February 17, 2025

Plymouth Gladiators have completed their team for the 2025 Championship season.  Club Owner Mark Phillips and Team Manager and Promoter Gary May have confirmed a return to the team in the No 7 slot for the locally based Ben Trigger on a 3.01 average.

The marquee signing of Nicolai Klindt left the club with just under 4 points to use to be within the 40 point average limit, and after considering a number of permutations the club has offered local teenager Ben Trigger an opportunity to come back to the Championship team that he rode for in 2023. Phillips and May are aware that this could be a career defining season for Ben and one they will hope and expect he can grasp with both hands and 100% commitment.

Phillips said of Triggers return

“In 2023 Ben came in as a 16 year old on a 2 point average and with little pressure from us and an expectation that it would give him a solid foundation for the future. On occasions, especially when he made fast starts he proved that he could hold his own at The Coliseum and he had some notable scalps. At that point we appreciated that he was learning his trackcraft against far more experienced rivals. Ben chose to seek alternative opportunities at Redcar in 2024 and achieved an average of 3.01 points. 

We are pleased to see him back at The Coliseum in the Championship Gladiators septet. 

Ben will get some vital track time in our NDL Trophy Team and also at Leicester in the National Development League and we have stressed to Ben that this is the season which may define his career path as if he wants to become a full time professional Speedway rider, we will need and expect the sort of commitment and improvement that brings, and which Ben will need to show. 

It is a fact that some of Ben’s peers from his youth days have improved beyond and past the level he is now at and there are a number of exciting and potentially top class younger riders snapping at his heels. We have no doubt that Ben has the ability if he knuckles down and gets himself fitter and sharper physically and starts to show the sort of controlled aggression on the track, especially in those key first bend situations where total commitment is needed. He has the speed when he makes starts, so it is all about us finding those missing keys to optimise his ability and this will define his career path. We will give him all of the support that we can to help him succeed.

If Ben can be competitive and win and deliver consistent points in Heat 2 and his other allocated races, together with an out and out No 1 in Nicolai and 5 other riders all capable of winning races and improving their starting averages, we genuinely believe that we can aspire to be competitive everywhere and to aim for a Playoff Berth as our minimum expectation.”

Phillips concluded the news of the final piece in the Plymouth Gladiators team building in a positive but pragmatic tone.

“Gary and I are delighted with the team we’ve been able to put together on a budget that is a fraction of what some of the big hitters can afford. We will be seeking to punch and counterpunch well above our weight with a top class no 1 and a solid team of potential improvers, all 100% committed. Our plans did change when we had the opportunity to build a team around Nicolai and I think overall we will be stronger for it.

What we do need now is to find a lot more Sponsorship and Advertisers to assist us and for our loyal fans and new or returning fans to come to meetings in greater numbers so that we can look back on 2025 as a year of growth and success on and off the track. 

These are difficult times for our sport and many other sports but we want to be the most successful sporting team in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall and we have a real opportunity to do that with this septet. 

We have seen with the success of both of our Devon based football teams in the FA Cup in recent weeks that Devon folk will come out and support the underdog in large and enthusiastic numbers. We are proud to showcase Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West and hopefully everyone will support us on and off the track so that we can continue to hold this torch for many years to come.

If anyone can help with Sponsorship or Advertising support please contact Mark or Paul (Commercial Manager) at mark@plymouth-speedway.com or paul@plymouth-speedway.com