Paul Starke

Paul Simon Starke (born 18 November 1990) is an English speedway rider.[1]

Paul Starke
Born (1990-11-18) 18 November 1990
Hereford, Herefordshire, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
2007Buxton Hitmen
2008–2010Plymouth Devils
2010Rye House Rockets
2010–2012Isle of Wight Islanders
2013Berwick Bandits
2013–2014Cradley Heathens
2014Birmingham Brummies
2014–2017Somerset Rebels
2015, 2017Poole Pirates
2016Leicester Lions
2017Peterborough Panthers
2018–2019Glasgow Tigers
2018Belle Vue Aces
2020–2021Kent Kings
2022Newcastle Diamonds
2022Ipswich Witches
2022Oxford Cheetahs
2023Plymouth Gladiators
Team honours
2013, 2014Speedway National League
2015Elite League
2013, 2014National League Fours
2017SGB Championship Fours

Career

Born in Hereford, Starke started his career with the Buxton Hitmen in 2007, before going on to have spells at a variety of different clubs during his development into an Elite League rider.[2] Starke's most successful period to date was his two years with the Cradley Heathens in the National League from 2013 to 2014. It was here that he won two league titles, forming a formidable partnership with Steve Worrall during the second year and he was part of the Dudley/Cradley team that won the National League Fours in 2013[3] and 2014.[4]

His first spell in the Elite League in 2014, was a disappointing one. After being selected by the Birmingham Brummies in the reserve rider draft the club closed midway through the season due to financial problems. Despite this disappointment Starke said he 'enjoyed his time at Birmingham' and described their downfall as a "crying shame."[5]

The following season in 2015, Starke was back in the Elite League, this time being selected in the draft by reigning champions the Poole Pirates.[6]

He was part of the Peterborough Panthers team that won the SGB Championship Fours, which was held on 6 August 2017, at the East of England Arena.[7]

He spent two years with Glasgow Tigers in 2018 and 2019 and had a short spell with Belle Vue Aces in the SGB Premiership 2018.[8]

In 2021, he signed for the Ipswich Witches in the SGB Premiership and Kent Kings in the SGB Championship.[9] The following season in 2022, he raced again for Ipswich and joined Newcastle Diamonds from Kent but following the demise of Newcastle he switched to the Oxford Cheetahs for the SGB Championship 2022 season. The Cheetahs were returning to action after a 14-year absence from British Speedway.[10][11]

In 2023, he signed for Plymouth Gladiators for the SGB Championship 2023. He had previously ridden for the Plymouth when they were known as the Devils from 2008 to 2010.[12] However, he was released by the club in June.[13]

References
  1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. "2013 National League Fours". British Speedway. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. "2014 National League Fours" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. "Paul Starke pays tribute to Birmingham Brummies fans". Birmingham Mail. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. "UPDATED Speedway: Poole Pirates retain Kyle Newman and pick Paul Starke at reserve for 2015". Bournemouth Echo. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. "2017 Fours final" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. "Paul Starke is shooting for the stars". About Manchester. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  9. "Starke, Paul". British Speedway. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  10. "Speedway and Oxford Cheetahs set to return to Oxford Stadium". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  11. "Oxford Cheetahs: Speedway side set for British Championship return in 2022". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  12. "Paul Starke signing reveal". You Tube. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  13. "MORLEY RETURNS TO GLADIATORS". British Speedway. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
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