Injury disaster for The Gladiators

The injury ravaged Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators suffered further woes on their travels, losing both Ben Barker and Alfie Bowtell in the Jubilee League clash against the Oxford Cheetahs.

Already missing Michael Palm Toft, Hans Andersen and Harry McGurk, along with long term injury victims Dan Gilkes and Edward Kennett, The Gladiators number one, Ben Barker was then withdrawn ahead of the meeting, after being declared medically unfit to race.

Further disaster then struck immediately in the opening heat, which saw Alfie Bowtell also withdrawn from the meeting after suffering a knee ligament injury following a first bend crash.

Down to four riders for the entire meeting, the remaining Gladiators fought valiantly against The Cheetahs, going down 56-34. Guest Josh Pickering scored a stunning 17 points, with fellow guest James Wright 8, Ben Morley 3+1 and guest Jake Mulford scoring a credible 6 points.

Full report to follow.

Oxford Cheetahs = 56

1. Scott Nicholls : 3, 3, 3, 3 = 12

2. Paul Starke : 2*, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1* = 9+2

3. Jack Thomas R/R : CH 3, CH 3, CH 1*, PS 2 = 9+1

4. Aaron Summers : 2*, 2*, 2, 3, 2 = 11+2

5. Troy Batchelor : 2, 2, 3, 2* = 9+1

6. Cameron Heeps : 3, 3, 3, 0, 1*, 1, 2* = 13+2

7. Nathan Stoneman (G) : 0, 1*, EX, 1* = 2+2

Plymouth Gladiators = 34

1. Ben Barker : WITHDRAWN PRE MEETING 

2. Alfie Bowtell : WITHDRAWN = 0

3. Edward Kennett R/R  : – , JP 3, JM 0, JW 3 = 6

4. James Wright (G): 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 0 = 8

5. Josh Pickering (G) : 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 3 = 17

6. Ben Morley : 0, 1*, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0 = 3+1

7. Jake Mulford (G) : 1, 2, 0, 3, 0, 0, 0 = 6

Heat Results

Heat 01: Nicholls,Starke,Mulford,Morley 5-1 58.81

Heat 02: Heeps,Mulford,Morley,Stoneman 3-3 (8-4) 59.96

Heat 03: Heeps,Summers,Wright 5-1 (13-5) 59.81

Heat 04: Pickering,Batchelor,Stoneman,Mulford 3-3 (16-8) 59.84

Heat 05: Heeps,Summers,Morley 5-1 (21-9) 60.25

Heat 06: Nicholls,Pickering,Starke,Morley 4-2 (25-11) 59.00

Heat 07: Pickering,Batchelor,Wright,Heeps 2-4 (27-15) 59.18

Heat 08: Mulford,Starke,Morley,Stoneman (EX) 2-4 (29-19) 60.97

Heat 09: Pickering,Summers,Heeps,Morley 3-3 (32-22) 59.68

Heat 10: Nicholls,Wright,Starke,Mulford 4-2 (36-24) 59.41

Heat 11: Batchelor,Pickering,Heeps,Morley 4-2 (40-26) 60.69

Heat 12: Wright,Starke,Stoneman,Mulford 3-3 (43-29) 61.12

Heat 13: Nicholls,Batchelor,Pickering 5-1 (48-30) 59.87

Heat 14: Summers,Heeps,Wright,Mulford 5-1 (53-31) 61.00

Heat 15: Pickering,Summers,Starke,Wright 3-3 (56-34) 59.80

Courtesy of Speedway Updates.

Image Credit: Jon Sproad