FRIDAY FEATURE: LUKE BOWEN

Friday July 11, 2014

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!”

Full ’10 Year Take-Off’ event details can be found here http://www.ryehouserockets.co/news.php?extend.858

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