IAN Barney is Peterborough’s latest 40th Anniversary Legend – and he’s hoping to squeeze into his old club leathers for his Lap of Honour.
Barney, 49, will be the VIP Guest when the Readypower Panthers take on second in the table Lakeside on Thursday night (June 3, 7.30pm).
Barney was a local lad made good at the East of England Showground, forcing his way through second half events to make 397 appearances for the club.
He stepped straight off the terraces having been a Panthers’ supporter from 11, bought his first bike on his 16th birthday, made his Division Two debut at 19, and rode in his last match on May 30, 2003, when he was 42!
He scored nearly 3,000 points for the Panthers in a career that last 23 years and also had a season as team manager of the Conference League Pumas.
He admits he finds it too hard to watch meetings in person, claiming: “I don’t go because I can’t win races and more!
“I still love watching it on TV, I love the GPs so maybe now I’m making the effort I can accept being a spectator rather than a rider.”
Barney, the first Peterborough rider to win a major national event when he was crowned Division Two Riders’ Champion in 1984, will complete his Legend’s Lap of Honour immediately before the opening Elite League race of the night.