Two more for the Bonanza
Latest News Wednesday 12th March 2025, 9:00am
The latest names signing up for the fifteenth Ben Fund Bonanza at Oxford on Sunday 23rd March (6pm) are Peter Kildemand (Oxford Spires and Berwick) and Justin Sedgmen of Edinburgh.
The all-action Dane Kildemand returns to British Speedway after a seven year gap since he rode as a Poole Pirate.
Regarding the Ben Fund Bonanza he says "I haven't used the Ben Fund before, luckily I would say, but I know what it does and I am so glad I can be in this meeting to raise some money for the riders who are injured. I'm glad to be in it."
He will be a new boy at both of his 2025 clubs. "I've been to Berwick but it was many, many years ago. I'm really looking forward to it and to getting around to all the UK tracks. I'll be meeting people I haven't seen for years.
"I've never ridden Oxford before because they weren't in the league when I was there, but it looks like a cool track and I'm looking forward to that as well."
Peter won two GPs, at Horsens in his home country (2015) and Krsko, Slovenia (2016). Is he targeting a return to that level? "It's tough, you want to be at the best level you can but also I know what it takes to be at that level. If it happens then that's good but it may not come right away. We will see where things go.
"I still have the same riding style but of course being a bit older I am hopefully a bit smarter now. When I'm on the bike I will always give 110%."
Edinburgh no. 1 Justin Sedgmen has particular cause to be grateful to the SRBF after the way 2025 finished for him. "The Ben Fund for me personally last year basically took all the pressure off after what happened to me. I had a crash and then three weeks later I had another crash. Instead of going through all the rigmarole of filling out forms again, they knew that I had wanted to come back and race, I didn't want to finish the season on the sidelines. I did just three more races.
"They continued their help straight away and basically continued on what they were already doing. I had an operation and they helped towards paying for that. So as soon as I knew that I was going to be in the country on time, I wanted to do the meeting.
"Now, I'm good! Probably the fittest I've been in a long time to be honest. I ended up practising six times, different days, and rode a motocross bike quite a bit, and I'm pretty much all healed.
"I want to get back into it straight away and to be as busy as possible. I would like to do as many meetings as I can, Premiership, guest bookings, anything. Last year it kind of all got taken away from me as I was sitting on the sidelines injured. The more I can do the better.
"I do like Oxford, I came back from injury there in 2023 the first time I rode it and I got 14. It will be good to do a meeting before our first home match. We'll use Edinburgh's Press day to get some good laps in and get the new boys used to the track.
"I think maybe our season hinges on how good I go! I feel good, I like the challenge and if I can get my average up over 8.5 then I'll have done my job."
Ben Fund Bonanza 2025 field so far: Jason Doyle, Charles Wright, Sam Masters, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Erik Riss, Tobiasz Musielak, Adam Ellis, Freddie Lindgren, Lewis Kerr, Max Fricke, Maciej Janowski, Peter Kildemand, Justin Sedgmen
