MARK PLUMMER catches up with the owner of the best nickname in speedway (and a testimonial man) in his latest ’Friday Feature’ . . .
BREAD and butter; fish and chips; roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; Rye House and LUKE BOWEN. They all go together perfectly.
Local boy Luke - the man known as the 'Bowen 747' - is a unique species in speedway. One of the most likeable and loyal servants to the sport has spent his entire career in Rye House colours.
And on British Grand Prix weekend, he has a big meeting of his own as the Hoddesdon Raceway stages the ’10 Year Take-Off’. Let’s be honest, where else could Sunday’s bash really be?
“Having a testimonial at 28 is making me feel old,” jokes Bowen – a second generation racer who followed in the wheeltracks of father Kevin, also a Rye House rider. “But I hope I’ve still got a lot of years of racing in front of me.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well on the day. It would be great to see a good turn-out and hopefully the weather will be kind.
“Last time I checked the forecast it said there is a prospect of showers from 1pm on Sunday. We could do with that being wrong.”
Bowen’s testimonial is a milestone moment in a journey began all the way back in 2002 as a 16 year-old.
In all truth, he could easily have had second thoughts about being a speedway rider on the night of his very first meeting.
His debut for the Rye House Raiders at Conference League level came complete with a first heat win, but things quickly stopped going to plan as he was knocked off during the second half and left nursing a broken wrist.
A back injury followed later that season and unfortunately set the tone for a career often interrupted by bad knocks.
Bowen missed the entire 2013 season after a broken thigh suffered at Somerset the previous summer left him with a metal rod in his leg, but the good times still outweigh the bad for a man to twice sample Premier League title glory.
Bowen made a series of guest appearances to help the Rockets rule in 2005 and he played a much more significant role two years later when a team featuring a teenage Tai Woffinden stormed to glory.
And Bowen has no hesitation in the reigning world champion Woffinden as the best rider he’s raced alongside during his lengthy career.
“What Tai has done speaks for itself,” continued Bowen. “His late father, Rob, and my dad were close.
“Dad always reminds me that at Berwick one night during the 2007 season he told Rob he had a world champion on his hands. Berwick were really strong at home and Tai got an 18-point maximum up there.
“I’ve been lucky to ride with a lot of really good guys and be part of teams that have done so well.
“I just had a few guests bookings towards the end of the 2005 season, but it was 2007 that was the really special one for me.”
Bowen admits he did briefly ponder retiring from the saddle after his bad break at Somerset, but more than 18 months later he was ready for another dose of the speedway drug.
“I’ve never known pain like I had that night at Somerset,” continued Bowen. “Packing up did go through my mind while I was laying on the track.
“But your mind heals just as your injuries do and you soon get bitten by the speedway bug again.
“I could probably have gone further in the sport if I hadn’t suffered so many injuries.
“It has felt as though I’ve ended up in hospital every time I’ve started to hit form, but we all know the risks involved in speedway.
“I’m very proud to be a one-club man and ridden all of my career under one promoter. Hopefully those things won’t ever need to change.
“I grew up in Harlow but I live in Hoddesdon now. I’m not even a mile from the track and I could easily walk to home meetings.
“A lot of fans have become personal friends and maybe the fact I cost him so little travel is why Len Silver likes to use me!
“If there was ever a situation when Rye House couldn’t fit me in, I would think about going elsewhere. But I will always be happy at Rye House as long as I’m wanted there.”
A Pairs event will provide the main Sunday speedway course in Hertfordshire as Bowen has assembled a field featuring plenty of his nearest and dearest from more than a decade in the sport.
He will form his own ‘High Flyers Tandem’ with big pal Steve Boxall to take on competition featuring the likes of Oliver Allen, Edward Kennett and Great Britain squad member Richard Lawson.
Bowen’s bash will include action from both ends of the age spectrum.
Ten year-old twins Dan & Joe Thompson will be putting in laps aboard their 125cc machines while Ian Barney is the oldest of four riders taking part in ‘Blast From The Past’ races at the age of 53.
Troy Pratt, Alan Mogridge and his 2007 title-winning Rockets team-mate Stefan Ekberg complete the line-up.
And there will also be a battle of two wheels and four as Bowen explains: “A friend of mine is bringing his Fiesta rally car along and we’ll have a race to give the fans something a little bit different.
“My bike should accelerate a lot quicker than the car, so I should be at the first corner in front.
“I just hope I don’t get too far in front and need to lap him. There might not be much room for that at Rye!”
THE board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd were encouraged by the significant easing of restrictions announced on Thursday.
Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, revealed how grassroots team sports can resume from this weekend. Sports will need to publish specific guidance approved by government officials.
Members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have, in the last two weeks, been working on how our sport can work
safely for competitors, officials and spectators alike. We believe the biggest risk to riders is the natural danger element of racing motorbikes with no brakes.
Clubs have already been planning how social distance measures can be taken for spectators and again we must emphasise speedway venues rarely host capacity attendances.
Grassroots team sports inevitably include a small spectator element and we believe we are within touching distance of our sport being able to start a reduced season.
However, we acknowledge the clock is ticking and if we cannot begin league racing in August there is every chance the season will run out of time.
We thank all British Speedway supporters for their patience and understanding and wish to assure everyone we are doing everything within our power to start the season next month in a safe and enjoyable manner.
We will update more as soon as further information becomes available.
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE Thursday May 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway remains united in ‘cautious optimism’ about some league racing this season.
All three leagues have been keeping in touch to measure the impact of no racing so far this season and how it affects business going forward.
And the message is clear – all three leagues are refusing to give up on the 2020 season and are continuing to urge fans to 'do the right thing'.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, said: “Things are changing on a rapid basis and we are all encouraged to see it appears people are continuing to do the right thing to give us a chance of racing this year.
“The Premiership clubs had a catch up on Tuesday via video conference call, the Championship clubs are in regular dialogue and Jason Pipe, back as National Development League co-ordinator, is in touch with his clubs.
“There is little doubt in my own mind that some league racing will be possible this year. We can implement social distancing measures in stadia, both inside and outside the venue.
“We realise various club have different circumstances regarding their business, but I really do believe there will be some speedway this year.”
Damien Bates, vice chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd and promoter of Sheffield, said: "We had a very productive catch-up online with all Premiership clubs and it was good for us all to get together to discuss the situation.
"We are a long way from abandoning the season. We still believe there are possibilities, strong possibilities, that our sport can take place this season with the appropriate safety measures in place for everyone in a stadium.
"Naturally we are keeping a close eye on the travel situation because there are several riders who are in Poland right now and we need to see movement allowed without quarantine. It's a fluid situation.
"We are continuing to look at a full quota of fixtures, or perhaps half a season with 12 meetings per club in the Premiership plus play-offs. We are keeping our options open right now, all three leagues are, but in any situation we remain in the hands of the government.
"We believe we need to make another assessment when the government update us on the next phase of recovery from this crisis which will be early in July.
"In the meantime we urge all supporters of every club throughout the country to stay patient and be assured we are doing everything we can to bring some racing to them this year."
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SPEEDWAY PUT FORWARD FOR RESTART TALKS
Thursday April 30, 2020 BRITISH Speedway officials have put the sport forward for discussion at government level regarding how the season can start.
Weekly talks with various sports are set to take place and the government will assess each case individually in terms of how to restart when restrictions are reduced.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, made contact with his local MP in Scunthorpe, Helen Mumby-Croft, over the weekend and all clubs have been asked to do the same.
Godfrey has now been told speedway will be considered by government officials taking into account the venues throughout the country and the size of crowds.
“My understanding was that discussions have already taken place with major sports and I felt it appropriate to put speedway up there,” said Godfrey. “I just wanted to get the sport on the table, that’s all, nothing more, nothing less.
“If ever there was a good time not to be a major sport, it is now. It’s one aspect we are working on, of course, with sponsorship, TV and increased digital output but we are where we are.
“We are presenting the facts. Many of us can work with social distancing in our stadia, restricted numbers in parts of a venue won’t be a problem and certainly the pits area can be tightened up in terms of numbers and space between personnel, but again this is very broadly speaking.
“Above and beyond this, we are an outside sport without any confined space.
“We remain absolutely determined and committed to staging a British Speedway season in some format, but of course this won’t be next week or the week after. Yes, I know there are issues with international travel but for every problem we can find a solution.
“If there is time it would be nice to see a gradual reopening with practice sessions, but that all depends if and when we are allowed to do so.
“Whatever happens we are in the hands of the government and we can only start once we are told we can. We have various permutations available to us in terms of the fixture list, even if it means a three month or a two month season.
“In addition we acknowledge many clubs don’t own their stadium and would need full co-operation from their landlords.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE
Tuesday April 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway bosses remain ‘100% committed’ to staging racing this year.
The board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have held a conference call today to discuss the way forward.
And Vice Chairman Damien Bates said: “We had a productive conversation and we all agreed we remain 100% committed to putting on a season this year at the first available opportunity.
“There are absolutely no thoughts of cancelling the season. We all want to stage the season in whatever format that can take.
“We have people working on fixtures covering all eventualities in terms of dates and potential rider availability.
“Naturally nothing can happen until the government allow it to, indeed when the next decision is made on the current lockdown situation we will talk again between us.
“We want to give fans, broadcasters and sponsors what everyone wants and that is live speedway to enjoy.
“If it’s July, August or whenever it may be we are determined to stage racing should the government rules allow us to do so.
“In the meantime, on behalf of every club promoter we extend our very best wishes to British Speedway supporters throughout the country and we urge you all to please follow the government rules. They are not guidelines or advice, they are rules.
“We want you all fit and well and ready to come and enjoy this wonderful sport as soon as it is safe and legal to do so.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY STATEMENT
Wednesday March 25, 2020 THE board members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd are continuing to monitor the situation regarding the Coronavirus crisis on a regular basis.
With the latest information from the government stating high risk groups of people should stay at home for 12 weeks, it is unlikely that that there will be any British Speedway events taking place before June 15, at least.
The Board have to consider the public, their members, riders and officials, some of which will be included in the high risk group.
It is the wish of the Board that every effort is made to start the new season at the first available opportunity and we have members of the association continuing to provide alternative fixture dates as the situation evolves.
The British Speedway Promoters Ltd sends their best wishes to everyone at this incredibly difficult time.
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JOINT BSPA/SCB STATEMENT: CORONAVIRUS
Tuesday March 17, 2020 BRITISH Speedway’s new season has been suspended with immediate effect.
The decision has been taken in line with other sports following the latest update from the government on the Coronavirus crisis.
This suspension will be reviewed on April 15 and the situation will be monitored by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and Speedway Control Bureau on a daily basis between now and then.
LATEST RESULTS...
SUNDAY MARCH 15:
50TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, Peterborough - OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 14:
BEN FUND BONANZA, Scunthorpe 1 Danny King (Ipswich/Poole) 2 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Poole) 3 Josh Auty (Scunthorpe) 4 Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn/Eastbourne)
