Ricky and Max on track tomorrow

NEWS Saturday 11th March 2017, 7:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Ricky Wells and Max Clegg will be amongst the riders turning out to put on a show in Sunday’s Ben Fund Bonanza at Ashfield (2pm).

Fundraising is the priority but both of our boys will be keen to get the season off on the right footing for themselves. The American star will be having his first meeting as a Monarch, and young Max knows his form on the faster circuits will be under some scrutiny this season.

It’s Ricky’s first Bonanza, but Max’s second having ridden at Swindon in 2015. The northern clubs are well represented with four home men (Nike Lunna along with heat leader trio Summers, Lawson and Richie Worrall), three from the Bandits (Vissing, Doolan and Bridger) along with our duo, Steve Worrall from Newcastle and Thomas Jorgensen from Workington.

Lewis Bridger hasn’t been seen too often this far north and it will be interesting to see if he can make the kind of mark this season that was predicted for him years ago. There’s no doubting his entertainment value.

Stuart Robson is another entertainer and if he has got himself organised this early in the year for his ninth appearance in the event, Redcar’s Ben Barker can be as well. Ben is the only former Bonanza winner in the field.

Chris Harris is the biggest name in the meeting, and along with Robson they are the only two Premiership-only men in the field (got to get used to these new names for the leagues). Grateful for the participation of the former GP winner, organiser Paul Ackroyd described Harris as “a Hero” for answering the call. He won’t find it an easy afternoon, though, against the cream of northern Championship talent.

There are even two riders who don’t have a UK team at all this season – James Sarjeant was left high and dry when Coventry pulled out recently, and David Howe has returned full of enthusiasm having had enough of retirement. Hopefully he will be just as enthusiastic after the meeting.

Post-event, the talk might be as much about those who didn’t ride as those who did. It does seem incredible, for example, that Team GB can hold their team bonding weekend at the same time as the Ben Fund Bonanza – someone seems to have their priorities muddled up.

The Ben Fund forked out £78,000 to help injured riders last season, which takes a lot of replacing. This included alterations to the Ashworth family home which will help Ricky live a more comfortable life. The former Bandit will be at Ashfield tomorrow.

As we approach the opening meeting of the UK Speedway season we hope for good weather and a good turnout in support of the most important speedway charity.