Gladiators go down to defeat as top riders fail to shine

PLYMOUTH Gladiators went down to a 47-43 defeat in their opening Cab Direct Championship fixture at the Coliseum, on an evening their riders were outshone by an impressive Workington Comets team, writes Stuart James.

The meeting was a delayed due to extensive track work that was needed on bend three, which had several soft patches that the referee, visiting management and riders were unhappy with. And when the racing did get going, the Comets were quickly out of the blocks, taking a 5-1 in the opening heat.

Superbly led by Craig Cook, who scored a four-ride, 12-point maximum, the Comets were never behind in the meeting with Cook followed home by Tate Zischke in that opening race.