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| |  | BIRMINGHAM stormed to their biggest win of the season as they got their Championship Jubilee League campaign up and running with a fully deserved 52-38 victory over Plymouth.
A makeshift Curtis Sport Brummies side arrived at Perry Barr in determined mood following their heavy defeat in the South West on Tuesday and successfully turned the tables on the Gladiators.
Supporters were treated to some fine racing on a warm evening in the Second City as the hosts produced a solid all-round display.
It looked like the visitors were about to open with a 5-1 - but guest No.1 Josh Pickering had other ideas as he sped under Alfie Bowtell and forced an error from the Plymouth man.
Brummies took the lead in Heat Two with guest Jason Edwards and regular reserve James Pearson securing a comfortable maximum before former Brummie Erik Riss led a shared race in the third.
A first, of many, 4-2s from Justin Sedgmen and James Pearson in Heat Four prompted an early tactical move from visiting boss Garry May.
Riss was brought in as a tactical substitute and teamed up with Ben Barker for a 5-1 to move back to within two points.
But the Brummies went on a remarkable run and recorded six straight 4-2s to establish a 14 point lead - and a real rarity saw all of the home advantages by that scoreline finish with the same finishing order, red, white, blue, quite ironic with the newly named competition.
Plymouth could still just about snatch a consolation point with a 5-1 in Heat 15 - but a truly sensational ride from Pickering and Sedgmen to both come under Barker off bend four saw the Brummies bag a final maximum of their own and send the Gladiators home with nothing.
Team Manager Laurence Rogers said: "What a great performance that was, I'm very happy.
"There was a great spirit tonight, some great riding and it was one heck of a great win too.
"We knew getting some heat advantages on the board early on was important, we did just that and then those seven 4-2s in eight races more-or-less got the job done for us.
"For me Heat Seven was the turning point; Plymouth fancied their chances with Erik and Hans (Andersen), but it was a great gate by both Sedgy and Jason and that 4-2 in particular was a big heat result at the time I felt.
"Once we'd got the win, it was important we stopped Plymouth from getting anything and we did just that.
"All in all this was a great night for Birmingham Speedway with some outstanding races and the result we wanted to boost everyone."
The Curtis Sport Brummies now face crucial back-to-back Southern Group fixtures against Oxford; they head to Sandy Lane on Tuesday (July 19, 7.30) before hosting the Cheetahs 24-hours later (Wednesday, July 20, 7.30).
CHAMPIONSHIP JUBILEE LEAGUE
BIRMINGHAM 52: Justin Sedgmen 13+1, Josh Pickering 12+1, Paco Castagna 7, Jason Edwards 7, Stefan Nielsen 6+1, James Pearson 4+1, Ashley Morris 3+1.
PLYMOUTH 38: Erik Riss 14, Ben Barker 10+1, Hans Andersen 6, Alfie Bowtell 5, Ben Morley 3, Harry McGurk 0, Michael Palm Toft r/r.
CHAMPIONSHIP JUBILEE LEAGUE POINTS: Birmingham 3 Plymouth 0
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