PRESS RELEASE – issued October 29

Plymouth 50 Edinburgh 43
Premier League
St Boniface Arena, Friday October 28

PLYMOUTH captain Ben Barker rounded off the home Premier League programme in style with a 15-point maximum as the Devils collected their ninth successive home victory with a 50-43 win over Edinburgh at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.
Barker figured in the race of the evening when he beat visiting number one Kevin Wolbert in a thrilling heat 13 to help Plymouth to a 10-point lead with only two heats remaining.
Edinburgh skipper Matthew Wethers won on a tactical ride in heat 14 to cut the deficit to three points and ensure another last heat decider at the St Boniface Arena.
Barker and Wells responded with maximum points in heat 15 to clinch victory for the Devils.
Plymouth promoter Mike Bowden said: “It was another tremendous team performance against a very strong Edinburgh team, who are former league champions.
“Ben Barker once again led the team superbly with some excellent support by Ricky Wells.”
Plymouth were relieved to complete the meeting after suffering a series of electrical failures which repeatedly plunged the track into darkness and only four heats were completed during the first hour and a quarter.
“We had problems with the electrics because there had been so much rain during the week and a lot of water had found its way into the system,” explained Bowden.
“Our thanks are due to the supporters for their patience and also to the riders and officials for enabling us to complete the meeting once the electrical problem had been resolved.”

Plymouth: Ben Barker 15 (5 rides), Ritchie Hawkins 8+3 (5), rider replacement for Jesper Kristiansen, Paul Starke 1 (3), Ricky Wells 12+1 (6). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 3+2 (5), James Cockle 11+1 (6).
Edinburgh: Kevin Wolbert 10 (5), Kalle Katajisto 6 (4), Andrew Tully 5 (4), Matthew Wethers 10+1 (5), Craig Cook 0 (1). Reserves: Tim Webster 3+1 (4), Adam Roynon 9+2 (7).

Plymouth were due to complete their season with a double header at Workington on Saturday evening with Mitchell Davey of Berwick joining Paul Starke as guest replacements for Justin Sedgmen and Kyle Hughes.
Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly
****************************

PRESS RELEASE – issued October 23

Newcastle 56, Plymouth 39

Premier League - Sunday October 23

SKIPPER Ben Barker led the way for Plymouth in their 56-39 defeat at Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday evening.
He received some support from Ricky Wells and reserve James Cockle, but the Devils lacked strength in depth against the team immediately above them in the table.
Barker began with three race wins, including a six-pointer on a tactical ride in heat 11, but suffered falls in
his two remaining races.
Wells and Cockle managed one race win each, but that was the best the Devils could manage with Gino Franchetti scoring only two third places in his five outings.
Guests Paul Starke and Ben Taylor generally had disappointing evenings, although Starke collected a second place in his final outing.

Newcastle: Mark Lemon 12+2 (5 rides), Derek Sneddon 15+2 (6), rider replacement for Kyle Newman, Stuart Robson 10+1 (4), Claes Nedermark 7 (4). Reserves: James Sarjeant 4 (5), Mark Jones 8+2 (6)
Plymouth: Ben Barker 12 (5), replacement for Jesper Kristiansen, Paul Starke 5 (5), Ben Taylor 0 (3), Ricky Wells 11 (5). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 2+1 (5), James Cockle 9+2 (7).

Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly
*****************************
PRESS RELEASE – issued October 22

Plymouth 49 Berwick 41
Premier League
St Boniface Arena, Friday October 21

PLYMOUTH are off the bottom of the Premier League table after beating Berwick 49-41 in yet another last heat decider at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.
The Devils went into the final race leading by only four points and needed a 5-1 maximum to secure the three match points that would see them go above Leicester.
Ben Barker and Ricky Wells duly obliged against David Howe and Josef Franc with the two home riders making the gate and team riding superbly to hold off the best efforts of Howe to snatch a third place that would have given Berwick the consolation of an away match point.
Barker and Wells received good support from Tyson Nelson of Rye House who scored 10 points on a guest appearance in place of Justin Sedgmen.
“We have now won eight successive home matches,” said Plymouth promoter Mike Bowden.
“It was another brilliant team performance to come from behind to win with what was effectively a five-man team.
“I particularly pleased that we have got off the bottom of the table and avoided the wooden spoon in our first season of Premier League racing.”
Ben Taylor and Paul Starke will come in as guest riders for Plymouth on their trip to Newcastle on Sunday
evening (6.30pm).

Plymouth: Ben Barker 14 (5 rides), Jamie Courtney 1+1 (3), Tyson Nelson 10 (5), rider replacement for Jesper Kristiansen, Ricky Wells 12+2 (6). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 7+1 (5), James Cockle 5+1 (6).
Berwick: David Howe 12 (5), Alex Edberg 1 (4), Linus Eklof 5+3 (4), Josef Franc 8 (5), Lee Complin 6 (4). Reserves: Mitch Davey 3+1 (4), Jade Mudgway 6 (4).

Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly
*************************
PRESS RELEASE – issued October 15

Plymouth 50 Newcastle 45
Premier League
St Boniface Arena, Friday October 14

 
PLYMOUTH continued their impressive end of season form with their seventh successive home victory when they beat Newcastle 50-45 at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.
The two match points saw them close to within two points of second from bottom Leicester with five matches remaining.
Promoter Mike Bowden said: “It would have been good to take all three points but, hopefully, we will do the necessary against Berwick next Friday to climb above Leicester.
“It was another good team performance and it was pleasing to have Ben Barker showing that he is back to form again after his recent leg operation.
“He had a tentative first race, but dropped only one point to an opponent in his four remaining races.”
Plymouth began strongly, taking an 11-point lead in the first four races, but Newcastle battled back with Mark Lemon and Stuart Robson making full use of tactical rides, each scoring a six-point win.
The Devils were handicapped by the loss of guest rider Simon Lambert, who was taken to hospital with a wrist injury following a spectacular crash in his second outing.
It meant another busy night for reserves James Cockle and Gino Franchetti, who both rose to the occasion, scoring 18 points between them.
Ricky Wells had another successful meeting, dropping only one point in his four programmed rides, and joining Barker for a crucial 5-1 over Mark Lemon and Claes Nedermark in heat 13.

Plymouth: Ben Barker 10+1 (5 rides), Ritchie Hawkins 8 (5), rider replacement for Kyle Hughes, Simon Lambert 3 (2), Ricky Wells 11 (5). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 7+2 (6), James Cockle 11+3 (7).
Newcastle: Mark Lemon 16 (5), Derek Sneddon 9 (5), rider replacement for Kyle Newman, Stuart Robson 11 (5), Claes Nedermark 6 (4). Reserves: James Sarjeant 2 (6), Jaimie Pickard 1 (5).

Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly.
*******************************
PRESS RELEASE – issued October 8

Plymouth 48 Ipswich 42
Premier League
St Boniface Arena, Friday October 7

PLYMOUTH gained their sixth successive home victory when they beat Ipswich 48-42 after a last heat decider in the Premier League at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.
But the win came at the cost of yet another injury with 26-year-old Dane Jesper Kristiansen taken to hospital to check for possible damage to his collarbone after crashing spectacularly into the fence when his throttle jammed in his second race of the evening.
It meant another busy meeting for reserves Gino Franchetti and James Cockle, who took their full allocation of seven rides each. Franchetti top scored with 12 (paid 13) points while Cockle was also in double figures with 10 (paid 12).
Ricky Wells had another successful evening with 11 (paid l2) while Emiliano Sanchez, guesting for the injured Ben Barker, came good in the closing stages with vital wins in his last two races,

Plymouth: Emiliano Sanchez 10 (5 rides), rider replacement for Kevin Hughes, Lubos Tomicek 2+1 (4), Jesper Kristiansen 3 (2), Ricky Wells 11+1 (5). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 12+1 (7), James Cockle 10+2 (7).
Ipswich: Kevin Doolan 10 (5), Taylor Poole 7+2 (5), rider replacement for Mathieu Tresarrieu, Morten Risager 10+1 (6), Lasse Bjerre 8 (5). Reserves: Jerran Hart 3+1 (4), Tyson Nelson 4+1 (5).

THE injury to Kristiansen means Plymouth had only Wells and reserves Franchetti and Cockle of their declared seven riders available for Saturday’s (Oct 8) visit to Workington.
They were without four of their top five with Barker, Kristiansen and Kyle Hughes injured while Justin Sedgmen has returned home to Australia.
Craig Cook of Edinburgh and Gary Cottham (Isle of Wight) have been drafted in as guest replacements to be joined by one further guest plus the use of the rider replacement facility.

Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly
******************************
PRESS RELEASE – issued October 1

Plymouth 46 Sheffield 44

Premier League
St Boniface Arena, Friday September 30

PLYMOUTH completed their fifth successive victory at the St Boniface Arena when they beat second placed Sheffield 46-44 following a last heat decider on Friday evening.
That was despite being effectively reduced to a five-man team when Ben Barker was forced to pull out with a leg injury after completing only one race.
Promoter Mike Bowden said: “It was a good win by the team despite being down to five riders after losing our number one following the first heat.
“Ben Barker aggravated an old leg injury when he crashed at a meeting in Czechoslovakia on Wednesday evening. He tried to ride but had to pull out after the first race.
“So it was full marks to the rest of the team for their efforts to extend our recent winning run.”
Plymouth were trailing by two points going into the final heat, but Jesper Kristiansen and Ricky Wells did the necessary with a 5-1 against Sheffield’s Josh Auty and Shane Parker.
Ritchie Hawkins contributed six (paid seven points) as a guest replacement for the absent Justin Sedgmen while the Devils operated rider replacement for the injured Kyle Hughes.

Plymouth: Ben Barker 1+1 (1 ride), Ritchie Hawkins 6+1 (4), rider replacement for Kyle Hughes, Jesper Kristiansen 12 (5), Ricky Wells 13+1 (6). Reserves: Gino Franchetti 9+1 (7), James Cockle 5+1 (7).
Sheffield: Shane Parker 7+3 (6), Hugh Skidmore 3+1 (3), Emiliano Sanchez 9+1 (5), rider replacement for Ricky Ashworth, Josh Auty 15 (6). Reserves: Ashley Birks 2 (4), Simon Lambert 8+2 (6).

Issued by:
PRO Graham Hambly