Gladiators v The Pirates Preview

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators have endured further injury concerns prior to this fixture, with Danish Star Hans Andersen sustaining a dislocated shoulder in a high speed crash at Sheffield on Thursday evening. 

With their originally designated No 1 Edward Kennett suffering serious arm injuries in his first Meeting of the season which are still under Specialist assessment and supervision, in form reserve Dan Gilkes suffering a badly broken arm and ribs and other complications in a bad crash at Scunthorpe a few weeks later, and Michael Palm Toft being deposited in to the Poole safety fence in unceremonious fashion a few weeks ago suffering arm and shoulder injuries and bad bruising together with in form Ben Barker also missing a few matches it is a testimony to the outstanding resilience of the Club.

This includes some superb Management off the Track and on it from Team Manager Garry May and some superb performances from the fit Westcolour Gladiators and some outstanding Guest performances, that the Club is enjoying it’s most successful season in recent memory.

With the Jubilee League, for all Championship Clubs, part of a regionalised competition that closes with a national Final in September, there is at least a bit of breathing space before the Westcolour Gladiators recommence Championship League action in early August and with three key home Matches and Away Fixtures at Berwick and Edinburgh to come.

They remain highly confident of making the Play offs and have more than dreams of lifting the League title given the outstanding consistency of their Home and especially Away performances. Whilst the Jubilee League is a bit of a distraction, it is a competition that the Westcolour Gladiators also want to win.  

Having beaten the Poole Pirates comprehensively at Home by 53 points to 37 points in May and then drawing 45-45 points each at Poole last month; when the victims of some debatable decisions, with the result of heat 14 crucially proven to be incorrect by TV replays in terms of the Heat result; and the loss of the influential Palm Toft at a vital stage of the meeting in an incident that would surely have resulted in a Red Card or time in the sin bin in any other sport for the perpetrator, the Match certainly won’t lack needle or spice.

With Poole at full strength, the Westcolour Gladiators will bring in Guest Replacements for Edward Kennett and Michael Palm Toft in the shape of Leicester Heat Leader Richie Worrall and Redcar star Lewis Kerr and will operate the Rider Replacement facility for Hans Andersen. With Barker at No 1 in the Averages and Andersen third in the Averages this will allow Worrall, Kerr, Alfie Bowtell and Ben Morley to share Andersens 4 scheduled rides between them.

The Westcolour Gladiators will line up:
Ben Barker, Alfie Bowtell, Lewis Kerr, Hans Andersen (RR), Richie Worrall, Harry McGurk, Ben Morley.

The Pirates haven’t yet confirmed their exact Riding order but will line up with Steve Worrall; Richard Lawson, Danny King, Ben and Zach Cook, Drew Kemp and Nathan Ablitt.

Weather:

There are extreme hot weather alerts for significant parts of the South, Midlands, Eastern and some Northern Areas but you’ll be happy to know that all forecasts for Plymouth and the Devon area suggest an average temperature of a very comfortable 23 degrees with a mild breeze, so there should be no concerns about the comfort or safety of anyone attending the fixture. 

There is a small chance of an early morning shower to assist in track preparation and despite the mindless vandalism caused in an arson attack last week, the Club has ensured, at considerable added expense, that replacement options to maintain watering of the Track at all times is in place for the safety or riders and the quality of the racing and also for the benefit of all Supporters.

Tickets are available ONLINE now via our Online Ticketing Portal here.

A reminder to that ALL Under 16’s GO FREE and are eligible for the very popular Interval Running Race around the Track with a small prize for each runner : 

Tickets are also available via Cash + Card on the night, but the best way to secure a Seat in the NHS STAND (Home Straight) is to book early ONLINE. The First Bend VIP Stand is already SOLD OUT.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday. 

Remember, The Coliseum is the place to be for your Speedway Heaven in Glorious Devon every Tuesday night and this week, we will certainly be the Coolest and most Comfortable place to be.

Image credit: Jon Sproad