Seven-time British champion, Scott Nicholls, rolled back the years with a six-ride maximum against a Berwick Bandits side which saw stand-in skipper Peter Kildemand crash out of the meeting in his second ride.
Bandits, already without skipper Jye Etheridge and Nick Morris, struggled to get out of the gate and skidded to a 55-35 defeat in the Cab Direct Championship.
Swedish racer Victor Palovaara with two wins, and Jordan Jenkins with one, were Berwick’s only race winners on the night, although guest Luke Killeen and reserve Reid Battye worked hard for their points.
A scorching hot day in Devon, with blinding sunshine, made conditions tricky and gating was vital. The home side dominated with guest Troy Batchelor and Daniel Klima providing evergreen Nicholls with solid back-up.
Battye, incidentally, had an eventful first visit to The Coliseum, hitting the deck three times, but picking himself up to score a very useful six points.
Berwick will be hoping for a better result when the sides meet again at Shielfield Park in two weeks’ time and Jamie Courtney, Berwick’s stand-in team manager, admitted: “It was a very tough night.
“On the few occasions we got out of the gate first, the red lights seemed to come on. I can’t question the efforts of the boys but it was not the result we were looking for.”
Gladiators: Troy Batchelor 10+2, Joe Thompson 8+1, Daniel Klima 8, Ben Barker R/R, Scott Nicholls 18, Anze Grmek 9+2, Ben Whalley 2
Bandits: Peter Kildemand 2, Michael Palm Toft 2, Victor Palovaara 11+2, Jordan Jenkins 7, Luke Killeen 7+2, Jack Smith 0, Reid Battye 6
