First two riders named for Ben Fund Bonanza at Oxford – Charles Wright and Jason Doyle

OXFORD SPIRES’ star Charles Wright is amongst the first two riders announced for the Ben Fund Bonanza individual meeting at Oxford Stadium on Sunday, March 23 (6pm) – and will be joined by 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle.

A top class line-up is expected for the season opener of the fourth year of racing at Cowley since speedway returned to the famous venue in 2022.

Charles Wright is a big supporter of the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund and this will be his fourth Bonanza, with double figure scores on each of his three appearances. He auctioned his Grand Prix race suit from Cardiff 2019 for the benefit of the SRBF.

Wright said: “The Bonanza is usually the first meeting of the season and it’s a good test for a good cause. The Ben Fund have helped me in the past and it’s good to give something back.

“I had no injuries last season but I had problems at the end of the previous season with back and rib injuries and a punctured lung. I worked really hard to get ready for 2024 and it proved to be a great season for me.

“After my time at Belle Vue I moved to Oxford in the Premiership last season and I’m happy to be back there – great fans, great promotion. I went from the big track at the NSS to a smaller one at Oxford and had a great season.”

Jason Doyle feels he is back to full fitness after substantial injuries that ruled him out of all racing last season from the end of May.

It will be the Australian’s first appearance in the Bonanza, although he had been in the field for the meeting in 2018 when he was reigning World Champion, only for it to be postponed.

Doyle said: “I owe the Ben Fund for what they did for me last season when I was injured. Previously it’s been difficult due to the early season Polish fixtures, but no matter what there is this season I will be riding. Everyone has to understand what a great thing the Ben Fund is for the riders.

“I didn’t expect as much support as they gave me, it would have been a tough time. I had to return money in Poland due to crashing elsewhere, I had no income and there were costs to the treatment, so the support was absolutely vital.”

He has nothing but praise for the Ben Fund organisers. “Paul (Ackroyd) and Steph (Baab), they put in a great deal of effort. Riders will find that when they do need help they will get it, and I certainly appreciated it.”

There will be sponsorships available for the Bonanza for riders, tyres, fuel and mascot opportunities plus adverts in the programme. Interested parties should contact Stephanie Babb on [email protected]

PHOTOS by Steve Edmunds and Les Aubrey