Fraser Bowes will be sure of an extra big welcome when he rides for Workington Comets next season at Glasgow.
The Comets’ latest signing is the son of Shane Bowes, who spent seven seasons with the Tigers during his 10-year stint in the UK. He also rode for Newcastle Diamonds, Reading Racers and the Coventry Bees.
Now aged 55, Bowes senior first rode in the United Kingdom when he signed with Newcastle for the 1987 National League season before moving on to the Glasgow Tigers in 1988 where he made his UK home for the next six years.
His best season was when he won both the British League Division Two title and the Division Two KO Cup in 1993 when he averaged 8.99.
Bowes left Glasgow for Reading Racers in 1994 but returned to the Tigers in 1995. After a single season with Glasgow, he moved again, this time to the Coventry Bees for 1996 and 1997, winning the Craven Shield in his second season.
He made numerous appearances for Australia in Test Matches against various national and composite teams. He also appeared in the 1990 Under-21’s Speedway World Final in Lviv, Ukraine where he finished 8th on seven points with a win and two 2nd places.
In 1993, he finished third at the Australian Championship but retired from riding in the late 1990s, mostly due to injury.
He currently lives in Adelaide with his wife and three children (including Fraser) and runs a pump sales, repairs and installation business called Shane Bowes Contracting. He had previously worked for his father Len’s lawn mower sales and repair business.
He made a one-off comeback and got back on a bike for the Gillman Speedway classic speedway meeting held in Adelaide in 2015. Bowes showed he had lost little of his skill when he dominated the Two Valve Solo Championship for the over 40-year-olds, remaining unbeaten on the afternoon.
While riding for Glasgow he was a team-mate of the Comets co-promoter and track curator Steve Lawson so there will be an extra welcome for Fraser from him.
