Speedway Grand Prix

BOMBER'S BATTLE

Coventry skipper Chris Harris has told fellow Cornishman Ben Barker he will not wrestle the Bees No.1 race jacket away from him without a major fight.

The Grand Prix rider returns to lead the Brandon outfit this term and he will be joined by Barker, who was named the club’s Rider of the Year in 2009. The former Stoke man finished on a stunning 6.83 average to make an impressive improvement on his 4.02 starting figure.

Barker never misses an opportunity when interviewed to claim he will become a better rider than the 2007 British SGP winner. Harris would love to see his fellow Truro-born star shine in the sport.

But he says the irrepressibly-confident 21-year-old will have to be at his best to overtake him as Coventry’s leading light one day.

Harris said: “I’ve known Ben since he was a schoolboy grasstracker and he was always cocky then. Some people might think he’s big-headed but that’s what some people need to be to get on in the sport.

“He has his ways and he knows what he wants – he wants to be at the top like we all do.

“He keeps telling me he’s going to be better than me and have a higher average than me in two years time. For his sake, I hope he does, but I’ll be doing all I can to keep my mantle as No.1 here.”

Barker spent three months on the sidelines last term after breaking his leg in a World Under-21 Championship qualifier at German track Neustadt on April 26. So Harris was impressed to see his young team mate bounce back and put almost three points on his average.

While the Coventry captain does not wish to place too much pressure on Barker’s shoulders this term, he is certain there is plenty more to come from the former Oxford man.

He added: “Ben came in and surprised everyone last season. He certainly surprised me. I didn’t think he would do as well as he did with it being his first year in the Elite League.

“But fair play to him; he worked hard in the winter getting his bikes up to a reasonable standard and his racing improved. It was a shame he got injured twice, and at critical times when he was going well.

“I think he can still improve, but hopefully he won’t put too much pressure on himself to do it. I’ve known him do that in the past, but he’s quite a strong-headed person. He’ll be fine.”

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