Ben Barker was born on 10 March 1988 in Truro, Cornwall.
He began his speedway journey as a teenager, debuting in the British leagues in 2003 with the Trelawny Pitbulls (Cornish team) among his early stops.
Coming from Cornwall gives him a distinctive background in British speedway — not the most common “home” for a speedway star, which gives Ben a bit of local‐hero appeal in the South West.
Ben’s career has spanned over two decades — in fact, when rejoining the Plymouth Gladiators for the 2025 season he was entering his 22nd season in the sport.
Some key points:
Early in his career, he was part of the conference‐league development via the Stoke Spitfires (via the Stoke Potters) and by 2006 won a Four-Team Championship in the Conference League.
He rode for a long list of British clubs, including prominent ones: Coventry Bees, Ipswich Witches, Peterborough Panthers, Glasgow Tigers among others.
With Plymouth, he has had multiple spells (2013, 2015, 2022 onward) and is considered a “stalwart” of the club.
A recent highlight of his grit: in August 2025 he scored 18 points in a match for Plymouth despite riding with a dislocated shoulder from a crash three days earlier.
Ben’s riding style is described as “all-action” around the Plymouth track, which the club and fans particularly love.
He brings experience (22 seasons) and versatility — he’s ridden in many leagues and has often been considered a match‐winner when he finds form. For the club, that means someone who knows tracks, knows the British system, and still has ambition and edge.
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