Ben Barker

Benjamin (Ben) John Barker (born 10 March 1988 in Truro, Cornwall)[1] is a British speedway rider.

Ben Barker
Born (1988-03-10) 10 March 1988
Truro, England
NationalityEngland
Current club information
British leagueSomerset Rebels
Career history
Great Britain
2003Trelawny Pitbulls
2003–2005Oxford Cheetahs
2004Coventry Cougars
2005Exeter Falcons
2006, 2020–Somerset Rebels
2006Stoke Spitfires
2007–2008Stoke Potters
2008–2010Coventry Bees
2011–2014Birmingham Brummies
2011–2012, 2014Plymouth Devils
2013, 2016Ipswich Witches
2015Berwick Bandits
2015, 2019Peterborough Panthers
2016Glasgow Tigers
2017–2019Redcar Bears
2017Rye House Rockets
2019Scunthorpe Scorpions
Poland
2008-WTS Wrocław
Team honours
2008Craven Shield winner

Career summary

Barker signed for Stoke Potters in December 2006 after impressing for the Stoke club's Conference League side, Stoke Spitfires.[2] In October 2006, Barker finished in third place in the British Under-18 Championship behind winner Lewis Bridger and second placed Tai Woffinden.[3] In April 2007, a month after his 19th birthday, he reached the final of the British Under-21 Championship, finishing fourth.[4]

Barker has represented Great Britain at Under-21 level.[5] He rode for Great Britain in the 2006 Team Speedway Junior World Championship. He also competed in the 2007 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship finishing seventh in Qualifying Round B at Goričan in Croatia on 12 May 2007, before going out of the competition on 17 June in Semi Final B at Daugavpils in Latvia, where he finished 14th.

Barker returned to the Coventry Bees in the 2008 Elite League, after riding for the Coventry Cougars in the Conference Trophy during the 2004 season. In July 2008, he agreed a permanent move to Coventry Bees as a full asset, and returned to Coventry for the 2009 season. Ben splits his time with Birmingham with riding for the Ipswich Witches in the Premier League. In 2014 Barker rode for Plymouth Devils then in 2015 he signed for Berwick Bandits but a back injury at the British Final at Wolverhampton looked set to end his season but he returned to ride for Peterborough Panthers at the end of the 2015 season. In 2016 Ben signed for Glasgow Tigers in the Premier League.[6] He rode for Redcar Bears[7] in 2018. After 10 years as a Coventry asset, Ben Barker was awarded a testimonial meeting to be held at his current club Redcar on 23 March 2019.[8]

Career details

World Championships

References
  1. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  2. "Bens the boy for Stoke". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  3. "Bridger's the boy". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  4. "Kennett takes U21 crown". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  5. "Oakes names test match squad". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  6. "Double delight for Coventry Bees". BBC Sport. 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  7. http://redcarbears.co/2017/11/25/barker-delighted-to-return-to-the-bears/
  8. https://www.facebook.com/Ben-Barker-Testimonial-2019-1720585741380207/
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