Behind the Scenes with the Gladiators: Garry May on Planning, People and Performance
Race nights may last three hours, but building a speedway team takes months.
As Plymouth Gladiators gear up for the new campaign, team manager Garry May offers an insight into the planning, people and philosophy behind the scenes and why team spirit, trust and entertainment are just as important as points on the track.
Garry, a lot of people only see you on race nights making tactical decisions. How much actually goes on behind the scenes?
A lot more than people probably realise. People think I just make the changes and that’s it, but there’s loads that goes on behind the scenes. You’re talking to riders constantly about gates, setups, confidence, what they’re feeling on the bike.
You’ve got to understand your riders. Some riders you leave alone, some riders you put an arm around, and some riders you give a bit of a rocket. But it’s never just about shouting at someone. Riders don’t want to come last they’re risking their lives and their wages every time they go out there.
How early does planning for a season like this begin?
Me and Mark normally start towards the end of September. This year was the same. Even though we had to wait until the AGM in January to really finalise things, we already knew roughly what we wanted to do.
Riders start messaging you early asking if you’re interested in them coming to Plymouth. You don’t commit straight away, but you put names to one side and work out what kind of team you can build. So by the time everything’s confirmed, a lot of the thinking has already been done.
What were the key things you and Mark wanted from this year’s team?
The main thing was reliability and balance. Last year we struggled at times with availability, but that’s just speedway. When Nikolaj was away riding abroad, we had to adapt.
The guests we brought in last year Kai Thompson, Zane Kennedy, Tobias Thomsen none of them let us down. They all scored points for us. But this year, bringing in Danny King and Scott Nicholls gives us two proper leaders. They know how to score points and how to guide a team.
What excites you most about this particular group of riders?
It’s the mix. Danny and Scott are experienced, they’ve been there and done it. Ben Barker is Mr Plymouth he gets the crowd going, he wants the club to do well, and he’s 100% behind it.
Tobias showed how much he loved Plymouth when he guested for us. Joe just wanted to come back and he scores heavily at the Coliseum. Daniel Klima was a no-brainer. And with Tom Spencer, he had tough moments last year, but he never shut off and never gave in even after big moments like that crash over the fence.
What’s important is there’s no hassle in the team. If someone has to be taken out for a tactical reason, they accept it. Everyone understands it’s about the team.
How important is team spirit to you as a manager?
It’s everything. You’re not individuals here you’re everyone else. If a rider crashes and damages his bike, every mechanic and rider is on it helping.
That’s something I’ve always believed in. I had it at Somerset and it worked. When riders feel supported, they ride harder not just for themselves, but for each other.
On race nights, what does your role actually involve?
We get to the track, the riders talk among themselves, and then we walk the track together. We look at conditions, talk about lines, and discuss setups.
Danny and Scott will normally lead on that side of things and pass information on to the other riders. Communication is absolutely key. Everyone helps everyone else.
How do you deal with riders after a mistake or a tough race?
It depends on the rider. Some riders, like Jack Holder when I worked with him, you leave alone straight after a race. He’s already thinking about what went wrong. Give him five or ten minutes and then talk to him.
Other riders need reassurance straight away. And some riders need a firm word. I’ve had situations where I’ve really gone in on a rider but only once. They remember it, and they don’t make the same mistake again.
You’ve got to know your riders. That trust is massive.
Injuries and rider absences are part of speedway. How do you approach that?
You don’t plan for injuries because you don’t want them to happen. When something does happen, you deal with it at the time.
Last year, with Nikolaj, we couldn’t use a guest because of fixture days, so we had to go down the facility route. It worked for us. Sometimes it’s easier to cover an eight-point rider than a four- or five-point rider, but you adapt. That’s speedway.
There’s been a lot of work going on commercially and with fan engagement. How important is that side of things?
It’s massive. Speedway is entertainment. From half six to half nine, you’ve got to put a show on. There’s only so much speedway the rest of it you’ve got to fill.
Kids’ races have been brilliant for atmosphere. They bring families, parents, and kids, and it creates a buzz. Fan interaction, autographs, meet-and-greets all of that matters.
Sponsorship and marketing are huge too. We want to give sponsors more exposure on shirts, live streams, and digital platforms and give fans more reasons to come back every week.
How closely are you working with Mark Phillips on all of this?
Very closely. Mark works incredibly hard on the track and wants Plymouth to be a success. I live too far away to help day-to-day on the track, but what I can do is help on the commercial and operational side.
What are your expectations for the season ahead?
The aim is to win at home, get into the play-offs, and then see what we can do from there across all competitions. But we need the crowd behind us.
Last season, especially towards the end, the supporters were fantastic. They really got behind the riders and lifted them, and the riders feel that.
Finally, what would you like to say to Plymouth supporters heading into the new season?
Just come in your numbers like you did last year. Get behind the riders, cheer them on, and help us build Plymouth into something special.
Mark, his team, the riders, and everyone involved are working hard to make Plymouth a success. With the supporters behind us, hopefully we can all be lifting some silverware together at the end of the season.
