 1', 1', 3 = 8+2

4.  Michael Palm Toft - 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 = 11

5.  Hans Andersen - 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8

6.  Dan Gilkes - 3, Fx, RS, 3, RS, 1, TS, 0= 7

7.  Henry Atkins - 0, RS, 0, RS, 1, RS = 1

Redcar win toss and take gate 1 & 3

Heat Results

Heat 01: Wright, Harris, Roynon, Bowtell  4-2,  4-2,  53.8 (NTR)

Heat 02:Gilkes, Jenkins, Edwards, Atkins  3-3,  7-5,  54.2

Heat 03: Barker, K.Andersen, Palm Toft, Kerr  2-4,  9-9  54.6

Heat 04:(Re-Run):Riss, H.Andersen, Edwards, Gilkes(Fx)  4-2,  13-11  54.3

Heat 05:Kerr,Harris, K.Andersen, Bowtell  4-2,  17-13,  54.1

Heat 06: H.Andersen, Wight, Roynon, Atlins  3-3, 20-16,  54.5

Heat 07: Riss, Palm Toft, Barker, Jenkins 3-3,  23-19,  54.7

Heat 08: Gilkes, Edwards, Roynon, Bowtell(F)  3-3,  26-22  56.2

Heat 09:H.Andersen, K.Andersen, Atkins, Kerr,  2-4,  28-26,  55.5

Heat 10: Wright, Palm Toft, Barker, Roynon,  3-3,  31-29,  54.0

Heat 11:(Re-run): Riss, Jenkins, Gilkes  5-1,  36-30,  55.9

Heat 12: Barker, Kerr, Jenkins Harris(EF)  3-3,  39-33,  55.5

Heat 13:Wright, Riss, Harris, H.Andersen  5-1,  44-34,  54.8

Heat 14: Palm Toft, K.Andersen, Jenkins, Gilkes  3-3,  47-37  55.5

Heat 15: Palm Toft, Harris , Wright, Riss,  1-5,  48-42,  54.9

Credit Speedway Updates

Image credit: Jon Sproad

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators start their 2022 Championship League Season with a long distance trip to the Redcar Bears tonight, where they will be looking to lay down a marker for the season ahead.

Following their KOC aggregate defeat to the Poole Pirates over 2 legs earlier in the week, the Gladiators will hope to have blown away their early season cobwebs and are quietly confident of hitting the ground running.

The Gladiators will again call on multi-british Champion Chris Harris to replace the injured Edward Kennett in the No 1 berth and will be hoping that former Bears riders Michael Palm Toft and Ben Barker can hit top form on the excellent Redcar track, which is a high speed banked circuit that offers great racing.

The Bears are a formidable side, who have improved year on year and who are one of the most progressive Clubs in British Speedway. They include former British Champion Charles Wright, former World Long Track Champion Eric Riss and former Gladiator Adam Roynon in a strong septet.

The meeting is being live streamed on the excellent British Speedway Network Channel, who have picked tonight's clash as their weekly live feed.

You can purchase the Live Stream here: https://watch.britishspeedway.co.uk/

Tonight's Teams

Redcar Agilia Bears.

1 Charles Wright. 8.37 (C)

2 Adam Roynon 5.08

3 Lewis Kerr 7.47

4 Kasper Andersen 5.87

5 Erik Riss 7.84

6 Jordan Jenkins. 3.61

7 Jason Edwards. 2.16

TM: Jade Mudgway

Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators

1 Chris Harris – 8.40 (G)

2 Alfie Bowtell – 4.77

3 Ben Barker – 6.87

4 Michael Palm Toft – 7.32

5 Hans Anderson – 8.00 (C)

6 Dan Gilkes – 3.79

7 Henry Atkins – 2.24

TM: Garry May

The Pirates are a formidable side on their home patch and so it proved as they roared to a  58-32 victory on the night and an aggregate 106 - 74 win overall.

The Westcolour Gladiators were indebted to a sterling effort from Cornish-born Guest Chris Harris; who plundered an excellent 13 points from 5 rides as Guest replacement for the unfortunate Edward Kennett who suffered nasty arm injuries the previous night. 

Michael Palm Toft and Hans Andersen both showed some glimmers of their massive point scoring potential with a win each on the night, but both of these international stars will no doubt be a little frustrated with some niggling machine issues and will surely improve dramatically in the weeks ahead.  

All of the Westcolour Gladiators chipped in with points but the Pirates spearheaded again by Richard Lawson and Steve Worrall and with home reserve Drew Kemy excelling on his official Home debut were always in control of the match.

Scores and Heat Results.

Poole Pirates = 58  -  Aggregate = 106

1. Steve Worrall - 2',3,3,1,2' = 11+2

2. Zach Cook - 0,2',3,2' = 7+2

3. Richard Lawson - 3,2,3,3,3 = 14

4. Ben Cook - 2', 1,2',1 = 6+4

5. Danny King - 2,2',E,2 = 6+1

6. Drew Kemp - 3,3,2,2 = 10

7. Nathan Ablitt - 1,1,1,1,0 = 4+2

Plymouth Gladiators = 32 - Aggregate = 74

1. Chris Harris G - 3,3,3,3,1 = 13

2. Ben Barker - 1,0,2,0 = 3

3. Alfie Bowtell - 1,0,0,2 = 3

4. Michael Palm Toft -0,1,1,3,0 = 5

5. Hans Andersen - 3,1,1,0 = 5

6. Dan Gikes - 2,E,0,0 = 2

7. Henry Atkins - 0,0,0,1 = 1+1

Poole won toss and deferred choice to heat 15.  Plymouth chose gates 1&3.  Poole to choose gates in heat 15

Heat Results

Heat 01: Harris, Worrall, Barker, Cook. 2-4  59.53 secs

Heat 02: Kemp, Gikes, Ablitt, Atkins. 4-2 (6-6) 60.37 sec

Heat 03: Lawson, Cook, Bowtell, Palm Toft 5-1 (11-7) 60.43 secs

Heat 04: Andersen, King (15m), Ablitt 3-3 (14-10) 61.07 sec

Heat 05: Harris, Lawson, B Cook, Barker. 3-3 (17-13) 59.09 sec

Heat 06: Worrall, Cook, Andersen, Arkins 5-1 (22-14) 60.69 sec

Heat 07: Kemp, King, Palm Toft, Bowtell 5-1 (27-15) 60.65 secs

Heat 08: Cook, Barker, Ablitt, Gikes 4-2 (31-17) 60.84 sec

Heat 09: Lawson, Cook, Andersen, Atkins 5-1 (36-18) 60.59 sec

Heat 10: Worrall, Cook, Palm Toft, Bowtell 5-1 (41-19)

Heat 11: Harris, Kemp, Ablitt, Barker DNF 3-3 (44-22) 60.72 sec

Heat 12: Lawson, Bowtell, Atkins, Ablitt 3-3 (47-25)

Heat 13: Harris, King, Worrall, Andersen 3-3 (50-28) 59.97

Heat 14: Palm toft, Kemp, Cook, Gilkes 3-3 (53-31) 60.85 sec

Heat 15: Lawson, Worrall, Harris, Palm Toft 5-1 (58-32) 60.81 secs

Courtesy of SpeedwayUpdates

Image Credit: Jon Sproad.

The Gladiators suffered a frustrating defeat on Tuesday night losing by 6 points to the Holders the Poole Pirates.

Things had looked very promising for the Westcolour Gladiators to cause a major shock when they led by 6 points after 7 races.

However a surprise 5-1 to the Visitors over the previous home race winners Ben Barker and Henry Atkins in the 8th Heat seemed to stop the Gladiators momentum and although they stretched the lead back to 4 points after home reserve Dan Gilkes stormed to one of four hugely impressive wins in a 16 point haul in the ninth race, their fortunes were to suffer a huge blow in Heat 10.

Ben Barker was controversially excluded by Referee Chris Gay when making what appeared to be a clean inside pass on the Pirates Richard Lawson, and in the re-run Edward Kennett who has suffered what initially looked to be an innocous fall in his first ride trailed home last. 

Kennett had to subsequently retire from the meeting on the instructions of the Track Paramedic having suffered a nasty injury to his arm and a metal plate that he has had since a terrifying crash in a French Grasstrack Meeting some years ago. The metal plate had broken through the skin in several places and distorted and the injury also caused nerve and tendon damage to his hand and shoulder.

The Pirates, as champions always seem to do, took full advantage winning the remaining 5 heats by a total of 6 points to claim what to many seasoned independent observers felt like a slightly fortunate win that belied the efforts of the Westcolour Gladiators and especially young Gilkes who was outstanding.

Scores & Heat Results.

Plymouth Gladiators = 42

1. Edward Kennett - F, 1, 1, Withdrawn  = 2

2. Ben Barker -  2, 3, 1, Ex, 0 = 6

3. Alfie Bowtell - 1', 0, RS, 2 = 3+1

4. Michael Palm Toft - 2, T, 1, 2 = 5

5. Hans Andersen - 2', 1', 1', 1, 1 = 6+3

6. Dan Gilkes - 3, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, Ex = 16

7. Henry Atkins - 1, 3, 0, 0, 0 = 4

Poole Pirates = 48

1. Steve Worrall - 3, 2, 3, 2, 3 = 13

2. Zach Cook - 1, 1', 2', 0 = 4+2

3. Richard Lawson - 3, 3, 2', 3, 2' = 13+2

4. Ben Cook -  0, 0, T, 3 = 3

5. Danny King - 1, 2, 2, 0 = 5

6. Drew Kemp - 2, 0, 3, 0. 3, 1 = 9

7. Nathan Ablitt - 0, 0, RS, 1 = 1

Plymouth win the toss and defer so Poole chose gates 1& 3

Heat Results

Heat 01: Worrall, Barker, Z Cook, Kennett(F)  2-4, 2-4  52.26

Heat 02: Gilkes, Kemp, Atkins, Ablitt  4-2, 6-6  52.56

Heat 03: Lawson, Palm Toft, Bowtell, B.Cook  3-3,  9-9  51.97

Heat 04: Atkins, Andersen, King, Ablitt  5-1,  14-10, 52.06

Heat 05:  Gilkes, Worrall, Z.Cook, Bowtell  3-3,  17-13  51.87

Heat 06: Barker, King, Kennett, Kemp  4-2,  21-15  50.80

Heat 07: Lawson, Gilkes, Andersen, B.Cook  3-3, 24-18,  53.72

Heat 08: Kemp, Z.Cook, Barker, Atkins  1-5,  25-23,  52.59

Heat 09: Gilkes, King, Palm Toft, Kemp  42,  29-25  52.68

Heat 10: Kemp, Lawson, Kennett, Barker(Ex)  1-5,  30-30  52.9

Heat 11: Worrall, Gilkes, Andersen, Cook  3-3, 33-33, 52.88

Heat 12: Lawson, Bowtell, Kemp, Atkins  2-4  35-37  52.56

Heat 13: Gilkes, Worrall, Andersen, King  4-2m   39-39  54.81

Heat 14: Cook, Palm Toft, Ablitt, Atkins.  2-4,  41-43  56.8

Heat 15: Worrall, Lawson,Andersen, Barker.  1-5,  42-48  54.22

Credit: Speedway Updates

Image credit: Helen Charlesworth / Peter Gilkes.

Plymouth Speedway commence what promises to be an action packed 2022 Championship season with the home debut of the 2022 Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators in a Knockout Cup Quarter Final First Leg tie tomorrow night (tapes up 7pm). 

The Westcolour Gladiators have assembled what looks to be a very strong all round septet for 2022. Leading the way are former Speedway GP Star Hans Andersen from Denmark,  a 4 time Speedway GP Round Winner and multi World Team Champion. He is joined by another new Danish acquisition with an outstanding International pedigree in Michael Palm Toft and the very experienced British pairing of Cornish born Ben Barker and Sussex born Edward Kennett.  Barker and Kennett are multi-times British Individual finalists and GB Internationals and have been leading riders at domestic level for the past decade and more.  

The Westcolour Gladiators will augment their all-new top 4 with the rapidly improving crowd favourite Alfie Bowtell, whose fearless racing style thrilled home supporters on many occasions in 2021 and local star Henry Atkins who suffered a season ending injury before taking his place in the 2021 Gladiators Team and whose burgeoning ability and progress were sorely missed. Another exciting newcomer and already a medal winner at Under 19 and 21 Individual level is Midlander Dan Gilkes, one of the most sought after  young talents in British Speedway.

Club Director and Promoter Mark Phillips can't wait to get the season underway after a winter of team building that has only finally come to fruition in the past 10 days. 

"We have the 7 men we wanted since last Autumn and can't wait to start. In Hans and Michael we have a pair of top international class riders of terrific pedigree.  With Ben and Edward backing them up we have a couple of the best and most effective British riders of their generation and indeed we feel the strongest top 4 in the league. We have added the depth we sometimes lacked too in 2021 by welcoming back Alfie who impressed us all with his speed and progress, Henry who can't wait to make up for last time and  Dan who was one of the most sought after of the 2021 Rising Stars. 

Our Team Manager Gary May made a huge difference when he joined us part way through last season and he asked me for a team he could win Titles and Cups with, and I think that's what we 've delivered him, and all speedway supporters will know, that if you give Gary the ammunition, he'll fire you to League and Cup wins and silverware"

The reigning Championship League and Cup Holders, the Poole Pirates will provide the stiffest of opposition, featuring leading British Stars Danny King, Steve Worrall and Richard Lawson as heat leaders, the promising Cook brothers (Ben and Zac) together with leading young British prospects, Nathan Ablitt and Drew Kemp.  

Match Tickets are on sale online and are selling fast and whilst there will be cash admission on the night (Gates Open 5.30pm / Tapes Up 7.00pm); Supporters are advised to buy Online, especially if they wish to purchase a Guaranteed Seat in the NHS Stand, and to arrive as early as possible as a big crowd is anticipated. 

The Club wish to emphasise that season tickets are valid for this match, assuring all of the clubs valued Season Ticket Holders guaranteed access.

A further reminder that following the easement of Covid 19 Regulations the club will again be able to offer CASH ADMISSION at ALL MATCHES in 2022 Gates Open at 5.30pm and Tapes Up at 7.00pm. Programmes are available on arrival and Cost £3.00 and Car Parking IS available on-site for an additional Cost of £2.00. There are numerous Food and Drink Outlets around the Stadium. 

Online Ticketing is available from the Club Website or Ticket Agents TryBooking and can be accessed here.

For those who cannot attend in person, the club's highly regarded Live Streaming Team will be LIVE STREAMING all meetings at Plymouth in 2022, with the recent SMTR Centurions clash against The Kent Royals receiving rave reviews for its quality and accessibility. For more information check out the details here, where live streaming tickets are on sale for £11.99. 

We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday Evening for some "Speedway heaven, every Tuesday at 7"

Image credit: Jon Sproad