Plymouth 2025

[Chef1]

15 minutes ago, lewy said:

Maybe Plymouth are ready and the deal is done,just not released details yet. I think most Plymouth fans know who the final rider is not my place to post anything I only like revealing Poole's riders before they do😉

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A4bfgq3dP/?
 

Ben T it is then.

[HGould]

45 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

I have to admit I keep trying not to put overly sarcastic comments on their FB posts about the last rider, when they put out an "are you ready for the 2025 season" video, I wanted to reply "ARE YOU?" Then when they have their UK weather chase special event which mentions "meet the riders" I wanted to reply HOW MANY?

So tried to reply with gentle reminders that they still need a 7th rider, without appearing to slag them off too much.

Reading between the lines they just wanted the rider to be able to weigh in on some scales rather than the local weighbridge.

Reference to fitness and professionalism suggest they wanted a more focused rider.

Rumours he's down to Cruiserweight and heading to light heavyweight. 

[Marky_Mark]

1 hour ago, HGould said:

Reading between the lines they just wanted the rider to be able to weigh in on some scales rather than the local weighbridge.

Reference to fitness and professionalism suggest they wanted a more focused rider.

Rumours he's down to Cruiserweight and heading to light heavyweight. 

Does the same apply to Ben Barker then?

[Sargent10]

1 hour ago, HGould said:

Reading between the lines they just wanted the rider to be able to weigh in on some scales rather than the local weighbridge.

Reference to fitness and professionalism suggest they wanted a more focused rider.

Rumours he's down to Cruiserweight and heading to light heavyweight. 

Extremely poor taste comment, good lad is Ben and he will be okay imho 

[Marky_Mark]

15 minutes ago, Sargent10 said:

Extremely poor taste comment, good lad is Ben and he will be okay imho 

It wasn’t meant in bad taste at all so apologies if it came across that way. I think it’s totally fair that if they’ve asked Ben Trigger to work on his fitness and professionalism to ask the same about Ben Barker, and I mean it in the nicest way that last year was a poor year for Barker who has ridden at the very top of this sport and if Plymouth are to have a good season then they will really need Ben B to step up and become the 2nd heat leader and increase his average. 
 

I agree that Ben B is a great rider to watch and always gives it 110 percent, I’m also pleased to see Ben T get a championship place and hope the gladiators have a great season. 

[Bellers101]

So after all the speculation about a shock ace in the pack signing at number 7 it's Trigger.

To be fair though he left Redcar a better rider than he was when he joined.

 

[Diamonds85]

All of that for that... 😐 good signing but why did it take 3 and a half decades to announce 😆

[lewy]

9 hours ago, Diamonds85 said:

All of that for that... 😐 good signing but why did it take 3 and a half decades to announce 😆

There were mitigating circumstances if you read the press release. 

[ExiledAce]

3 of us coming up from Penzance for the first meeting next month, 2 newbies and me [I first started watching Belle Vue in 1972] have lived down here for 30+ years so somewhat of a lapsed fan, watch on TV so kept up with they sport. Hoping it will turn in to a regular visit. 

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him.

I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb.

I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc.

Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

Edited yesterday at 07:56 PM by TheWellBehavedWorrall

[lewy]

3 minutes ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him.

I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb.

I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc.

Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

You can never right ben off,he as good as anyone on his day.

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him.

I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb.

I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc.

Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

If Barker did in fact drop his average the most, then what did the BSN do wrong?

I'm sure they also posted the biggest improvers. So just honest journalism really.

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

3 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

If Barker did in fact drop his average the most, then what did the BSN do wrong?

I'm sure they also posted the biggest improvers. So just honest journalism really.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did.

They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

3 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

If Barker did in fact drop his average the most, then what did the BSN do wrong?

I'm sure they also posted the biggest improvers. So just honest journalism really.

I didn’t say they did anything wrong; I said they did him dirty which they did.

They can write what they want, but I was pleased to see him respond with two great performances.

[Robinh88]

1 hour ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him.

I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb.

I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc.

Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

Agree with this. Easy to forget he was the top average in 2011 and 2012 as well. 

He has always come across well in interviews and is a good team man.

[jbell1995]

13 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure watching and listening to Ben Barker over these past two days. Well done, him.

I thought BSN did him absolutely dirty during the winter when they posted that media which showed him to have the biggest drop in average in 2024, so I was delighted to see him in amongst it at Workington and Scunthorpe. Signing-off qualifying and securing a semi-final spot with a heat 20 win against Thompson, Masters and Harris was superb.

I also found his pit side interviews with Greg Blair to be really insightful; he gives you nuggets of information a fan wouldn’t consider. For example, there were seven heats between his first and second rides, but with no other Plymouth rider competing, he was at a disadvantage because every other rider had a teammate present, advising on how the track is developing, the best lines, etc.

Well done, Ben. A great weekend.

Ben is an entertainer. I love having a chat with him on Gladiators TV because you're always learning something. He's passionate about the club and will be desperate to right some wrongs of recent seasons. As you point out, his average has dropped but surely, of all the riders in the league, he's got most scope to improve his average? If he stays injury free, I can see him putting two points on his average at least by the end of the season

[Biffa]

Bit of a silly question but would appreciate a sensible answer, is it Plymouth who need sponsors or Ben Barker & Nikolai Klindt. Just with Sponsors Needed across their chests on Saturday times must be tight. 

[lewy]

8 minutes ago, Biffa said:

Bit of a silly question but would appreciate a sensible answer, is it Plymouth who need sponsors or Ben Barker & Nikolai Klindt. Just with Sponsors Needed across their chests on Saturday times must be tight. 

Plymouth are looking for a main team sponsor .

[crescent girl]

1 hour ago, lewy said:

Plymouth are looking for a main team sponsor .

Putting the word out, front and centre at the weekend was a cute way of advertising the vacancy.  Hope it works for them.