Benji Compton

Benjamin Mark "Benji" Compton (born 17 September 1986, in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife)[1] is a Spanish-British motorcycle speedway rider.[2]

Benji Compton
Born (1986-09-17) 17 September 1986
Tenerife, Spain
NationalitySpanish/British
Career history
Great Britain
2004Buxton Hitmen
2005, 2008Scunthorpe Scorpions
2006Sheffield Tigers
2007Berwick Bandits
2007King's Lynn Stars
2008, 2009Redcar Bears
2013Kent Kings
2021Belle Vue Colts
Poland
2009Piła
Individual honours
2008Conference League Riders champion
Team honours
2007Premier Trophy Winner
2006Conference League Pairs champion

Career

Compton has ridden for Buxton Hitmen in 2004, Scunthorpe Scorpions in 2005, Sheffield Tigers in 2006. He won the Conference League Pairs Championship, partnering Paul Cooper, held at the Eddie Wright Raceway, on 28 August 2006.[3]

In 2007, He rode for Berwick Bandits and King's Lynn Stars. He won the Premier Trophy in 2007 while riding for King's Lynn.[4][5]

His parent club is Sheffield Tigers who in 2008 granted him permission to ride for Scunthorpe Scorpions who had moved up to the Premier League from the Conference League. Compton had ridden for Scunthorpe in the Conference League from 2005 to 2007. In May 2008, however, it was revealed that Compton would be leaving Scunthorpe as part of team strengthening.[6] Compton subsequently rode for the Redcar Bears for the remainder of the season. In September 2008, Compton won the Conference League Riders' Championship at Rye House with a 14 point tally.[7][8]

Compton is the first speedway rider with Spanish citizenship to have signed a contract with a Polish club (Polonia Piła for the 2009 season).[9] In August 2009, he joined National League team, the Weymouth Wildcats.

Compton took some time out from speedway to concentrate on his budding career in hairdressing, but returned in 2013 with Kent Kings in the National League.[10]

In 2021, he rode for the Belle Vue Colts during the 2021 National Development League speedway season.

Personal life

Compton was born in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, Spain. When he was four years old, his family was moved to Great Britain. He now lives in Bradford, England and has two citizenships; Spanish and British.[9] Compton is the younger brother of former Sheffield Tigers captain Andre Compton.

References
  1. Oakes, Peter (2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6.
  2. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. Bamford, Robert (2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook, Profile Peter I Karlsson. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-07524-4250-1.
  4. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  5. "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. "Scunthorpe Speedway: Compton leaves as Scorpions set to strengthen". WorldSpeedway.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  7. "Compton takes Conference title". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  8. "Cats capture Compton". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. "Hiszpan w polskiej lidze" (in Polish). SportoweFakty.pl. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  10. "Kings Call for Compton", speedwaygb.co, 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013
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