- "It's got a flipper on it, a full pressure flipper, so it's capable of lifting 3 tons. Should go off with a bang!"
- — Jason Marston
Robo Savage, alternatively Robosavage, was a stock robot which competed in Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars, filmed as part of the ninth series. It was entered by football pundit Robbie Savage, who was mentored by Jason Marston throughout the competition process. Despite only winning one battle in the head-to-head stage, Robo Savage reached the Grand Final of Episode 2, placing second to Kadeena Machina.
Design[]
Robo Savage with its extended flipper
Robo Savage's design represented Robbie Savage's home country of Wales in various ways - the robot had spiked 'dragon wings' on the side, and the robot used a red and green colour scheme. Its weapon was a rear-hinged flipper, as Savage was aware of the success of flippers in Series 8[1]. Its armour consisted of 3mm HARDOX and 4mm aluminium, the only robot in Battle of the Stars to not be completely armed in steel. The full-pressure flipping arm initially had a fairly short reach, but this was extended after its first battle, at the cost of the new flipper lip now occasionally getting bent down. However, the power of the flipper was comparatively low at 825psi, despite boasts of a 3 tonne total lift, and only had enough gas for around 15 flips. As with all robots in Battle of the Stars, Robo Savage's stock wheels were exposed, making them vulnerable to damage from spinning and crushing weapons.
The internals and flipper mechanism of Robo Savage
With its wedged box-shaped design, exposed wheels and flipping arm, Robo Savage bore a close resemblance to the robots built by Inertia Labs for BattleBots, particularly T-Minus, The Matador and Bronco. This style of flipper was also used by Ceros in Series 7.
Etymology[]
The robot's name is a simple pun of the team captain's name Robbie Savage, and 'robo' from robot.
The Team[]
Robbie Savage (right) in Battle of the Stars
Robbie Savage's career started as a footballer, when he joined the Manchester United youth football team, before eventually playing for full-fledged teams including Leicester City and Birmingham City. Savage has now retired as a professional player, but is now a pundit on BBC football broadcasts, and hosts a radio show on BBC Radio 5 Live, 606. As a footballer, Savage caused controversy and was regularly yellow carded by referees, which was often referenced by Jonathan Pearce.
Robo Savage's team dabbing
Robbie Savage was joined on the team by his cousin, who was mostly known as 'Uncle Matt' in the episode, and another of his friends. Matt drove Robo Savage, with Robbie operating the flipper.
Jason Marston is the sole builder of Thor, which finished fourth in the Series 8 Grand Final. Based on this success, Marston was chosen to mentor Savage, and make repairs to the robot when necessary.
As with all Battle of the Stars competitors, Robo Savage was built by Robo Challenge, producers of the show who had also built the House Robots.
Robot History[]
Battle of the Stars[]
Robo Savage competed in Episode 2, where it first fought against Kadeena Cox's robot Kadeena Machina. However, before the fight, Robbie and Jason explained that Robo Savage's flipper was having issues retracting back into its resting position, which would potentially limit its effectiveness in battle.
- "A flipper without a flip is no good!"
- — Robbie Savage expresses his concerns before Robo Savage's first battle
Robo Savage and Kadeena Machina collide
Robo Savage started quickly, darting across the arena to meet Kadeena Machina, which made little movement. Robo Savage then came in with a flip, but it was mistimed and Robo Savage's flipper came into contact with Kadeena Machina's vertical disc, sending sparks flying. Kadeena Machina then moved towards Robo Savage, with more sparks churned out as its weapon made contact with Robo Savage's front. Robo Savage backed away and kept a considerable distance away from Kadeena Cox's machine, before coming in to swing its rear-end into its opponent. Robo Savage continued to attack, ramming into Kadeena Machina once more, before missing with another flip.
- "Little bit of a tackle from behind by Robbie! Well we've seen them before..."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Robo Savage attacks the back of Kadeena Machina
Robo Savage's wheel is shattered
Robo Savage is rendered immobile
Kadeena Machina then connected a considerable hit, which buckled the front lip of Robo Savage's flipper. Robo Savage tried to assert itself once more with a drive towards Kadeena Machina, but Kadeena Machina landed more hits on Robbie Savage's machine, before shattering one of its wheels off. Robo Savage desperately tried to hobble away, but Kadeena Machina inflicted further damage to the armour of Robo Savage, before cease was called. The punishment for Robo Savage was not ended there, however, as Shunt came in for the last word by tossing Robo Savage around with his front scoop.
- "To be honest, it was less like your football and more like your Strictly Come Dancing!"
- — Dara Ó Briain to Robbie Savage after his first battle
For Robo Savage's second fight against Neil Oliver's Soldier Ant, changes were made to the flipper, with the front lip made considerably longer.
Robo Savage is pressured by Soldier Ant
Robo Savage turns Soldier Ant over
In the fight, Soldier Ant made the first notable movement with a drive into Robo Savage. After both robots jostled for position, Soldier Ant came in with a strong attack that pierced a top panel of Robo Savage, which was now notably venting CO2. Soldier Ant then managed to get purchase on the back of Robo Savage and attempted to drag it towards further danger but Robo Savage managed to free itself. Robo Savage then came onto the attack itself, and after manoeuvring for position, managed to flick Soldier Ant over before placing it onto the flame pit. With Soldier Ant unable to self-right, Robo Savage had managed to earn its first victory, earning three points for a knockout.
Matilda at the rear of Robo Savage
- "Leave it! Leave it! Leave it!"
- — Robbie Savage pleads with his teammates to leave the overturned Soldier Ant on the flame pit
After the battle, a clearly delighted Robbie Savage decided to revel in victory by taunting Archie and Teddy Oliver from the Soldier Ant team.
- "Winners are going that way. Where are the losers? Staying here!"
- — Robbie Savage
Any sort of victory against Jordan Stephens' bottom-placed Dee in Robo Savage's final Head-to-Head battle would be enough to confirm its place in the final of the episode.
Robo Savage flips Dee
Robo Savage punctures Dee's tyre with the flipper plate
In the opening stages, Dee stayed near the centre of the Arena, while Robo Savage moved to the side. Dee then moved towards Robo Savage, with Robbie's machine carrying out the first decisive attack, batting Dee aside with a ram. Dee started spinning, but Robo Savage quickly halted its attack by flicking Dee. Dee then began to drift towards Dead Metal, and Robo Savage tried to push Dee into the CPZ, but it evaded danger, with Robo Savage called into some evasive action as well to avoid the House Robot's pincers. Dee then drove itself over the flame pit, before having one of its tyres slashed by the sharp edge of Robo Savage's elevated flipper. Dee then managed to connect with hits to Robo Savage as it spun on the spot and came in with an overhead hit. By this stage, Robo Savage's flipper base had been bent downwards, and one more hit from Dee completely restricted Robo Savage's forward movement. With time ticking down, Robo Savage lifted its flipper up to enable it to come in with one last charge, before cease was called.
Robo Savage sustains damage from Dee
- "Can Robo Savage put in a mighty tackle there now!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Robo Savage comes in with one final drive
The Judges awarded a split decision in favour of Dee, a ruling that was met with uproar from Robo Savage's team, to the extent that Robbie himself went up to the judges in protest.
- "He ran up with a pair of glasses and said "I think you need these - what were you watching there?!""
- — Noel Sharkey explains what Robbie Savage said to the judges after the battle
With the loss against Dee confirmed, Robo Savage's team had to wait for the result of the final Head-to-Head between Kadeena Machina and Soldier Ant before finding out if they had managed to seal a place in the Grand Final of Episode 2. Kadeena Machina came out victorious, which meant that Robbie Savage would face Kadeena Cox and her robot Kadeena Machina for a second time in the final battle of the episode.
Before the battle, Robbie Savage made sure to continue his feud with Soldier Ant's team, as he teased Archie Oliver, telling him to watch him in the final. However, in private with mentor Jason Marston, Robbie was less confident.
- Robbie Savage: "We're probably, what, in a two horse race, 50/1?"
- Jason Marston: "I would say so, yeah. Anything can happen in that arena though, in fairness. Anything."
- — Robbie Savage and Jason Marston before the Grand Final
Kadeena Machina slams into Robo Savage again
Robo Savage is thrown into the air
Sir Killalot holds the defeated Robo Savage over the Flame Pit
Unfortunately for Robbie, his fears came true, as Kadeena Machina managed to immobilise Robo Savage in one hit, causing damage to a top panel and tearing a chunk out of a wheel. Kadeena Machina then came in to inflict more harm before cease was called. However, the punishment to Robo Savage was not yet over, as it faced the wrath of the House Robots, with Shunt axing the beaten finalist, before Sir Killalot hung it over the flame pit. With the result confirmed, Robo Savage finished as the runner-up in Episode 2 of Battle of the Stars.
- "My kids are watching at home, and we rung them before the final, and Uncle Matt has let them down."
- — Robbie Savage shifts the blame of final defeat onto his teammate's shoulders
Results[]
| ROBO SAVAGE - RESULTS | ||
| Series 9 | ||
| Battle of the Stars Episode 2, Runner-up | ||
| Episode 2, Head-to-Heads | vs. Kadeena Machina | Lost via KO (0 points) |
| Episode 2, Head-to-Heads | vs. Soldier Ant | Won via KO (3 points) |
| Episode 2, Head-to-Heads | vs. Dee | Lost via Judges' decision (0 points) |
| Episode 2, Grand Final | vs. Kadeena Machina | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 3
Series Record[]
| Main Series | Robo Savage Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Did not enter |
| The Third Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fourth Wars | Failed to qualify with Monkey Nuts |
| The Fifth Wars | Failed to qualify with Dorkus |
| The Sixth Wars | Entered with Thor |
| The Seventh Wars | Entered with Thor |
| Series 8 | Entered with Thor |
| Series 9 | Battle of the Stars, Runner-up Entered with Thor |
| Series 10 | Entered with Thor |
| Robot Wars Extreme | Appearances |
| Series 1 | Did not enter |
| Series 2 | Entered with Thor |
NOTE: This series record reflects the performance of mentor Jason Marston
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Robo Savage's team exceeded the maximum number of permitted team members, with five people.
- Robo Savage was the first robot to escape the Head-to-Heads with only a single win, and is one of only two to do so, alongside Sabretooth.
- Robo Savage was one of eight robots whose silhouette was used as a placeholder when demonstrating the Series 9 episode format. During this demonstration, Robo Savage was eliminated in a four way melee with Terror Turtle, Eruption and PP3D, all of whom qualified (despite it not being possible for three robots to qualify from a four-way melee).
References[]
External Links[]
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||