FORMER Plymouth Devils captain Ben Barker had a successful return to the St Boniface Arena when he won the Spring Classic individual meeting which opened the new season for the Devils.

There was little to choose between the leading riders with only one point separating the top seven scorers from the qualifying heats.

Plymouth’s Todd Kurtz and Ulrich Ostergaard (Peterborough) finished on nine each and qualified direct to the grand final with Barker (Glasgow) and Mikkel Bech (Wolverhampton) progressing from the two semi-finals.

Bech fell while leading in the first running of the final, leaving Barker to win the re-run ahead of Kurtz and Ostergaard.

Plymouth co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “It proved to be a very competitive field with some quality riders in the line-up.

“That was underlined by the fact that no one ran away with the scoring and it proved to be a good work-out in a well balanced meeting.” 

Scorers: Ulrich Ostergaard (Peterborough) 9, Todd Kurtz (Plymouth) 9, Steve Boxall (unattached) 8, Mikkel Bech (Wolverhampton) 8, Ashley Morris (Cradley) 8, Ben Barker (Glasgow) 8, Sam Simota (Plymouth) 8, Jack Holder (Plymouth) 7, Charlie Gjedde (Plymouth) 4, Ellis Perks (Plymouth and Isle of Wight) 2, Danny Ayres (Glasgow and Kent) 1, Matt Bates (unattached) 0. Reserve: Tyler Govier ( Eastbourne ) did not ride.

Semi-final One: Barker, Boxall, Simota, Gjedde.

Semi-final Two: Bech, Holder, Morris, Perks.

Final: Barker, Kurtz, Ostergaard, Bech (f.exc).

PLYMOUTH Devils begin their competitive fixtures on Saturday evening with a League Cup visit to Rye House.

Plymouth: Charlie Gjedde, Sam Simota, Jack Holder, Todd Kurtz, Kyle Newman. Reserves: Stefan Nielsen, Ellis Perks.