BEN FUND BONANZA HEADS TO PETERBOROUGH

SGB Premiership champions Peterborough are set to stage the 2022 Ben Fund Bonanza on Sunday, March 27 (2pm) as the sport’s stars and fans gather to raise cash for injured riders.

British speedway’s traditional curtain-raiser raises money for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund – a charity which supports riders temporarily or permanently sidelined due to racing injuries.

The meeting did not take place in 2021 as the sport’s calendars were condensed due to the pandemic, but the Ben Fund Bonanza was the only meeting staged before British speedway was plunged into lockdown in March 2020.

Ben Fund chairman Paul Ackroyd admits cash raised by the event plays a vital role in the charity’s work over the course of a year.

He said: “The last two seasons for us have been exceptionally challenging, so we are of course delighted to see the return of the Bonanza.

“This meeting is more than just the traditional season opener for British speedway. This event accounts for nearly 25 percent of our annual income to help injured riders.

“What better setting for the Bonanza in 2022 than the track where the Premiership champions were crowned only a couple of months ago.

“We are very grateful to Keith Chapman and his brilliant team at Peterborough for putting the East of England Arena at our disposal for this event. I think this is the first time we’ve had the pleasure of staging it here, after our original plans to hold the meeting there in 2018 was scuppered by the infamous ‘Beast from the East’.

“Planning is already underway for March 27. There’s a lot of interest from riders and from supporters alike, which is very encouraging news.

“I am hopeful that we will attract a sizeable crowd for the return of the Bonanza. We are always well attended and I’m sure that will also be the case at the East of England Arena.”

Photo: Taylor Lanning