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

Byron Bekker
Born (1987-07-02) 2 July 1987 (age 36)
Johannesburg, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Career history
Great Britain
2005Newcastle Gems
2007Berwick Bandits
2008-2009Scunthorpe Scorpions
2009-2012Edinburgh Monarchs
Team honours
2007Conference League Fours

Career edit

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]

References edit

  1. ^ Banford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
  2. ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ^ "2007 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ^ "FOURS FEVER HITS PLYMOUTH". British Speedway. Retrieved 11 July 2023.