Danny and Connor join the party
Latest News Wednesday 1st February 2023, 9:00am
Two more names have been added to the lineup for the Ben Fund Bonanza (King's Lynn, Saturday 25th May at 5pm). They are regular competitor Danny King who will be riding in his ninth Bonanza, and Connor Mountain who will be racing in the event for the third time.
It would have been more of a surprise had King not been in it. He said "I've always tried to support it and there have not been many I've missed since it started. It's always a joy to do for such a great cause. It's one of the meetings I put in the diary at the beginning of each year. Riders should be supporting it because it's an ideal time to set your bikes up and get things ready."
Danny of course won the meeting at Scunthorpe in 2020 and has also made the podium on three other occasions – Birmingham 2012 and twice at Leicester in 2014 and 2019. He has an additional target this year – he is the second highest scorer in the event with a total of 73 points, 7 behind Ben Barker who of course has ridden in every Bonanza. "I'll sort that out this year then!" says King.
Funnily enough his worst score in a Bonanza was 3 at King's Lynn in 2016. "That's surprising as I usually love the place," he said, "maybe I had some machine problems."
The popular ex-British Champion is looking forward to the season with Ipswich and Redcar. "Everyone knows I'm part of the furniture at Ipswich and I'm desperate to bring them some silverware. Redcar is a new challenge for me which I'm excited about."
He hadn't been seeking a move from Poole, but added "It's speedway, I've been around long enough to know how it works. Obviously I didn't want to leave Poole, I'd been captain there and won everything it was possible to win. However I did move and I'm very, very pleased to be at Redcar, they got in touch very quickly. It's a track I enjoy, they are a great club, they really are, with very nice people behind the scenes."
Connor Mountain represents the younger brigade of British riders at just 25 and previously rode in the 2019 and 2020 Bonanzas. He commented "It's a great cause, they helped me out when I broke my back and I am more than happy to do it. King's Lynn is only ten minutes or so from me and I like the track there."
The Ben Fund assistance was required due to an injury suffered in 2016 during a Birmingham v Mildenhall match. Connor hopes to use this year's Bonanza to impress a Premiership track into offering him a place this summer.
"I've only got Scunthorpe so far this season so it is good to do these early meetings and maybe put myself in the shop window with plenty of laps. The Scunthorpe track suits me and it is pretty local so that's good.
"I definitely want a Premiership place as well so it will be good to do these meetings and hopefully something will come up. Last year I probably did better in the Premiership than the Championship for some reason, Sheffield was good for me I enjoy that kind of track."
