It would have been remiss of the Ben Fund organisers not to have Glasgow representation at this year’s Bonanza, and they were not likely to make that error.
Indeed the Tigers will have a trio of their 2024 line-up riding at Workington on March 16 – Leon Flint, Steve Worrall and Paul Starke.
Young Flint has just turned 21 and as ever is keeping busy as he progresses his career. It’s his second Bonanza and he says of the cause: “Obviously the Ben Fund is a big help to many riders, and they’ve helped me out in the past, so it’s the least I could do to do my bit for them.
“Hopefully we can raise a lot of money to help the people who need the extra support. They helped me when I injured my shoulder in 2022.”
Leon isn’t a complete newcomer to riding at Workington explaining: “I’ve been lucky enough to have a few practices down there but it will be the first time in a proper race meeting, which should be interesting and cool. I think it will be good for Workington as well, to have such a high standard meeting.”
He switches from Berwick and Wolverhampton in 2023 to Glasgow and Birmingham for the coming season and admits – “It’s a big challenge I’ve got this year but I’m really up for it.”
Flint feels there could be more scope to progress in the Premiership this season with the Brummies.
“It’s been difficult to progress with Wolves when their top six have all been 6.5-7 point riders, but my aim this year at Birmingham will be to get in to the main body of the team.”
Just back from the USA, he enjoyed that jaunt and says: “It was great, I learnt a lot, and I made some good memories and good friends. It was good to have some relaxation before the madness of the season gets going. It meant I didn’t really do anything major for my 21st because I was jet lagged!”
Paul Starke has become a Ben Fund regular, and makes his fifth consecutive appearance in the event.
He says: “The Ben Fund does a great job for the injured riders so if there’s a chance I can help then I am happy to do it. They have helped me in the past, I had a big one at Belle Vue in 2019 when I broke both my wrists and they were a big help at that time. So I always want to do my bit for them.”
Of the Tigers’ trio in the meeting he is the only one who has previously ridden for the club. He’s happy to be back.
“They won the league last year so I am happy to go back there. I was smashing it with them in 2019 when I had that crash so I’m pleased to be going back to repay them.”
Steve Worrall confirmed his participation before setting off on a holiday jaunt but his commitment to the Ben Fund has never been in doubt. This will be his seventh bonanza and he lies in seventh place in the BFB points table over the 13 events to date.
As well as the usual individual event the meeting will feature both youth races and women’s heats, the latter being part of the ongoing Women in Speedway initiative.
Some of the best of British will be featuring in both classes. Pippa Laverty, co-organiser of the British leg of the FIM ATPI Women’s Speedway Academy, will be attending the bonanza in her official capacity.
Riders announced to date for the Bonanza: Ben Barker, Freddie Lindgren, Dan Bewley, Tom Brennan, Danny King, Erik Riss, Sam Masters, Simon Lambert, Justin Sedgmen, Steve Worrall, Leon Flint and Paul Starke.
