Barker looking forward to Testimonial meeting
The Media Prima Arena hosts it’s first meeting of the season on Saturday, with popular Brit Ben Barker holding his testimonial meeting (3pm start).
Barker has been a great servant to British Speedway over the years, starting his career with Oxford and Trelawny in 2003. Popular wherever he has ridden, Barker has spent the last couple of seasons here at Redcar, winning the fans Bear of the Year in both seasons. He is delighted to have been awarded his testimonial meeting:
I’m really pleased, its a great honour to have been awarded my testimonial. I have worked hard over the years, been loyal to British Speedway and always gave my all. I have came back from a number of injuries and at times it has been a tough road so I am pleased to be having this meeting. I would just like to thank everyone who has helped out in any way to putting on this meeting.
It has taken a number of months of hard work to get this meeting planned, but Ben is pleased with how things are looking with just a few days to go:
I’m really happy with the lineup. I was keen to give the Bears lads some extra track time before the season, and Jack (Smith) is gutted he cannot make it due to prior commitments. To be fair, all the riders have brilliant to deal with – it was actually the easiest part of putting the meeting together. Getting the sponsorship has been the hard part, but that is all coming together now. Although if anyone else would like to help out with any sponsorship, no matter how little, please get in touch!”
Barker also spoke of his disappointment when he heard Workington were not coming to the tapes, and how he changed his testimonial plans to incorporate the Comets:
I was gutted when I heard about Workington, I loved riding there. I rode there a few times towards the end of last season and really enjoyed it. They won everything going last season. I was originally just going to run an individual meeting, but when I heard I thought it would be good to change it to a 4 Team Tournament and include Workington. It gives a chance for a few of the lads signed up for Worky to have a ride, and hopefully a few Comets fans travel across to support a Comets team on Saturday.
After Barkers season finished early due to injury last year, he admits to it being a long tough winter. And after a tough Ben Fund meeting at Leicester on Sunday, Barker is looking forward to getting back on a bike again:
It’s been a long hard winter, and also quite painful after the injury at the end of last season. I rode in the Ben Fund and I was still in a bit of pain, but the only way to get over that is get back on the bike and keep riding. It should be a great day, and I hope to see as many people there as possible!
As well as the Four Team Tournament, there will also be 8 demonstration races involving riders from the British Youth Championships. And after the meeting, there will be a band performing in the clubhouse as well as a buffet and an auction. We hope to see as many of you there as possible to pay tribute to a great servant to British Speedway. Admission is £18 for Adults, Concessions £15 with Children Under 16 £5. Under 10’s go free.
Lineup: R
Ben Barker, Charles Wright, Tom Bacon, Jordan Stewart,
Sam Masters, MPT, Nathan Greaves, David Wallinger,
Steve Worrall, Danny Ayres, Simon Lambert, Kyle Bickley,
Thomas Jorgensen, Lewis Kerr, Ulrich Ostergaard, James Sarjeant