Gladiators v Cheetahs – Meeting Preview
Raceday update:
The Gladiators have drafted in Paul Starke to replace Chris Harris who is feeling unwell.
The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators return home to The Coliseum on Tuesday night seeking to maintain their excellent unbeaten Home run in the Championship League.
With two of the title favourites the Leicester Lions and the Poole Pirates comprehensively beaten in recent weeks, together with the Scunpthorpe Scorpions and an Away win at Scunthorpe and a narrow defeat on Friday night at Glasgow, the Westcolour Gladiators will be hoping to maintain their home record against the Oxford Cheetahs who have made a return to the sport following an absence of well over a decade and whose first few Fixtures have been to sell out Crowds of 2000 spectators.
The Cheetahs are managed by the Devon born Speedway legend Jason Crump who we are sure will get a warm welcome back at The Coliseum, following his injury ravaged spell with the Gladiators last season, together with Co-Manager Peter Shroeck.
The Cheetahs will prove a stern test with their Team being led by ex GP Star and now GP Media Star and 7 times British Champion the hugely popular Scott Nicholls. Scott has always been a magician on smaller technical tracks and is sure to be a formidable opponent.
He is backed by the mercurial Troy Batchelor, a former GP rider and former Australian and Elite League Individual Champion and an Elite League Team winner with the Swindon Robins in 2019.
Cameron Heeps an experienced Australian international and former West Australian State Champion who has won a number of British Speedway Team honours is joined in the engine room of the Cheetahs side by the always popular Kyle Newman, a former Plymouth Devil who has won Team titles in all three British Leagues and who of course won National 4 Team Title honours in the days of the Devils under Lee Trigger a few seasons ago.
The Cheetahs septet is completed by the rapidly improving Jack Thomas, who many think is always the standout best young British improver of the 2022 season and Dillon Ruml, who will need no introduction returning to the Coliseum following his debut UK season with The Gladiators in 2021.
With the unfortunate Josh McDonald who suffered a broken leg injury a few weeks ago having struggled in a comeback attempt at the weekend, the Cheetahs call in a very well known face at no 7 in the shape of former Gladiator Nathan Stoneman, whose all action style has thrilled the Gladiators fans in the past.
The injury ravaged Westcolour Gladiators will again call on Chris “Bomber” Harris to cover the No 1 spot in the continued absence of Edward Kennett, who has a significant appointment with medical experts on the 17th May to assess the nerve and tendon damage to his already plated arm injury, whilst Ben Morley, who was in excellent form for the Westcolour Gladiators last Tuesday, again deputises for the injured Dan Gilkes, who remians in hospital in Scunthorpe.
Dan’s family have reported some significant progress with his collapsed lung, he is now breathing on his own without ventilation and once the specialists are happy with his lung capacity, they will seek to operate on his multiple arm fractures.
The Westcolour Gladiators will bring in the hugely popular Richard Andrews in the No 7 slot to replace Henry Atkins, who has decided to seek opportunities elsewhere in British Speedway. Richard is hugely popular at The Coliseum and guarantees entertainment on and off the Track and he’ll be eager to make a significant contribution to the Team.
With the buzz and anticipation growing by the week following the Clubs excellent start to the season another healthy Crowd is anticipated and you can guarantee a Seat and easy access by purchasing Tickets ONLINE prior to the Event here.
A reminder that you can pay on the night by CASH + CARD at all Speedway Fixtures at Plymouth in 2022.
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.
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
The widely acclaimed GLADIATORS TV will not be running for this Fixture as the Fixture has been chosen for screening by the British Speedway Network (BSN) and full details can be found here.
Image credit: Jon Sproad