Dean Barker (speedway rider)
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image =
| name = Dean Barker
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1970|8|2}}
| birth_place = Isleworth, Middlesex, England
| career1 = Great Britain
| years2 = 1986–1989,
1993–1995, 1997,
1999–2003, 2005–2007
| career2 = Eastbourne Eagles
| years3 = 1987–1988
| career3 = Cradley Heathens
| years4 = 1990–1992
| career4 = Oxford Cheetahs
| years5 = 2004
| career5 = Arena Essex Hammers
| career6 = Sweden
| years7 = 1999–2003
| career7 = Team Svelux/Luxo Stars
| indivyear1 =
| indivhonour1 =
| teamyear1 = 1995, 2000
| teamhonour1 = PL/EL (tier 1)
| teamyear2 = 1994, 1997, 2002
| teamhonour2 = BL/EL KO Cup (tier 1)
| teamyear3 = 1986, 1987
| teamhonour3 = NL (tier 2)
| teamyear4 = 1986, 1987
| teamhonour4 = NL KO Cup (tier 2)
}}
Dean Barker (born 2 August 1970) is a former British international motorcycle speedway rider who competed at the sports highest level until his retirement in 2007.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/291/dean-barker|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=1 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Rider_Index_2008.pdf |title=2008 Rider index |website=British Speedway |access-date=17 February 2023}} He earned 14 caps for the England national speedway team and 4 caps for the Great Britain national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=27 October 2023}}
Speedway career
Barker first rode for Eastbourne Eagles during the 1986 National League season, although he only appeared in 14 matches that season he contributed to a league and cup double winning season for the south coast club.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=3 November 1986 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19861103/206/0035 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=27 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }} The following season in 1987, Barker and Eastbourne repeated the success to record the 'double double'.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=History Archive|website=British Speedway|access-date=1 August 2021}}
He was one of Eastbourne's leading riders by the time Oxford Cheetahs came in to sign him for the 1990 British League season, where he would ride alongside Hans Nielsen.{{cite book|last=Bamford/Shailes|first=Robert/Glynn|title=The Story of Oxford Speedway|year=2007|pages=143–144|publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-7524-4161-0}} In 1993 and 1994,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19940307/062/0062 |title=Eagles land six of England's best |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=7 March 1994 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 September 2024}} he returned to Eastbourne and was an integral part of the Eagles team that won the 1994 Knockout Cup and 1995 Premier League.{{cite web |url=http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/riders/dbarker.htm |title=Dean Barker |website=Cradley Speedway |access-date=17 February 2023}}
He won another Knockout Cup in 1997 but suffered serious injuries that forced him to miss two entire seasons in 1996 with a broken leg and 1998 with a broken arm.{{cite web |url=https://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/riders/dbarker.htm |title=Dean Barkwer biography |website=Cradley Speedway |access-date=27 October 2023}} However, after making a successful comeback in 1999 he won the Elite League in 2000 and the Knockout Cup in 2002.
His farewell meeting in 2009 celebrated a career which included highlights of becoming Eastbourne Eagles captain and racing to podiums in major competitions such as the British Under 21 Championship and the British Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/Speedway-star-Barker-bids-fond.5076998.jp |title=Speedway star Barker bids fond farewell |website=Eastbourne Herald |access-date=23 January 2010}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Dean}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:Cradley Heathens riders