Former Plymouth rider Paul Starke has been announced as the latest addition to the 2023 Gladiators team.  

The Glastonbury based rider, who rode for the Ipswich Witches in the Premiership and the Oxford Cheetahs in the Championship in 2022, comes in as a second string to add vital scoring power to the engine room of the team.

The arrival of the immensely popular Starke,  who has achieved a multitude of League, Cup, Shield and 4 Team Tournament successes with a variety of clubs in all three tiers of UK League racing is a massive boost for the club.

Paul is acknowledged as an highly entertaining racer and joins a team packed with some of the best thrill-makers in British Speedway in Kyle Howarth and Ben Barker, and in Richie Worrall, one of the most consistent and reliable accumulation of points and one of the most exciting rising stars of the sport in the returning Dan Gilkes.

Starke has achieved Title and Cup winning success at the start of his career at Plymouth before enjoying similar accolades at Dudley/Cradley, Somerset, Peterborough and Poole.  

Promoter Mark Phillips said:

"Paul is probably the best value rider in British Speedway at the moment on his current average. He could easily challenge the top 3 in our side, in Richie, Kyle and Ben, who many acknowledge to be the best heat leader trio so far named.

Paul has had an unlucky spell with injuries in the past few seasons but will start fully fit and raring to go. He is renowned as a team player and a team man and together with his father Tony will be a great asset on and off the track and an excellent mentor to our younger riders Dan Gilkes and reserve Ben Trigger in his first Championship season.

I have every expectation that Paul will boost his average, his ability to score as many, possibly more points away from The Coliseum as he does at home will also be a massive asset for us with an aggregate Bonus Point available for each Home and Away leg against each of our rivals.

Paul will add massive experience and points scoring potential in the engine room of the team and we should certainly be ultra-entertaining both at home and away in 2023 with a team packed with full throttle racers.

Paul is based nowadays in Glastonbury which makes him as good as local and he completes a very strong top 5 and is a key part of our team building jigsaw."

Phillips also confirmed that the club are speaking to a number of riders for the final slot in the 2023 Team and with 4.21 points to play with to bring the side within the 40 points limit; have a number of options to consider with conversations ongoing with targets, before making a final decision in the New Year.

The Gladiators are eager to chat to potential sponsors and advertisers for the 2023 season. The club has a number of packages available at varying costs, so If you are keen to get involved, then contact Mark Phillips on markphillips353@yahoo.co.uk or call 07766 700810.

Ben Trigger admits it is a dream come true to race for the Plymouth Gladiators after being confirmed as one of their two reserve riders for 2023.

The talented 16-year-old, who hails from Plympton, has been a regular on the Coliseum racetrack since the days his Dad, Lee, managed the club in their former guise as the Plymouth Devils.

Now, 11 years on from the first time he took to his home track, Ben will be riding for points and money and not just in practice and for experience, after being confirmed as the fifth rider to line-up for the club in 2023 after Richie Worrall, Dan Gilkes, Ben Barker and heat leader Kyle Howarth.

“I am speechless really!” Trigger said. “It’s hard to talk about it because I don’t know how to explain it, but I have grown up watching speedway, Dad was involved and I’d go and watch meetings with Dad and when he was team manager, I grew up around it and always wanted to do it one day.

“Now I am actually getting the chance to do it and I’ll be living the dream. My fantasy has become a reality; I didn’t expect it to come so early, but now I have been given the chance, I intend to take it with both hands to do the best I can, improve and do as much as I can to help the team perform and try and win some silverware.

“I’ve been riding round the Coliseum since 2012, so I have had a few laps around there on different machinery and now I’ll get to race in front of the crowd that have watched me riding around there since I was small. Now, I am part of their actual team and not the mascot, so I hope to put all of that track time and experience I have into next year and make it a really good year for myself.”

Trigger has shown steady progress year-on-year after riding professionally from the moment he turned 15. His maiden season in the National League for Leicester Lion Cubs went well and he then signed for Plymouth Centurions for 2022, where he again scored consistently well.

Although he suffered a broken leg midway through the season, Trigger was quickly back on his bike and ended the season well, which is why promoter Mark Phillips and Gladiators boss Garry May have decided to give him an opportunity now, despite his tender years.

“I was really happy with how the year went. I started well in the National League and was scoring some big points and I nearly doubled my average. I think I could have got even more than what my average is now if I hadn’t got injured half way through and broke my leg, but that was a minor setback in my progress, really,” Trigger added.

“I came back after two months off the bike and came back like nothing had happened. I felt stronger on the bike and carried on from where I left and everyone else was happy with my year and the performances I put in.

“The leg is perfect now, there are no issues with it. I chipped the top of my tibia off, it came away from the bone, so they pinned it back with two screws holding it all in place to avoid any lasting danger when I get older.”

Now, all thoughts are on 2023 and Trigger is keen to get fitter between now and the season starting in March. He is also keen to find a National League club after the Centurions were pulled from the division in 2023.

“I am hoping to get a place at Belle Vue, but even they have said that they aren’t 100 per-cent sure yet,” Trigger said. “It’s just a waiting game until everyone gets their team sorted and if we don’t get a National League spot, then hopefully we will get one during the season just to try and get more meetings and race more.

“I really enjoyed the year at the Centurions and it was obviously so much better for us not having to drive three hours just for a home meeting, but you can’t always have it your own way.”

Team boss Garry May said: “We are going to give him a chance and see what happens. You have to give these British riders a chance because if you don’t give them a chance, you don’t know what they can do. If no one gave Darcy Ward a chance, what would he have done?

“Lee’s good, he knows how I work and Ben knows the track. I think he will do well at home – if he gates, then he’s in there because it is hard to overtake at Plymouth, but I am looking forward to working with him.”

Ben will again be helped in the pits by his mechanic father, who could not hide his pride at his son signing for a club so dear to his heart.

“It’s fantastic and it really is a dream come true, not just for Ben, but for me as well,” he said. “I have grown up with speedway, been team manager of Plymouth and to have Ben now don the colours of the Gladiators – and not just as a guest booking – is fantastic.

“He had a ride there for Edinburgh last season, but this is what dreams are made of really. It’s like any young footballer in Plymouth playing for Argyle. It’s massive. We are under no illusions that it’s going to be tough, but you have to start somewhere.”

The Gladiators are eager to chat to potential sponsors and advertisers for the 2023 season. The club have a number of packages available at varying costs, so If you are keen to get involved, then contact Mark Phillips on markphillips353@yahoo.co.uk or call 07766 700810.

Image credit: Jon Sproad

Ben Barker says he wants to end his speedway career with the Plymouth Gladiators after committing to the club for the 2023 season.

The 34-year-old Cornishman has always gone well round the Coliseum and it is a track he openly admits is his favourite on the UK circuit. But after a tough 2022, which ended prematurely with his controversial ban after testing positive for a banned substance, Barker is desperate to get back on the bike and give something back to the fans that love him.

“It’s not so much a case of being fixed up for 2023, it’s being fixed up where I wanted to be,” Barker said. “It’s great to be back in the Westcountry again and back at Plymouth. It’s my favourite track, I love the fans and I feel like, after what happened last season, I have to give something back, you know?

“Plymouth is my club; I wanted to stay in this league and I don’t want to ride anywhere else until I call it a day. It’s not just that, I have Mark Simmonds working for me and logistically, it is great as well. We are a package and it all has to fit into place with him as well.

“There are so many things that make it fit for me and Plymouth. I have always called Mark (Phillips) my Uncle Mark! But he is actually a cousin of mine and he was another reason why I wanted to come back to Plymouth.

“I am also on a good average for what I can do around Plymouth and what I can do all round the country really. It just fits nicely, so we will do what we can and get some silverware next year.

“I think Mark and Gary have put a good team together and there’s no reason why we can’t have a good season. There are some that will up their averages this year and some will maintain. Some will improve a lot by having the likes of me, Richie (Worrall) and Kyle (Howarth) in the team to feed off and that is what they have got to do.”

Barker was in excellent form for the Gladiators last season when the season was curtailed prior to a meeting at Oxford on July 27. He was suspended with immediate effect and a Speedway Control Bureau court hearing then issued him with a ban, which expires on March 1, in time for Barker to return for the 2023 season.

“It was absolutely doing my head in," Barker said. "But it’s over and done with now and it is not even at the forefront of my mind.

“At the forefront of my mind is getting back on the bike and going out and doing what I have to do and put some entertainment on for the crowd and show them what we can do and what they were missing.

“I was going to put a press release out about it all after it happened, but my attitude is the sooner it’s swept under the carpet and the sooner I forget about it, the quicker the season will come around.”

Now, Barker will spend Christmas with his family before getting himself in shape and off to France for some time on the bike before the new season begins.

“It will have been quite a break before I do get back on the track,” he said. “I am planning to go to France for a week with the bikes and that will be the next time I go on them. I expect that will be late February.

“There are no other plans really other than to do a bit of work, get fit and then we will go.

“France is ideal as you are able to ride there because of the weather and the tracks are really good. You are able to ride on them seven days a week.

“You can’t guarantee that it will be dry there, but it is a lot more guaranteed than staying in the UK, that’s for sure.

“You can’t use Plymouth and the nearest one you can use like that would be Leicester or Scunthorpe. But I don’t feel they are the right places to go, you want something a little bit different and I’ll get that in France.”

Team manager Gary May said it was a no-brainer to include Barker in his plans for 2023. adding: “It was a no-brainer because Ben is virtually unbeatable around Plymouth. On his day, no one catches him and you can’t let an exciting rider like that join another club and I think Ben loves riding at Plymouth.

“I know he is related to Mark, but he loves the club and just wants the club to do well. He was always phoning me, asking me who we had as guests last season and you just felt that he wanted the club to do well.

“It was really unfortunate with Ben last year, but you can’t go against the rules and it was a real shame for the Plymouth fans as well – and for me and Mark – because, with Ben there, I think we’d have done even better.

“The riders that came down may have got nine or ten points, which is all well and good, but Ben can get you 15 and that makes all the difference in the end in knocking another club out. But we have to move on and we just hope that Ben doesn’t do something like that again.”

As things stand, Plymouth are the only club that Barker has committed to for 2023. But he added:  “There’s no one else at the moment, but that can all change.”

The Gladiators are still on the lookout for sponsors in 2023. The club have a number of packages available at varying cost, so If you are keen to get involved, then contact Mark Phillips on markphillips353@yahoo.co.uk or call 07766 700810.

Image credit: Jon Sproad

The Plymouth Gladiators have named Kyle Howarth as their number one for the 2023 season with the popular racer contacting team manager Garry May to make the move happen.

The 28-year-old racer now resides in Wiltshire and was keen to join a club that was not too far from home. After finishing last season having doubled up with Premiership side Sheffield Tigers, where he will ride again and captain in 2023, and in the Championship with Leicester, he was quickly on the phone to May to get himself fixed up with the Gladiators.

“After hearing the news that Leicester were going up (to the Premiership) I knew I’d have to sort a job out and without wanting to sound cocky, I knew I would get a job because of the year I’ve just had,” Howarth said.

“I wanted to try and cut travelling down for myself because it can get a bit too much during the season. I live near Swindon now, so it’s not too far on a Tuesday and with Sheffield on a Thursday, it frees up my weekends for me.

“I know you have your Fridays at Redcar, Glasgow and Edinburgh, so the only club riding on a weekend is Berwick, so that frees me up to maybe go abroad or, when I am not racing, spend time with the family.

“Racing for Leicester has been great for me and I get on with the promotion there, but the Saturdays were quite hard because I never got to see people really, they’d be off and I’d be racing.”

However, Howarth was equally keen to join a club with ambition and that is exactly the case with Plymouth. Despite chronic injury issues throughout 2022, the Gladiators did finish in the top four of the Championship and qualified for the end of season play-offs – Howarth often being drafted in to guest for the club.

Unfortunately, their mix and match team of guest riders were no match for Poole Pirates, who went on to beat Howarth’s Leicester side in the Grand Final.

“Plymouth have been in the Championship for two seasons now and I have guested for them a few times and rode against them, but I enjoy working with Gaz and I have had no problems with Mark Phillips, whenever I have met him,” he added.

“I know Gary is a man that wants to win titles, he’s a passionate man that knows how to play his team right and I didn’t want to sign for any old club, I wanted to sign for a club that would be running at the top because I want to win stuff. I want trophies and I want to add stuff to my CV. It was a no brainer, really.

“I’m a racer and I think my racing style suits how it is. I have that ‘never give up’ attitude; that’s how I race and I just race for four laps. I think we have a team full of racers and I think that’s what

Garry wants – he wants racers home and away and people that have watched me before will know that’s what I’m all about.”

Howarth will even have his own bike and engine made up to give him the best possible chance of being Plymouth’s star man in 2023. He added: “Once I find a nice little engine sorted out, that will work round there for me, I don’t see a problem. I am having a small bike made just for Plymouth because it is a small track and you don’t need a lot of power.”

May said that as soon as Howarth contacted him over a move, he knew it made sense to build his team around him. He said: “Kyle contacted me as soon as Leicester finished and he said he wanted to come. I have worked with Kyle before, when I signed him for the Bournemouth Buccaneers in 2010 and I signed him for Poole in 2012, and me and Kyle have been close buddies ever since then.

“There was a chance he was going to come the year before, but it didn’t work out, but this year, it has worked out and I am glad that he’s come.

“But Kyle is a good rider, he’s an exciting rider to watch and never gives up. His machinery is 100 per-cent brilliant and when a rider contacts you, that’s a good thing. He’s not coming for the money, he’s coming to win and that’s what Kyle is.”

The Gladiators are still on the lookout for sponsors in 2023. The club have a number of packages available at varying cost, so If you are keen to get involved, then contact Mark Phillips on markphillips353@yahoo.co.uk or call 07766 700810.

Main Image Credit: Haggis Hartman

Dan Gilkes says there was never any doubt that he would return to Plymouth Gladiators in 2023 after his maiden campaign with the club was ruined by injury. 

After the signing of Richie Worrall for the forthcoming campaign was announced by the club at the final meeting of 2022, Gilkes becomes the second rider to be confirmed by the club as team manager Garry May builds a side that he hopes can challenge for silverware in 2023. 

The 20-year-old made an impressive start to life as a Gladiator, scoring heavily both home and away. But he suffered a nasty, season-ending crash in the away win at Scunthorpe on April 29, which ended his season almost before it had started. 

The likeable Gilkes suffered five broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken and displaced humorous bone in the crash, but after recently undergone a further operation to remove the plate work in his arm, Gilkes is on the road to recovery and building up his fitness to be in the best shape possible in 2023. 

“I wanted to get things sorted as quickly as possible, just so you have ease of mind going into the season and going into the winter and Christmas break sorted,” he said. “You know where you are then and you can try and sort out your sponsors and everything like that for next season. 

“For me, it was a tough year after I had my injury at the start of the season, which ruled me out for the rest of the campaign. Obviously I was trying to get back for the end of the season, which was my goal, but given how bad my injury was, that wasn’t doable and as soon as I told Plymouth that I wasn’t able to get back racing this year, they were straight away talking about next season and it feels right to come back.

“The month I had there went well and I really enjoyed my time at Plymouth with the way the fans were towards me, the team management and Mark (Phillips) and Gary (May). A key thing – especially when you are a young rider starting out in the sport – is track time, especially at your home track. Coming to Plymouth last season gave me that opportunity to really get dialled in at my home track – and riding for them in the National League as well – that really helped me.

“For the month I was there, they were really helpful and coming back for 2023 was a no brainer from the moment they got in contact.”

Gilkes is also looking forward to rising for the Plymouth fans once again, after they supported him so wholeheartedly following that crash and raised thousands in a collection that was held at the Coliseum not long after his crash. 

“I had only been there for a month and for a rider that’s only been there for a short time, to have the collection and the money raised down at Plymouth and also on the GoFundMe page – and to have the mental support and messages and things - was greatly appreciated,” he said. “It blew me away and while you can get the treatment – and as good as it is - through the NHS, to come back quickly, you really have to go private.

“I saw a private physio, surgeons and specialists and without all of that support and financial support, then none of that would have been possible. I have just had the plate work removed from my arm from the crash in April and at the moment, I am just working on my recovery. 

“It has been a week since my surgery and I am still a bit tight from all the stitches and things, but once they are removed, it will be a case of getting back to it properly and getting ready for the season.”

For team manager May, there was never any question of asking Gilkes to be part of the team in 2023 after he showed glimpses of his potential in 2022. 

“He was always 100 per-cent in my plans after the way he rode last year and with the average he comes in on you can’t let that rider go anywhere else,” May said. 

“The way he is as well, he 100 per-cent wants to be a speedway rider and he just had to come back. Me and Mark did everything we could to get him to come back. 

“He is like a Dane. The Danes are faultless, their equipment and workshop is spotless, everything is 100 per-cent, he is not like an English rider and eats fish and chips on the way home… I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a health bar or a protein shake!

“He had a horrible injury last year, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but hopefully he will learn from that. Up until then, he was absolutely fantastic scoring ten points from reserve away from home – he had to come back.

“I am really looking forward to working with him and seeing him push on again. Dan beat some big riders at Plymouth and I think he can do it again.”

Image credit: Jon Sproad

Plymouth Gladiators Speedway are delighted to confirm that they will again compete in the Championship League for the 2023 Speedway Season.

The League will consist of 9 Clubs with each Club facing each other Home and Away once during the season and also in the Knockout Cup Competition. There will also be an early Season Shield Competition with Plymouth in a Group of 3, the winners of each Group will progress to a Final.

Plymouth Gladiators have been busy assembling a septet capable of improving on last year's 4th place League finish and  hope to confirm all 7 signings by the end of November.

The Championship Fixtures will be confirmed in due course but the Club will be making 2023 Season Tickets available for Sale immediately.

Championship Match Tickets will be kept at 2022 Rates in recognition of the serious economic and Cost Of living times that we live in. It is very important however that the Club becomes financially self-sufficient to remain financially viable in the future.

The Match Day Pricing will be as follows-:

Adult Seating (Unreserved) - £20.00

Adult Standing - £18.00

Child Seating (Age 11 to 16) - £12.00

Child Standing (Age 11 to 16) - £10.00

Children Under 11 - £ FREE

------

SEASON TICKETS for 2023 Championship Season

(There will be 11 Scheduled  Fixtures comprising 8 League / 2 Regional Group / 1 guaranteed KOC)

Adult Seating (Reserved specific Seat) - £200.00

Adult Standing - £180.00

Child All Areas (Age 11 to 16) - £100.00

Season Tickets will be ON SALE on a SATURDAY between 12 noon and 3pm at the Speedway Office.

For further information please e-mail us at :admin@plymouth-speedway.com

--------

Club Director Mark Phillips said-:

Following the Sports AGM I can confirm our participation in the 2023 Championship League.

These are very challenging times for everyone and we are keeping our Match Ticket Pricing at 2022 levels and offering Season Tickets on the basis of a reduction of ONE complete Match pro-rata.

Unfortunately due to a significant level of abuse of the previous systems we will not be offering concessions this year .

These are very challenging times and it was not a foregone decision that we would return in 2023 as a lot of soul searching about the viability of Speedway in Plymouth has had to take place. We will need everyone to come out in numbers to support the Team and would welcome any offers of Sponsorship or Advertising from the South West or further afield and we will be announcing how you can discuss bespoke packages with us in the next few weeks. Obviously Sponsorship and Advertising Revenues are vital to our long term sustainability.

I can promise everyone that having committed to running in the Championship in 2023; that Garry , Mattie and myself are VERY excited about the new Team for 2023, which we will announce in the next 2-3 weeks.

We look forward to making further exciting announcements in the next few weeks.

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators completed their 2022 season with an entertaining 54 points to 36 points success over The Glasgow Tigers at The Coliseum last night.

The win enabled the Westcolour Gladiators to claim 4th place in the Championship League for 2022, which is a significant progression on their 2021 season placing and the highest that Plymouth Speedway have finished in the three tier pyramid, not only under the current Club Promotion, but for many years.

The Westcolour Gladiators were very much indebted to regular Guest rider Richie Worrall whose superlative 6 ride paid Maximum (5 race wins and a 2nd place behind his teammate) culminated in a new track record in Heat 15 in a time of 49.39 seconds.

The fact that a track record was set in the final heat of a meeting is very rare, as Track surfaces tend to deteriorate during a meeting.  Once again, testimony to the hard work and skills of Mark Phillips and his outstanding team of track volunteers who have battled intense heat, heavy rain, an arson attack on vital track machinery and other issues in 2022, to once again provide a consistently excellent race track.

To cap a memorable night for Worrall and the home supporters, it was announced that he will join Plymouth Gladiators as a full time member of the team for the 2023 Championship season.

He was ably supported by veteran Danish star Hans Andersen who scored 13 points from 5 rides to underline that there may be plenty more to come from him should he continue in British Speedway in 2023. 

Another guest rider James Wright chipped in with an impressive 11 points and Ben Morley, who was voted 2022 Rider of The Year by supporters finished an excellent season with a return of 7 points. 

Ben joined the Club as a replacement for the injured Dan Gilkes in May and has enjoyed his most consistent season at Championship level. Lee Complin and Connor Coles chipped in with vital points and have proved excellent short term acquisitions as the club endured a season long injury crisis.

The Glasgow Tigers were weakened by the non-arrival of Heat Leader and talisman Craig Cook who was affected by van problems on the long trip down from his Cumbria base.

Their outstanding Danish prospect Benjamin Basso delivered an exciting display with 11 points and was supported by Tom Brennan with 9 points and Guest rider Paul Starke with 8 points. Former Gladiator Dylan Ruml stepped in as a late replacement for Cook but despite a valiant effort did not trouble the scorers.

The Plymouth Management will now look forward to the Sports AGM in November when the make-up of the various Leagues and structures will be decided and also the vitally important "points limit" that each club must build to. 

Until such time as the structures and points limit are decided, a full announcement of 2023 plans cannot be made, but we are sure that once the AGM has decided everything, that there will be news of both the League structures and signings that the Gladiators will be working on in the interim based on various possible permutations. 

The progress made on and off the track in 2022 has been both visible and exciting and all of this despite some horrendous bad luck with injuries, some controversial decisions on the track, some mindless vandalism off it. 

This has to be measured against a backdrop of a growing domestic economic crisis, that has had an impact on attendances and which impacts all of us. Whilst there are going to be difficult choices and decisions ahead, the club will be looking to do all it can against this backdrop to make further progress in the sport, whilst ensuring that everything is done on a sound and sensible financial footing.

A number of riders are still recovering from serious and significant injuries, most notably Dan Gilkes whose meteoric start to the season was curtailed by serious arm and rib injuries in May and Michael Palm-Toft who is still struggling in the aftermath of serious injuries following a controversial incident at Poole in mid summer when he was forced at high speed in to the safety fence. 

Alfie Bowtwell, who was having an excellent season is recovering from serious knee ligament damage and Edward Kennett, who aggravated a serious arm injury in his first meeting for the Club in the Spring, is still suffering considerable pain and aggravated tendon damage which and is still awaiting a long delayed operation that is intended to alleviate some of the problems of the initial plating in his arm, to hopefully improve and reduce the continual pain and discomfort he suffers. 

Ben Barker, who was suspended in the late summer, in the midst of one of his best seasons in the sport, will hopefully return when his short ban for over-medicating with prescription drugs contrary to the Sports Governing Bodies strict Guidelines, ends in March 2023 and will hopefully then make a return to the sport. The aforementioned Hans Andersen and Ben Morley have been consistent points scorers throughout despite both suffering injury too and Harry McGurk and Henry Atkins made contributions too during their time with the club as did late season replacements Lee Complin and Connor Coles.

The Management would also like to thank all Guest riders who donned the Westcolour Gladiators Guest race-jackets in 2022, they certainly had an inordinate amount of use and everyone will be hoping for a far quieter and calmer season on the injury front in 2023.

Massive thanks go to all of the staff and volunteers behind the scenes and to the Paramedics, Printers, Programme Contributors and Editors, BluMonkey Media covering our social media, the wonderful Gladiators TV, and web Administrator Ian Smalley, who have raised the bar amongst speedway club media again this season, to the British Speedway Network on an excellent debut season, and especially to our Team Sponsor Westcolour Print; and to all of our loyal Sponsors and Season Ticket Holders and supporters for your magnificent support and to anyone we have inadvertently missed out.  THANK YOU.

We will keep everyone updated with news once the BSPL AGM has taken place in November. 

Plymouth Gladiators = 54 

1. Richie Worrall (G) - 3, 3, 3, 3, 2’, 3 = 17+1 PAID MAXIMUM

2. Ben Morley - 1, 2’, 0, 3, 1 = 7+1

3. R/R for Ben Barker (BM - 2’, RW - 3, HA - 3, JW - 3) = 11+1

4. James Wright (G) - 3, 2’, 0, 3, 3, 0 = 11+1

5. Hans Andersen - 2, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 13

6. Lee Complin - F, 1’, 1, 0, 2’ = 4+2

7. Connor Coles - 1, 1, 0 = 2

8. Ben Trigger DNR

Glasgow Tigers = 36 

1. Benjamin Basso - 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2 = 11

2. R/R for Ulrich Ostergaard (PS - 0, BN - 0, TB - 2, PS - 1) = 3

3. Dillon Ruml (G) - 0, 0, F = 0

4. Broc Nicol - 1, 0, 2, 2, 0 = 5

5. Tom Brennan - 3, 1’, 2, 2, 0, 1’ = 9+2

6. Paul Starke (G) - 0, 3, 2, 1’, 1, 1’ = 8+2

7. Connor Bailey - 2’, 0, 0, 1 = 3+1

Heat Results

Heat 01: Worrall, Basso, Morley, Starke 4-2, 50.82

Heat 02: Starke, Bailey, Coles, Complin (F) 1-5, 5-7, AWARDED NO TIME

Heat 03: Wright, Morley, Nicol, Ruml 5-1, 10-8, 51.43

Heat 04: Brennan, Andersen, Complin, Bailey 3-3, 13-11, 51.60

Heat 05: Worrall, Wright, Basso, Nicol 5-1, 18-12, 52.00

Heat 06: Worrall, Starke, Brennan, Morley 3-3, 21-15, 51.35

Heat 07 Re-Run: Andersen, Nicol, Complin, Ruml 4-2, 25-17, 52.51

Heat 08: Morley, Brennan, Coles, Bailey 4-2, 29-19, 53.90

Heat 09: Andersen, Brennan, Starke, Wright 3-3, 32-22, 52.04

Heat 10: Worrall, Nicol, Morley, Ruml (F) 4-2, 36-24, 51.92

Heat 11: Basso, Andersen, Starke, Complin 2-4, 38-28, 53.64

Heat 12: Wright, Basso, Starke, Coles 3-3, 41-31, 53.72

Heat 13: Andersen, Worrall, Basso, Brennan 5-1, 46-32, 54.06

Heat 14 Re-Run: Wright, Complin, Bailey, Nicol 5-1, 51-33, 52.41

Heat 15: Worrall, Basso, Brennan, Wright 3-3, 54-36, 49.39 NTR

Courtesy of Speedway Updates

Image credit: Jon Sproad

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators stage their final Championship League match of the season at The Coliseum tomorrow night (Tapes Up 7.00pm) with the rearranged fixture against the Glasgow Tigers bringing the curtain down on the season.

Although both sides have been eliminated from the League Play-Offs, the match gives the Westcolour Gladiators a chance to move up to 4th place in the final League table, an achievement that would be quite incredible given the massive injury and off-track issues the club has faced in 2022.

Promoter Mark Phillips and Team Manager Gary May have again put together a strong side from the remnants of their injury ravaged Squad, and both are keen to go out on a high. The club would like to see as many fans as possible at The Coliseum on what is forecast to be a dry and pleasant Autumn day and evening, to celebrate the best season in the club's recent history.

The Westcolour Gladiators will line up:

1 Richie Worrall (Guest for Edward Kennett)

2 Ben Morley

3 R/R (for Ben Barker)

4 James Wright (Guest for Michael Palm-Toft)

5 Hans Andersen

6 Lee Complin

7 Connor Coles

The Glasgow Tigers will line up:

1 Benjamin Basso

2 R/R (for Ulrich Ostergaard)

3 Craig Cook

4 Broc Nichol

5 Tom Brennan

6 Paul Starke (Guest for Danyon Hume)

7 Connor Bailey

-------

Image credit: Jon Sproad

Anyone who has a pre-purchased Children Under 16 GO FREE Online Ticket that is UNUSED it will be honoured.

Otherwise Children 11-16 will be £12 Seated + £10 Standing

Children Under 11 FREE

A reminder that any ONLINE Tickets purchased for earlier postponed attempts to stage this Fixture WILL BE VALID if not already used. You will need to bring Proof of original Purchase as all Tickets already used for other Fixtures will have been voided. If you have got a READMISSION Ticket for a Cash Purchase from the Abandoned Fixture on 23rd August, these CAN BE USED tomorrow Night. The Club would wish to make it clear that any unused Tickets must be used by tomorrow as they cannot be carried forwards to 2023.

As the original Fixture was scheduled during the period of "Kids Go Free" and a number of online Tickets were purchased on this basis for Under 16's, pre-purchased Tickets WILL BE honoured. Tickets are available ON THE GATE by Card / Cash with Normal Pricing of £12 for Children Aged 11 to 16 for NHS Stand Area and £10 All Other Areas.

Tickets are available ONLINE now via our Online Ticketing Portal https://plymouth-speedway.com/online-ticket-store/

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

--------

PLEASE NOTE - Access by Card payment at the Stadium is by accessing the Clubs Online Ticket portal on a suitable mobile / android device. There are no specific Card readers. If you do not have a suitable device to allow your secure Card payment to be collected on the Gate, or before you enter from the comfort of your Car in the Park + Ride Car Park (using the link https://plymouth-speedway.com/online-ticket-store/  ; there is a secure CASHPOINT at McDonalds Restaurant which you pass when turning in to Coypool Road

A POLITE REQUEST has been made by The Club Management and Turnstile / Entry Staff. It would be appreciated if you could please have EXACT CHANGE for Admission and Programme available if at all possible to avoid delays, especially at peak time between 6.15 and 7.00pm. It would also be very much appreciated, that if you are Entering by Car with multiple occupants, if one person in the vehicle; could collect the Money for Admission and any Programmes and the Car Park Fee to hand over to Gate Staff, as to process one overall transfer of Money will be a lot speedier than 2,3,4 or even 5 separate transactions. Your cooperation in this matter to help speed access for all and to avoid queues and to improve the Customer experience for all. THANK YOU

As always you can be the vital 8th man and the lads would very much welcome your vociferous and enthusiastic support once again, so please bring along a friend and help us to show everyone what a wonderful night of entertainment we get every Tuesday at 7 pm at The Coliseum.  The past few weeks have been tremendously difficult for us all with injuries, some controversial decisions going against us and some utterly mindless vandalism that will cost many thousands of pounds to replace let alone the stress it causes Mark and all of the wonderful support Team.

PLEASE rally around the Club and The Team, bring a friend and spread the word and remember UNDER 16's GO FREE (see the details above). Your support during 2022 has been incredible and we'd love to see the 2022 season finish in fine style. THANK YOU

Gates Open 5.30pm

Pre-Match Rider Parade 6.50pm

Tapes Up 7.00pm

There are numerous Food and Drink (Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic) outlets around the Stadium serving locally produced products.

Numerous Toilets / Disabled Toilets and Washing Facilities 

Our new for 2022 Track Shop is doing a roaring trade with NEW lines every week and well worth a visit.

Car Parking onsite £2.00

36 page Colour Programme £3.00

-------

We will have a full MATCH and Season Review online on Wednesday

The Plymouth SWTR Centurions closed their 2022 season with a 50 points to 40 home victory over the Armadale Devils last night.

The meeting produced some of the best NDL Racing seen at the venue in many years, with plenty of exciting racing and passing on a smooth track which had plenty of dirt out wide and which played to the strengths of some of the riders who were able to showcase their talents.

The home side were superbly led by recent recruit Adam Roynon with 15 points from 6 sides and he was given outstanding support by Richard Andrews who thrived in the track conditions he loves,  to score a season best 13 points from 6 rides showing some glimpses of his outstanding form of 2018 and 2019 in the process. 

The duo were ably supported by other recruits who arrived during the season in Rhys Naylor (7 points) and David Abrahams (6 points) both having returned to the Sport after considerable absences and showing improvement with each meeting. Adam Extance chipped in with 5 points and Ben Trigger with 4 points, to give the Home team a welcome win and a glimpse of what might have been after an injury and rider unavailability affected season at NDL level.

The Armadale Devils were superbly led by short term Westcolour Gladiators recruit Lee Complin who scored an outstanding 5 ride 15 point maximum, mostly earned from the back with some outstanding fence scraping rides that thrilled the home crowd. The Devils experienced pair of Danny Phillips (11 points) and Tom Wooley (7 points) provided good support too.

The quality of the racing on the excellently prepared track was a reminder of all that is good about racing at NDL level. The season started with the SWTR Gladiators confidently tipped for a strong season but the massive loss of No 1 Dan Gilkes in May,  robbed both them and the Westcolour Gladiators of an outstanding young rider in excellent form. 

This allied to the unexpected loss of Henry Atkins, who was confidently expected to have his best season at NDL level at the same time early in the season, but who withheld his services and sought opportunity elsewhere, was a hammer blow from which the SWTR Gladiators never really recovered. The fact that Atkins has rediscovered much of his undoubted form and enthusiasm at Oxford merely adds frustration that such high hopes were banished so early in the season.

The more experienced Richard Andrews and Adam Extance took time to find their full race fitness and form in their first full NDL seasons in 4 years and both Connor King and Eli Meadows suffered from loss of confidence and form in a struggling side and were released mid season. The progress of Naylor and Abrahams has added a lot of positivity on and off the track and is one of the more positive aspects of the season.  

Local prospect Ben Trigger has may be not quite made the progress that some expected, but a significant mid-season injury limited his track time and opportunities,  and he has shown enough glimpses of his form at home and away to suggest that with full fitness and a fuller schedule of matches he can continue to make significant progress in the sport. 

Ben Phillips came in too and did a sterling job for a while and both Ben Morley and Alfie Bowtell, from the Westcolour Gladiators Championship Team were big points scorers and gave outstanding efforts when called upon to replace the injured Gilkes as guest riders.

With the Sports AGM set for later in the Autumn and some significant changes likely to both the Premiership and Championship Leagues in terms of participating clubs, it remains to be seen what format the NDL will take in 2023 although the rumoured arrival of the newly built Northside (Workington) track is a very welcome development. 

Plymouth Speedway will therefore be considering all options at the time of the AGM but would like to thank everyone (Riders / Mechanics / Parents / Officials / Track Staff and Helpers) for their support of the SWTR Centurions and particularly South West Tyre Recycling for their outstanding financial backing and of course you wonderful Plymouth Speedway Supporters - THANK YOU.

A reminder that the final scheduled meeting of the 2022 season; the remaining Championship League Fixture against the Glasgow Tigers is scheduled for next Tuesday 11th October at 7.00pm . 

Plymouth Centurions = 50

1. R/R for Dan Gilkes (RN - 2, AR - 3, RA - 2, BT - 0) = 7

2. Ben Trigger - 0, 1, 2, 1’, 0 = 4+1

3. Rhys Naylor - 2, 1, 1’, 1, 2 = 7+1

4. Richard Andrews - 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 0 = 13

5. Adam Roynon - 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 = 15

6. Adam Extance - 2’, 1, 0, 2’ = 5+2

7. David Abraham - 3, 1, 1’, 1’ = 6+2

Armadale Devils = 40

1. Lee Complin - 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15 FULL MAXIMUM

2. Elliot Kelly - 1, 0, 3, 1, 0 = 5

3. Danny Phillips - 2, 2, 3, 3, 1 = 11

4. R/R for Josh Embleton (KW - 0, JL - 0, KW - 0, EK - 0) = 0

5. Tom Woolley - 2, 2, 2, 1 = 7

6. Kai Ward (G) - 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 = 2

7. James Laker (G) - 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0

Heat Results

Heat 01: Complin, Naylor, Kelly, Trigger 2-4, 52.19

Heat 02: Abraham, Extance, Ward, Laker 5-1, 7-5, 55.97

Heat 03: Andrews, Phillips, Naylor, Ward 4-2, 11-7, 53.25

Heat 04: Roynon, Woolley, Abraham, Laker 4-2, 15-9, 52.94

Heat 05: Complin, Andrews, Naylor, Kelly 3-3, 18-12, 52.90

Heat 06: Roynon, Woolley, Trigger, Ward 4-2, 22-14, 53.22

Heat 07: Roynon, Phillips, Extance, Laker 4-2, 26-16, 52.81

Heat 08: Kelly, Trigger, Abraham, Ward 3-3, 29-19, 53.69

Heat 09: Andrews, Woolley, Naylor, Laker 4-2, 33-21, 53.47

Heat 10: Phillips, Andrews, Trigger, Ward 3-3, 36-24, 53.15

Heat 11: Complin, Roynon, Kelly, Extance 2-4, 38-28, 52.69

Heat 12: Philips, Naylor, Abraham, Ward 3-3, 41-31, 53.69

Heat 13: Complin, Roynon, Woolley, Trigger 2-4, 43-35, 52.74

Heat 14: Andrews, Extance, Ward, Kelly 5-1, 48-36, 54.31

Heat 15: Complin, Roynon, Phillips, Andrews 2-4, 50-40, 52.47

Courtesy of Speedway Updates

Image Credit: Daniel Westlake

The Plymouth SWTR Centurions bring the curtain down on their NDL season at The Coliseum this evening (Tapes Up 7pm)

In a season that was badly affected by the devastating early season injury to No 1 Dan Gilkes and the loss of No 2 Henry Atkins who decided to seek opportunities elsewhere, the SWTR Centurions have seen a number of new and returning riders join them and have provided opportunity and a glimpse of undoubted potential from others on a number of occasions.

Their opponents, the Armadale Devils, have had a similarly frustrating season and their thriving Young Rider Development programme has also been rocked by the news that their Armadale home will have to close at the end of the season for long anticipated housing development. 

Everyone at Plymouth Speedway wishes the Edinburgh / Armadale Club the best of luck in finding a new home base for 2023, if not a speedy return in 2024.

Both sides are affected by injury and unavailability this evening, although The Centurions do welcome back Ben Trigger after his recent leg injury. The Devils bring in Kai Ward and James Laker to guest at reserve for Gregor Millar (unavailable) and Kyran Lyden (injured) whilst Josh Embleton also misses out with injury, with R/R in operation.

Plymouth SWTR Centurions

1 R/R for Dan Gilkes

2 Ben Trigger

3 Rhys Naylor

4 Richard Andrews

5 Adam Roynon

6 Adam Extance

7 David Abraham

Armadale Devils

1 Lee Complin

2 Elliott Kelly

3 Danny Phillips

4 R/R for Josh Embleton

5 Tom Wooley

6 Kai Ward

7 James Laker

A reminder that Tickets can be purchased by CASH or CARD on the night and Gates Open at 5.30pm / Parade 6.50pm / Tapes Up at 7.00pm

NDL Ticket prices apply

All Areas:

Adults - £15.00

Children 11-15 - £8.00

Children - Under 11 - FREE

Car Parking at Stadium - £2.00

Programme - £3.00

Image Credit: Jon Sproad