Three more for the Bonanza
Latest News Wednesday 21st February 2024, 8:00am
Fans at Scunthorpe, Edinburgh, Leicester and Oxford can start making travel arrangements to get to Workington on Saturday 16th March for the Ben Fund Bonanza, as they are ensured of at least one of their own riders to follow. Simon Lambert, Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen will all be appearing in the event.
Scunthorpe's Lambert said "I've ridden in the last three, Scunthorpe, Peterborough and King's Lynn and I think I scored about 8 last year.
"What they do for the injured, and not just the injured now but the injured previous such as Ricky Ashworth is phenomenal. It's a meeting I always put my name forward to do and while I'm riding I'll offer to do for such a good cause.
"It's a new track for everybody, or the majority, which is good because it's a bit of a neutral track which will be a good bit of practise for me. I hope everyone gather to support it, everyone will want a speedway fix and it will be a bumper crowd I hope.
"I've seen a few videos on Facebook from Workington, early on it looked a big open track and a white line thing, but then watching Cookie practise and a few races later on in the National League last year, and you can ride tight, mid-track or out wide and it's a proper racing track from the looks of it.
"There's some big names in it, Freddie Lindgren's in it, it's an honour just to ride with a rider like that. We don't get paid a lot for doing it, it's for the cause so I respect a rider like him doing it.
"For the coming season I only have Scunthorpe at the moment I'm afraid, good old British Speedway, one league's not enough so of course I am looking for something else. I had a solid opening meeting in the Bonanza at King's Lynn last year, had a pretty good year, and now I have a point to prove, that last year wasn't a one-hit wonder and I have big ambitions and goals for myself."
Justin Sedgmen is in a similar position to Simon with just one league in the UK at the moment. He rides in the Bonanza for the second year running.
"The Ben Fund is obviously a good cause. And the Bonanza is at Workington, a new track I've never ridden at, it will be a good meeting to start with. Get rid of the cobwebs and get the bikes going, and help the injured riders at the same time.
"I have had help once when I was out for six weeks I think. They got in touch the day after I crashed, no questions asked, I didn't even have to call, they knew what had happened and helped me."
Sedgy has had a great winter back home with several big events won. He says "I did the same last year to be honest but yes, it was good. I didn't fancy the Aussie titles because it can be gruelling. I'm glad I sat it out. I'd always like to win the Aussie Championship but it is quite a task.
"Last season I burnt the candle at both ends so I took October off and most of November and I am recharged.
"I've got Edinburgh again next year and I wouldn't mind if I stayed there for the rest of my career. I'm just 33 and I can't see myself riding past 40.
"In Poland I will be with Daugavpils, league two, and I definitely want a Premiership berth. I thought I might have gone up with Birmingham but the stars didn't align or something. In a way that's a bit of a relief because I rode better away from home last season. My away average was higher. If I can ride as I should at Armadale and keep the same away I'll have a 9-point average!
"Perhaps I can pick up one or two guest bookings in the Premiership to let them see what I can do. It's a harder league now, they are bringing in some top riders which is good but it makes it harder to earn good money!"
Sam Masters rides this year with Oxford and Leicester and competes in his fourth Bonanza. "The Ben Fund have been pretty helpful whenever I've been injured. This is my fourth one, it's a good cause and I'll always do it if I'm asked. Last year I didn't because it was my own Testimonial the next day.
"We are at a new track at Workington so it will be a good chance to go there before we're there with Oxford. I'm pleased to be back at Oxford in the Championship, and at Leicester I've always gone well, I think we have a good team there. I got a maximum there on my first meeting back for Edinburgh a few years ago.
"After Wolves closed I had a couple of offers and I didn't even know what Oxford were going to do. So I didn't have that option at the time I chose Leicester."
A former champion, he was disappointed in the Aussie titles, but not for the lack of trying. "I wanted to have a crack at the Aussie title and also make the GP qualifiers, so I sent some good equipment over, but when I got there, there were delays and I had to borrow stuff which wasn't ideal. I still tried but it wasn't enough."
"It's been a good time for the family though. "The boys love Australia, we just leave the back door open and they run free. We won't have that in the UK."
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.
