drew2

I was a Somerset Rebels fan throughout their existence (plus a speedway fan before too) and like so many around the country lost my local team to support. Post covid I made the odd trip down to Plymouth as I thought this would be better than nothing and the kids still loved going, now we are getting down there as often as we can and have made the 160 odd mile round trip for all three meetings this season. The improvements the promotion have make are amazing over the years and the track is wider and although not much passing last night the opportunities are there to explore much more than they were 5/6 years back. I have never watched a BSN stream from Plymouth as I prefer to be there and am lucky enough to be able to do that regularly. My 18 year old daughter is now part of the previously mentioned Plymouth Media team which has really stepped up in the past two seasons with Andy Hague and Sam Whitfield leading the way on this giving the youngsters a chance to deliver this as they now do. We even had to with for my daughter to interview Garry May afterwards before we could leave for home last night. Yes the air bags do take a while to swop out but it needs to happen for rider safety. Mark Phillips, the Promoter/owner/track curator amongst many other roles he undertakes, was front and centre getting this sorted again last night. With the first one complete I spotted him putting his 'Promoters' tie back on after completing the task! Rob Doran (clerk of the course) actually was interviewed and explained the issues they to deal with in making the changes. Both times the air bags were popped were straight after track grades and watering so the track dried out during the delays meaning it needed more work. soon after. Ok it took a while but it happens sometimes at speedway, will it stop me going again? - definitely not! I got home at 11.35pm but was in work at 6.50am to do an 11 hour shift in the pro shop at the golf club. The golf club members know I'm more likely to know the speedway results around the country than who won the latest professional golf tournament! My sister, brother in law and niece all came along to the Coliseum for the first time last night and my niece is already asking when she can go again. I know a lot of you moan about the kids race but it is brilliant to see so many wanting to take part each week. I was stood near Scott and Danny at the pit gate whilst waiting for my son and niece to return and overheard them saying how good it is to see so many out there. Long may it continue and maybe one week the dog will follow the whole track rather than cutting across the top bend! I enjoyed last night, as did those with me, and the atmosphere is growing meeting by meeting down in Devon. See you all you Gladiators again in a couple of weeks when Scunny are down.

They had rain mid afternoon and then watered the track twice as the strong wind was drying it out so quickly and then at 6.20ish it poured down for a good ten minutes. Track was wet but one team adapted and one didn't! Klima did an unintentional 180 on the parade lap on bend four and ended up looked directly back at Scott Nicholls I think who was behind him! He obviously learnt quickly what he needed to do to get round though as he was superb last night. In heat one Masters got himself in a pickle on bend two but Danny and Joe seemingly had no issues in either running of the heat. Killeen was a little over excited chasing the Gladiators down into the start of the last lap and came off. I'm no mechanical expert but with 40+ years of watching speedway it looked like they had their setups wrong for the conditions although both teams did their track walks before it rained. Only Anders Rowe didn't fall off or get excluded in any of his rides for a Cheetah's side that I was expecting more from. Tom Spencer was the only Plymouth rider to struggle and he openly admitted that was down to inexperience when interviewed at the end of the meeting after he came out for some extra practice afterwards. Barker rode sensibly for a pretty simple four ride max, avoiding the slippery parts of the track when required to do so in heat 3 but still winning comfortably. That was the biggest win I have seen from a Plymouth team since converting from being a Rebel post covid and it reminded me a little of watching Exeter at the County Ground at times with a home side dominant and an away side not really that interested! Well done to Mark Phillips, Garry May and the rest of the backroom team down at Plymouth for the continued improvement on and off the track for the club. Will be back for more in a couple of weeks time when Glasgow come to Devon, that regular 160 mile round trip to the Coliseum doesn't seem very far nowadays!

Congratulations Redcar Bears!

Scott Nicholls back to Plymouth in 2026 then👍

That is correct, announced at stadium but no reason given as to what's up with Alfie.

That was the same Somerset fan who made the post Singy13! Good to meet you!

Enjoyed our first visit to Northside and as like someone said before reminded me a bit of the Oak Tree Arena in terms of the setup. Great setup and viewing all round, well done to the promotion. Racing wasn't great as track was slick and only real pass on the outside I can remember was in the 125 race! Grahn did get round the outside off bend 2 in ht15 though to complete an impressive evening for him. Nice to have a chat to Dan Bewley as well plus the kids both got pics with him. My son enjoyed the kids race too, not as busy as the Coliseum version he is used to but still good. Probably the only thing I'd say was disappointing was the lack of contact available with riders in the meeting both before and after. Certainly plenty of space to do this there, maybe we are just spoilt at Plymouth with the access they afford. Overall an enjoyable night with a couple of knowledgeable locals to chat to alongside me (a few accent issues though!) and i'd certainly like to come back in the future although it's a long way from Somerset!

Horrible crash in heat 3 for Ben and Joe. Best wishes to both of them. Ben just has no luck with injuries and that a couple of big knocks for Joe in the last 7 days after his big off at the Coliseum last Saturday too. The rest battled hard to keep it going as a contest until the later stages when they just ran out of options. Effectively that first 150 metres of heat 3 ended any hopes Plymouth had. First visit to Redcar and very impressed with the setup and a friendly welcome. Luckily haven't got that long trip home as staying up north for a trip to Workington tomorrow. Garry's going to be busy on the phone on his way back South trying to find a combination of 6 riders to represent the Gladiators tomorrow night. I reckon only Scott and Alfie will be there from the declared 1-7. If anyone can sort it Gazza can though.

All a bit FTG at the moment! Bloke sat behind me thinks first one out the second bend wins all the time, he ain't wrong so far.

£20 in the Colin Hill Stand or anywhere apart from the NHS stand. £23 in the NHS seats on home straight. Students £10 and kids go free I think. Car parking at Coliseum £2 and programme £3.

Doesn't rate in my top three of 2025 and I've only visited four tracks so far!

First and last visit to Perry Barr last night! As a Somerset and now a Plymouth fan I saw my best meeting of the season so far at the Coliseum on Saturday and possibly the worst one last night! Gate and go by Sheffield for easy easy win but Birmingham just couldn't make a start. Track was awful, was stood between start gate and first bend in front of the grandstand and it was like Motocross bumping into bend one. Quite amazed only Jeppesen fell! I can imagine the Barker nomination in heat 15 was that he was up for it when others weren't. You always get max effort from Ben but it certainly wasn't a surface that he thrives on! My son said when are they using a tac sub but in honesty it wouldn't have made any difference. Probably the easiest max Jack has ever scored and probably same goes for Leon too. Picko was good value as always and managed one of the only passes of the night around the outside. Finally the guy on the centre green, how quicky did he want to announce the riders on parade and why bother talking over the final lap of a race????

I thought I saw someone who looked like you at Oxford yesterday, it probably was you it seems!

I don't think Hagon is heading to Devon (well not every week anyway!).

Pretty much spot on Cornishman I reckon. I was stood on the back straight and as they entered bend three Jenkins took Patrick's leg away and was so close to Joe had to turn left over the white line. At that point Jenkins was excluded in my eyes and the rest is unfortunate for Joe as much as anyone as may have ended up with some broken bones and a bent bike whilst winning a race. I am guessing the non awarding of the 5-0 at that point also cost Joe his 3 points in ££'s as well. Hooky probably didn't mind though! Good to see them all walk away too. I actually said to Gazza afterwards that it was lucky he hadn't done his usual reserve swapping bringing Hook in for Baek in Heat 14 as he wouldn't have been able to field two fit riders. Patrick's excellent ride in heat nine to beat Anders, which he most certainly enjoyed, saved that happening! The heat 5 call was baffling to say the least even as a Gladiators fan?? Can't explain that one but didn't think Jack knocked Baek off. Good meeting overall, far more passing than I saw at Poole last Wednesday. Bomber was classy as always and think the unofficial Cornish Championship was two apiece in the end! Bomber certainly explored some of the outer limits of the 3rd and 4th bend and it is starting to work a little bit more now as it beds in. Thought Mark had the track looking pretty good last night.