Two further big names for the Bonanza
Latest News Wednesday 5th February 2025, 8:00am
This week's riders announced for the Ben Fund Bonanza at Oxford on Sunday 23rd March are Tobiasz Musielak, making his debut in the event, and Adam Ellis who made his first appearance in last year's meeting at Workington.
Speaking on behalf of Tobi was his manager Maciek, an experienced Speedway man. He confirmed his rider's commitment to the Ben Fund even though they did not take any funds from the organisation last year during the rider's period on the sidelines.
"No we didn't take anything from the fund because we never asked," he said. "I knew it was possible because of 19 years working with speedway helping Polish boys mainly and also Scott Nicholls. I knew it existed but we never asked.
"However this year we will race in this meeting and help raise the money. We will bring his King's Lynn kevlars and they will go on auction. That's a little something from us to support the meeting and the people behind it."
Musielak of course started last season at King's Lynn but bowed out of British Speedway after a crash. Maciek explained "The accident happened at King's Lynn in May, where he broke his collar bone really badly. That didn't take too long to heal; the next day he flew back to Poland and had surgery done, and 3 or 4 weeks later it had healed and he was back on the bike.
"The biggest issue was his leg, where he was carrying an injury from the year before, when he broke his leg. He was racing with a pin inside the bone and when he crashed, the pin did its job and the leg was OK, however the force of the impact damaged his ankle and the ligaments there.
"That caused a lot of problems physically and he wasn't fit enough for British tracks any more. That's why we decided not to risk any more last year and he raced only in Poland where the tracks are bigger, wider and smoother. That was the main reason.
"I had a lot of phone calls asking if he was coming back but this was the decision we made from day one. Some people suggested he would be coming back, there were rumours and stories, but that was not happening in 2024."
The rider has made one appearance at Oxford and scored an excellent 15. "That was his first time at Oxford, he never rode there before. It was just another day at the office! He enjoyed it really. I think only Scott Nicholls beat him but Scott is a legend on a small track, always leaves room to race."
His new home track at Perry Barr will be new to him. "He has never raced at Birmingham before, but we have very good equipment here from Peter Johns. I know he will have a good year. It is a new team but they all know each other; the big guns are Matej Zagar, Michael Jepsen Jensen and Tobi. They've known each other for years and are good mates."
Adam Ellis was in the USA last weekend for the Test Match over there so not available to comment. He's the fourth Ipswich rider announced for the Bonanza so far, having made his initial appearance last year. He won his first two races at Workington last year but was later forced out of the meeting.
Anyone wishing to contribute sponsorship support for the Bonanza should contact Stephanie Babb on benfundbonanza@yahoo.com. Available sponsorships and the benefits they give the sponsor are stylishly displayed on the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund Facebook page. They range from £40 for a rider mascot to £400 for sponsorship of the meeting semi-final.
