Paul Starke joins The Gladiators

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.