CRUMP MAKES SENSATIONAL PLYMOUTH MOVE

Triple world champion Jason Crump will double up in Britain for the first time in his career after SGB Championship newcomers Plymouth completed the biggest signing in their history.

The Gladiators were competing in the National League in 2019, but this year they will be spearheaded by one of the sport’s all-time greats, who joins forces with double FIM Speedway World Cup winner Bjarne Pedersen.

Born in Bristol, Crump retired from racing after the 2012 Torun SGP. He announced plans to come out of retirement with Ipswich last year, only for those to be dashed when the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

But he will now do double duty in the UK as he competes in Britain’s second tier for the first time since he lined up for Swindon in 1993.

Plymouth boss Mark Phillips insists the move underlines the Gladiators’ intentions as they step up into the Championship.

He said: “It was an ambitious move to attract Jason to Plymouth. He has been a pleasure to deal with.

“He will be basing himself and his family in the South West during the summer and I’m sure sports fans will want to see the spectacle of racing that the Plymouth track offers.

“I want everyone in speedway to be talking about Plymouth. I have big ambitions for the club.

“The signing of Jason Crump and Bjarne Pedersen shows our intention to establish the Plymouth Gladiators in the Championship League.”

The Gladiators last competed in the second tier as the Plymouth Devils in 2016, after which they dropped back into the National League.

Their application to rejoin the Championship for 2020 was turned down, but with Somerset withdrawing from the league for this year, they mounted a second bid to step up and are already causing a stir with two stellar signings.