2025

Plymouth Centurions new Team Manager Barry Bishop said he is thrilled to be in the job and cannot wait to work with the team that has been put together in the National Development Trophy.

Barry said, “When Plymouth’s promoter Mark Phillips asked me if I would do the job I was slightly torn due to my long standing friendship with Mark and my other hat as Isle of Wight’s co-promoter with Martin Widman, but it didn’t take me long to realise that it could be a good thing for both of us.

I am delighted with the team that we have put together that has both experience and youth in it, exactly what the sport should be trying to achieve at his level. 

I have known all of our team for most of their time riding speedway and watched them develop their career. It’s great that the Centurions will be led by Joe Thompson, Ben Trigger, Matt Marson, who have all grown in the sport over the last couple of years. 

Their experience will be priceless for our more junior riders and I know the season with Mark and I at the Centurions will only develop them further in the sport.

Working with our team leaders I cannot wait to realise the potential of Morgan Williams, Kai Ward, and 15 year olds Ryan Ingram and Charlie Southwick.  I have worked with all of these before on the Isle of Wight and some over many years so I am truly thrilled to take them to the next level of speedway. I hope they take this opportunity to really grow, learn, maximise their potential and produce some great results for the club.

We also have a list of 15 years old that have come through My First Skid Speedway School who will be invited to do second halves and hopefully knock on the team door and be ready to step in in case of injury.

We are in for a great season at Plymouth and I cannot wait to get started.”

The countdown is on to the Championship Big Weekend – with line-ups declared for two massive meetings in early April.

The action gets underway at Workington’s GT Tyres Arena on Saturday April 5 (3pm) as the Comets host the Championship Pairs, whilst 24 hours later the focus switches to the Eddie Wright Raceway at Scunthorpe for the Championship League Riders’ Championship (April 6, 3pm).

All clubs have declared their combinations for the Pairs, which sees Redcar defending the title they clinched in dramatic circumstances over Oxford at Cowley last year.

Bears skipper Charles Wright is back for the Teesside outfit, who are chasing a third Pairs crown in four years, and this time he will be joined by returning German star Erik Riss.

Newly installed Oxford skipper Sam Masters also has a new partner in 2025 as Jordan Jenkins joins him for the Cheetahs.

Glasgow were Pairs champions in 2024 and skipper Chris Harris will once again lead the Tigers, this time alongside new signing Kyle Howarth.

Hosts Workington are represented by new captain Troy Batchelor along with spectacular youngster Tate Zischke, who is back from the injuries which ended his season last summer.

Former Comets No.1 Craig Cook lines up alongside Peter Kildemand with both riders joining Berwick over the winter, whilst Nicolai Klindt (Plymouth), Lewis Kerr (Poole) and Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe) all make their first appearances of 2025 for their new clubs.

Justin Sedgmen is back from injury for Edinburgh, and he partners captain Paco Castagna.

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS LINE-UP (Not in draw order):

BERWICK: Peter Kildemand, Craig Cook

EDINBURGH: Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna

GLASGOW: Chris Harris, Kyle Howarth

OXFORD: Sam Masters, Jordan Jenkins

PLYMOUTH: Nicolai Klindt, Ben Barker

POOLE: Lewis Kerr, Zach Cook

REDCAR: Charles Wright, Erik Riss

SCUNTHORPE: Steve Worrall, Simon Lambert

WORKINGTON: Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke

Meanwhile, four previous winners are named in the line-up for the Championship League Riders’ Championship at Scunthorpe – with two riders going for a third victory overall.

Oxford’s Sam Masters was victorious in 2011 and 2022, representing Somerset and Edinburgh respectively, whilst new Berwick signing Craig Cook won the meeting in 2012 and 2018 in the colours of Edinburgh and then Glasgow.

Also included in the field are 2019 winner Erik Riss, who is back with Redcar this season, along with his Bears team-mate Charles Wright who was victorious in 2023.

Chris Harris (Glasgow), Danny King (Redcar) and Poole duo Richard Lawson and Lewis Kerr have all been rostrum finishers in recent seasons and will be looking to take the top step at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Hosts Scunthorpe have two representatives with Steve Worrall and Jake Allen taking their place along with Scorpions racer from last year Kyle Howarth, who has joined Glasgow.

CLRC DRAW: 1 Craig Cook (Berwick), 2 Jake Allen (Scunthorpe), 3 Justin Sedgmen (Edinburgh), 4 Ben Barker (Plymouth), 5 Sam Masters (Oxford), 6 Kyle Howarth (Glasgow) 7 Danny King (Redcar), 8 Steve Worrall (Scunthorpe), 9 Troy Batchelor (Workington), 10 Richard Lawson (Poole), 11 Dan Thompson (Glasgow), 12 Erik Riss (Redcar) 13 Lewis Kerr (Poole), 14 Chris Harris (Glasgow), 15 Charles Wright (Redcar), 16 Peter Kildemand (Berwick).

Plymouth Centurions have been forced into a team change before the season has started with news that Chad Wirtzfeld unfortunately cannot ride for the club in 2025 due to new work commitments.

Team Manager Barry Bishop said, “I am gutted that Chad cannot ride for the Centurions in 2025 as I have worked with him for so long now and really know how to get the best from him.

However, I do understand that sometimes work has to come first for some riders and I hope that we can include Chad in some meetings in the future. 

As always, when one door closes another is opened and we are thrilled to announce that Matt Marson will replace Chad in the side. Matt is someone I have known for a few years now and have watched his progress from a distance. 

I am sure the extra rides he will be at Plymouth in the NDT will enhance his riding greatly and I very much look forward to having a rider with his experience in the team”.

Matt added, “I’m delighted to be joining the Centurions in Plymouth for the National Development Trophy. It looks like they have put together an interesting team and I am looking forward to help Mark and Barry push for a trophy for the club. I cannot wait to get down to Plymouth to meet the fans and track team. Here’s to a great 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

The Plymouth Centurions National Development Trophy fixtures against The Birmingham Bulls, The King’s Lynn Young Stars, the Leicester Fox Cubs and the Kent Eagles have been confirmed.  Home fixtures are shown below in Capitals.  The Gladiators are also delighted to be hosting the British Under 21 Qualifier in April

April

TUES 29 BRITISH U21 QUALIFIER

June

Sunday 15th  Kent Eagles v Centurions (NDT)

Monday 23  Birmingham Bulls V Centurions (NDT)

SAT 28th CENTURIONS v BIRMINGHAM BULLS (NDT)

July

SAT 12th CENTURIONS V KINGS LYNN YOUNG STARS (NDT)

August

Sunday 3rd  – Leicester Fox Cubs v Centurions (NDT)

TUES 12TH CENTURIONS V LEICESTER FOX CUBS (NDT)

Wed  13 – King’s Lynn Young Stars v Centurions Plymouth (NDT)

SAT 30TH CENTURIONS V KENT EAGLES (NDT)

A complete list of home fixtures for both The Gladiators and The Centurions can be seen below.