Perhaps the least surprising news relating to the Ben Fund Bonanza at Workington on March 16 is that Ben Barker will be in it. Unsurprising – because he has never missed one.
He admitted “Back again! I don’t know how many it is now, I’ve forgotten.”
In fact this will be the 14th bonanza, and quite an achievement to have been there for them all. Ben added “That’s not too bad is it? Paul Ackroyd rang me and asked ‘Do I need to ask you the question, I said ‘No you don’t!’”
Only 11 riders have actually won the meeting, with Barker joining the list thanks to winning at Birmingham in 2012. Danny King and Comets’ own Craig Cook have won the meeting twice.
Ben himself has had injuries along the way and been grateful for assistance from the SRBF. “I finished last season injured. I’m fit and feeling good now. It took a while to heal but we got there and I’m back working and ready for next year.
“The Ben Fund was able to help me a bit. They help everyone when it’s needed and that’s why I support it as well as I do.”
He will be turning out in the new season for Plymouth, his third successive season with them which is a period of calm after numerous changes of club earlier in his career.
“Back at Plymouth. It’s only 40 minutes away and being on a Saturday suits me as well. Things aren’t quite ready yet but the machinery is all there, we aren’t waiting on much. It’ll be just putting it together now.
“I’m hoping also to ride in the Premier League. For a long time there was a lot of talk and I was going to sign for a club, but things changed and they went in a different direction. It left me with no options because I had kind of put all my eggs in one basket.
“But my attitude is that if I’m riding good I’ll be picked, so it’s down to me. There’s about 30 riders currently riding in Australia so there might be injuries – nothing is settled.”
Workington will be a new track for him. “I’ve never been there so that will be good. I’ve seen it, it looks like a track I will ride well. We’ll just go there and get stuck in, and what will be will be.”
One recent development for the experienced campaigner last year was some co-commentating on Live streams. “Hopefully I will do more, I did the Plymouth Livestream last year and I’ve also done one for BSN. I really enjoyed it and it’s something I would like to explore more. It’s nice as a rider to sometimes relay information that other people wouldn’t see.”
How many more Ben Fund Bonanzas does he see himself racing in? “I’ve got a target in my head. Initially it was ten but I’ve gone and moved it!
