Speedway’s Trigger signs with Leicester
PLYMOUTH speedway star Ben Trigger is not old enough to ride for a proper speedway team just yet. But such is his potential, that he has been snapped up by the Leicester Lions to ride for their National League Development side in 2021.
Trigger, 14, is a year ten student at Plympton Academy in Plymouth, but has shown great promise on a speedway bike in various individual meetings he has raced so far. Now, though, he is set to take his first step into the world of full-time racing after accepting an offer with the Lions, who he will race for from the end of May, when he turns 15.
“I was really happy and it’s very exciting,” Ben said. “Obviously it came as a bit of a shock because I wasn’t expecting anything until next year, or in the future, but obviously it’s a good surprise and I can’t wait for the season to get underway and start riding again.
“The bikes are out in the conservatory because we were doing a bit of filming for the competition I entered with the Speedway Chat Show and when you see it there, you just wish you could get on it.
“We managed to get a bit of riding in last year, but not a lot. We got the most out of what we could, but it is hard and frustrating. Fingers crossed we can start riding in April/May time.”
Ben could often been seen riding his bike before, during and after meetings at the St Boniface Arena when his Dad, Lee, was team manager of the Plymouth Devils.
During his time in charge, Lee, whose involvement in the sport dates back to the 1990s when he was mechanic for Mark Simmonds at Exeter Falcons, helped Plymouth win the Premier League Fours. But he says that seeing his son taken on by Leicester is his proudest moment yet in the sport.
“I think this going to be big news for Ben’s friends as well because Ben is actually a speedway rider now,” Lee said. “Although he rode and raced speedway, but he’s with a team now and will be paid for points, so it’s still classed as amateur, but to be paid for your performances and what have you, it’s like his first job – and his first contribution other than Christmas and birthday money to helping out the racing!
“For Ben to get a team place is the proudest thing to have happened to me. I have put a lot of time and effort in and now it’s starting to reap its rewards with a team place at the current league champions at both Championship and National League level.
“He has always been able to ride a bike and he has really turned my head riding a 500 recently. This offer cements my thoughts, really. I have never really worried about him crashing on track, or anything like that. I worry more about the mechanical side of it and whether the bike is going to finish the race... his Mum worries about his well being! Obviously I do, but I trust him to get out of trouble if he gets in trouble.”
So what does Mum think of it all? After all, there are fewer sports more dangerous or unforgiving as speedway, where bikes can travel of speeds in excess of 60mph and have no brakes.
“I hate it!” Mum Sarah said. “He is my little boy and I do worry. Speedway can be quite horrible sometimes. He has a 16-year-old sister, Sophie, and she likes to dance and surf at weekends, so Lee goes with Ben and we go surfing and we have no signal. It’s nice to get that message from Lee saying we are all done and it’s all OK. But I do get terribly anxious.
“It’s Ben’s dream, though, and you have to support him. I keep having to remind myself that he’s with Lee, he has all the protective gear and they have air fences and medical people there. It doesn’t help that I worked in a hospital and looked after a rugby player that once had a really bad accident. In saying that, Sophie is the one that has broken her collarbone and her ankle with her dancing!”
Speedway riders are made of stern stuff, though, and it is fantastic news that one of Plymouth’s rising sports stars has taken such a huge step to what everyone hopes will be a long, successful and healthy career.
However, it is not a cheap sport by any means with the cost of running bikes so high, which is why Team Trigger are keen for any sponsors to help them on their way.
“We wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for a good friend and sponsor, Sean Wilkinson of Thermohome, who bought a 500 bike last year to have a play himself, but quickly realised it wasn’t for him,” Lee added.
“We haven’t been able to give anything back to Sean yet, but the fact that Ben has got a team spot, he was so chuffed that he’d helped to play a part in that.
“We are short of sponsors, so if there is anyone willing to help in our first massive step into speedway, they would be greatly welcomed.”
For more details, either check out Ben Trigger Racing on Facebook, or call Lee on 07775 921613.
THE Cornish Pirates have continued their recruitment drive ahead of the new and curtailed Championship season by bringing Luke Scully to the Mennaye Field.
Neath-born Scully, aged 20, has joined the club on loan from Welsh regional side Cardiff Blues.
A fly-half, who can also slot in at full-back, Scully featured in age grade rugby with Ospreys and played for Wales Under-18s before joining the senior academy at Worcester Warriors in 2018.
During his time at Sixways, he played Premiership Rugby Sevens in both 2018 and 2019, was dual registered with Hartpury, where he played against the Pirates, and in 2020, Scully was capped by Wales Under-20s.
“Luke is a very talented young player who Cardiff Blues see as one developing well for the future,” Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said. “He certainly has great potential, has a strong kicking game and has already settled in very well here at the Pirates.
“Having played for Hartpury during his time at Worcester, he also has some knowledge reference what the Championship is about.”
Meanwhile, the Pirates have launched a funding appeal to help support the club with the increased Covid-related costs needed to participate in the 2020/21 season.
Negotiations with Sport England under the Sport Winter Survival Package have enabled the club to take on a loan to help subsidise the huge loss of income for this season, but unfortunately, with no grant available to support the additional Covid-related costs of testing and operational requirements, the club is left to face these costs over and above planned budgets. Testing alone is expected to be in excess of £100,000. The support received to date has been overwhelming.”
For more details, visit GoFundMe.com and search for ‘Pledge4Pirates.’