Gladiators v Pirates – Meeting Postponed
The BSN series clash between The Gladiators and The Poole Pirates (11th April) has been postponed due to the weather forecast in the Plymouth area tomorrow.
Th restaging date is to be confirmed.
The BSN series clash between The Gladiators and The Poole Pirates (11th April) has been postponed due to the weather forecast in the Plymouth area tomorrow.
Th restaging date is to be confirmed.
The Plymouth Prow Park Gladiators get their 2023 season underway this coming Tuesday, the 11th of April, when they take on The Poole Pirates in the BSN series.
Gates open at 5.45pm, with tapes up at 7pm. Admission is by cash at the gate.
The Poole Pirates took the four team tournament victory in the Paul Starke testimonial. Richie Worrall took the crown in the individual final, with fellow Gladiators Kyle Howarth second and Paul Starke third.
Heat results:
Plymouth Gladiators = 20 THIRD
1. Ben Barker – 2, R, 2, 2 = 6
2. Dan Gilkes – 1, 2, 2, 1 = 6
3. Jake Turner – F, 0, 0, F = 0
4. Kyle Howarth – 1, 3, 2, 2 = 8 SECOND
Cradley Heathens = 18
1. Paul Starke – 2, 3, 1, 0 = 6 THIRD
2. Alfie Bowtell – 1, 1, 3, 0 = 5
3. Adam Roynon – 1, 1, 1, 0 = 3
4. Luke Killeen – 0, 1, 0, 3 = 4
Poole Pirates = 30 WINNERS
1. Richie Worrall – 2, 2, 3, 3 = 10 WINNER
2. Danyon Hume – 3, 1, 1, 2 = 7
3. Kyle Newman – 2, 2, 3, 3 = 10
4. Ben Trigger – 0, 0, 1, 2 = 3
Somerset Rebels = 28 SECOND
1. Charles Wright – 3, 3, 3, 1 = 10
2. James Wright – 3, 3, 2, 3 = 11
3. Lee Complin – 3, 2, F, 1 = 6
4. Mattie Bates – F, 0, R, 1 = 1
Heat Results
Heat 01: J. Wright, Starke, Howarth, Trigger 52.38
Heat 02: C. Wright, Newman, Bowtell, Turner (F) 52.31
Heat 03: Complin, Worrall, Gilkes, Killeen 52.55
Heat 04: Hume, Barker, Roynon, Bates (F) 52.69
Heat 05: Howarth, Worrall, Bowtell, Bates 50.75
Heat 06: Starke, Complin, Hume, Turner 53.63
Heat 07: C. Wright, Gilkes, Roynon, Trigger 52.66
Heat 08: J. Wright, Newman, Killeen, Barker (R) 53.09
Heat 09: C. Wright, Howarth, Hume, Killeen 51.53
Heat 10: Worrall, J. Wright, Roynon, Turner 51.97
Heat 11: Newman, Gilkes, Starke, Bates (R) 52.97
Heat 12: Bowtell, Barker, Trigger, Complin (F) 52.21
Heat 13: Killeen, Trigger, Bates, Turner (F) 54.00
Heat 14: Newman, Howarth, Complin, Roynon 53.10
Heat 15: J. Wright, Hume, Gilkes, Bowtell 52.41
Heat 16: Worrall, Barker, C. Wright, Starke 53.00
Individual Final Re-Run: Worrall, Howarth, Starke 52.22
Courtesy of Speedway Updates
Image credit: Gladiators TV
The Plymouth Gladiators Press and Practice day takes place this coming Saturday, the 1st April (midday- 4pm)
Season Ticket Holders get early access to the day, with fans who have ordered Season Tickets able collect them from the Track Shop from 11.00.
General public entry is from 12:00
The 2023 speedway season gets underway at Coliseum this coming Tuesday, the 4th of April, with the Paul Starke Testimonial meeting.
The four team tournament celebrates over 10 ten years of Paul’s British speedway career, and features The Plymouth Gladiators, The Cradley Heathens, The Somerset Rebels and The Poole Pirates.
Gates open at 5.45pm, with the event starting at 7pm.
Prices: Adults £20 (seated) £18 Standing, children 11-16 years old £10
Press and Practice
Season Ticket Holders get early access to Press and Practice day, which takes place this coming Saturday, the 1st April (midday- 4pm)
Fans who have ordered Season Tickets can collect them from the Track Shop from 11.00.
General public entry is from 12:00
Plymouth Gladiators have filled the seventh and final spot in their team for 2023 by recruiting New Zealander Jake Turner at reserve.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Auckland, recently came second in the National Karate South Australia championship to Rory Schlein and that qualifies him for a Visa to race in the UK for the summer.
With the Gladiators searching the globe for the final piece of their jigsaw for the new season, they approached Turner to join for the summer – and he wasted no time in saying yes.
“I am delighted to get signed up and can’t wait to get going,” Turner said. “I moved over to Australia two years ago from New Zealand on my own, away from my family and I just wanted to work towards the state final and then try and get something over there (the UK) so it has worked out good. It should be a fantastic opportunity.
“I rode in the state finals and then I woke up next morning and had a message from Garry May. I was pretty stoked about it and looking at the team, it looks a strong team, so I hope we can do things this year.”
Turner will come in at reserve, where he will join Plymouth’s very own Ben Trigger, while the top five certainly look strong with Kyle Howarth, Richie Worrall, Ben Barker, Paul Starke and Dan Gilkes on board for the new campaign which starts with Starke’s testimonial meeting at the Coliseum on Tuesday, April 4.
“Riding in the UK is something I have wanted to do since I started racing and when the opportunity came up, it was difficult to say no,” Turner added. “Every time I go out there, I want to win, I don’t like losing at anything, so I will put it all out there every time and try and win as much as possible or, if not, team riding, because that is just as valuable and looking out for your team-mates.”
Although this is Turner’s first crack at it with a club in the UK, he has ridden at Plymouth before.
“A couple of years ago a friend was riding at Somerset and I came over with him just for a little holiday and I had a go around Plymouth. It was good to get some prep time around there, so I am a little bit familiar with it, yeah.” Turner added.
“It was good, we have a track back home in New Zealand that is quite small as well and I used to rise that a little bit, so it wasn’t too much of a shock being a little smaller than usual, so I think we will be fine around there.”
Turner will also arrive in good shape as well having spent the winter riding in Australia. He is bringing his own motor, but has also purchased plenty of equipment from James Sargent.
“I have bought some equipment of James Sargent and I have an engine over here that I am going to bring over,” he said. “I think there’s a practice at Scunthorpe on the 11th, which I want to get over there for, and then on the 25th at Plymouth, so I’ll be able to synch up James’ bikes and if they aren’t quite what I usually ride, then I will chuck my own motor on that I know is good and works everywhere.
Looking ahead to the season – and outlining his targets and aspirations for the year – Turner said: “I want to do well for myself – and for the team, of course. It would be nice to get out of the reserve rankings towards the end of the season, but I want to hit my average every time and at every track we go to, I want to score good points, I don’t want to give away any points anywhere I go.”
Image credits: Judy Mackay
The British Speedway Championship is delighted to announce a league sponsorship deal for the 2023 season with Cab Direct, the UK’s leading taxi supplier.
Through the deal, the league will be renamed the ‘Cab Direct Championship’ and the taxi specialist will use its extensive communications channels to help publicise speedway to tens of thousands of taxi drivers throughout the UK.
Established in 1996, Cab Direct is the UK’s top taxi supplier. The company serves hackney and private hire operators and drivers across the country with both standard and special purpose vehicles, to meet the needs of taxi trade professionals.
Cab Direct Marketing Director Donald Pow said: “Speedway represents an ideal partner for a brand like ours.
“We’ve learned down the years that many of the UK’s hard-working taxi drivers are fans of all things on wheels, whether that be driving, maintaining vehicles or following motorsport.
“Speedway may not be as big as Formula One but it’s every bit as exciting!
“With clubs from Plymouth to Edinburgh and Scunthorpe to Berwick, speedway is a working-class sport that offers nationwide coverage, which makes it a perfect fit with Cab Direct and our thousands of loyal customers.”
Customers of Cab Direct will now be able to follow this year’s Championship through the company’s social media, events and website.
And in addition to the Cab Direct branding which will be in place around the nine Championship venues, look out for some exciting new competition prizes!
BSP Ltd Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “We’re delighted to have reached this agreement with Cab Direct to sponsor the league for 2023.
“Cab Direct is a major national business with a great reputation and its backing can only help us attract more new customers to discover the amazing sport of speedway.
“As well as exposure to thousands of taxi operators around the UK, every taxi driver talks to thousands more customers every year, so having them on board is a brilliant way to spread the word about speedway!”
More information about Cab Direct can be found at www.cabdirect.com, which also contains links to the company’s social media channels.
The league is proud to launch the Cab Direct Championship, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead and a successful partnership.
Background image Credit: Jon Sproad