A MARYPORT-born speedway star will return to his home track for his first race since 2018 when a ‘horrific' crash curtailed his career riding for the Workington Comets.

Former Comet, three-time Speedway Grand Prix winner and local hero, Dan Bewley will return to west Cumbria on March 16 for the Ben Fund Bonanza, which is raising money for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund.

When he heads back to the track in March it will have been 2,030 days since Bewley last raced in Workington, when the crash happened at Derwent Park, so he himself has benefitted from the support of the fund.

He told the Comets website: “Over the years I have had a little bit of help from the Ben Fund but I’ve never done the meeting, so I should do it when I can. It’s for the good of the sport really to do it.

“I think the help I had was in 2018 but when you look at what’s been done for riders that had some more serious injuries, the Ben Fund has done a tremendous amount for the sport.”

Bewley has practiced many times at the new Northside track, but is yet to race here, and said he is eager to please the Comets fans in March.

Talking about what it will be like, he said: “Obviously it’s my home track, the first time I’ve raced there too, so I couldn’t be more excited to be riding in it.

News and Star: Dan Bewley at the 2022 British Speedway Grand PrixDan Bewley at the 2022 British Speedway Grand Prix (Image: Les Aubrey)

“It’s good to be a part of the meeting, and to be at Workington is a bonus. I’ve practiced there a few times and it’s pretty cool, but racing’s different.

"I’ve watched a few meetings and there has always been decent racing there, but that was only National League and I feel the kind of riders who will be in the Ben Fund meeting will make it even better.”

The 24-year-old is ready for another huge season. He lines up for Belle Vue in the Premiership but is also now a Speedway GP regular, claiming a famous victory in Cardiff in 2022 and twice since in Wroclaw and Sweden.

His star appearance at Workington will also give something back to co-promoter Steve Lawson – who has played a huge part in his development.

“I probably wouldn’t have got interested if it wasn’t for Steve," Bewley said. "With the new track coming back at Workington there’s a lot of people involved there, but he’s part of that and one of the key guys there.”