Byron Bekker Explained

Byron Bekker
Nationality:South African
Birth Date:2 July 1987
Birth Place:Johannesburg, South Africa
Career1:Great Britain
Years2:2005
Career2:Newcastle Gems
Years3:2007
Career3:Berwick Bandits
Years4:2008-2009
Career4:Scunthorpe Scorpions
Years5:2009-2012
Career5:Edinburgh Monarchs
Teamyear1:2007
Teamhonour1:Conference League Fours

Byron Anthony Bekker (born 2 July 1987, in Johannesburg) is a South African former motorcycle speedway rider, who rode in the British Premier League.[1] [2] [3]

Career

Bekker started his British racing career in 2005 with Newcastle Gems where he rode seven meetings. He was quickly offered a contract with the clubs Premier League team, Newcastle Diamonds. However, with the Gems not having a team in the following season, he was sent to ride for Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Conference League to gain further experience. He made his debut at Sittingbourne Crusaders where he claimed a four ride paid maximum. The following weekend he scored eight on his home debut and five at Newport in two narrow victories. He was also three times within one point of a maximum around the Scunthorpe Raceway whilst his 8+3 points from five rides at Stoke Spitfires helped the club to a close one-point victory.

He rode in all 28 meetings that remained during the 2005 season and in the 2006 season he was the only ever-present in the side when his average (CMA) moved up to 6.67 from all meetings. He collected two maxima at home, against Newport and Weymouth Wildcats.

He scored sixteen points at the Norfolk Arena in King's Lynn as the Scorpions won the Lincolnshire Cup against Boston Barracudas.

He was part of the Scunthorpe team that won the Conference League Four-Team Championship, held on 18 May 2007 at Plymouth Coliseum.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Banford, Robert . Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007 . NPI Media Group . 2007-03-01 . 978-0-7524-4250-1 .
  2. Web site: 2008 Rider index . British Speedway . 17 February 2023.
  3. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 29 June 2023.
  4. Web site: 2007 fixtures and results . Speedway Researcher . 10 July 2023.
  5. Web site: FOURS FEVER HITS PLYMOUTH . British Speedway . 11 July 2023.