GARRITY, Jason
DATE OF BIRTH: 9 November 1994, Manchester, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Buxton.
MAJOR HONOURS: British Under-15 Champion: 2008.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The 2008 British Under-15 Champion was initially named in the Buxton side for 2009, but was replaced in the declared line-up by Danny Hodgson at the start of May, having sustained a hand injury prior to officially turning a wheel for the club. After a period of recuperation, the talented Manchester-born youngster - who possesses an eye-catching on-the-gas style - returned to the Buxton squad in the No. 8 berth in July, replacing Scott Whittington. His place in the squad didn't last long, though, and at the end of the same month, he was replaced in the position by Danny Hodgson.

GATHERCOLE, Cory James
DATE OF BIRTH: 2 December 1986, Irymple, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007-08) Isle of Wight, Swindon; (2009) Somerset, Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Western Australia State Champion: 2007; Victoria State Champion: 2007; New South Wales Under-21 State Champion: 2007.
CLUB HONOUR: Four-Team Championship winner: 2007 [Isle of Wight].
RIDER LINKS: Second cousin of Leigh Adams (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Although the Aussie is a second cousin of the mighty Leigh Adams, he is very much an upcoming rider in his own right, having taken his first skids as a junior at Mildura, Australia, in November 1999. Having won the Australian Junior Pairs Championship with Mark James in 2000 and the Victoria State Junior Championship in 2001, he moved on to 500cc equipment when he turned 16-years-of-age on 2 December 2002. After continuing to hone his skills, Gathercole first appeared in the UK in 2006, when he made a few appearances for Swindon Sprockets in the Academy League whilst on a short visit to these shores. He then spent a couple of seasons with the Isle of Wight, whilst also filling a role in Swindon's back-up department. The Aussie's 2008 campaign was disrupted by a hand injury in the middle part of the term but, prior to the setback, Gathercole had been performing well at both Premier and Elite League level.A move to Somerset followed in 2009 and he was again identified on the Robins' books in a ‘doubling-up' capacity - alongside American Ryan Fisher - until a change in July saw him replaced in the role by fellow Aussie Mark Lemon, with Gathercole instead moving into the No. 8 berth in place of a third speedster from Down Under, namely Richard Sweetman.

GJEDDE, Charlie Rasmussen
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 December 1979, Holstebro, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) Swindon; (1999) Coventry, Wolverhampton; (2001) Reading; (2002) Swindon; (2003) Swindon, Oxford; (2004-05) Swindon; (2006) Reading; (2007) Swindon; (2008-09) Belle Vue.
MAJOR HONOURS: Danish Under-21 Champion: 1995; World Cup Champion: 2006.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 2003 [Swindon]; Pairs Championship winner: 2004 [Swindon].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The cheery Dane, well-known for his leg-trailing style, particularly enjoys utilizing the wider racing lines and, over the years, has thrilled supporters with his  attacking riding style. Early career highlights saw him win the Danish Under-21 Championship in 1995, prior to finishing fifth in the 1997 World Under-21 Final. Gjedde arrived on the British speedway scene in 1998, having been snapped-up by then Swindon co-promoter Richard Evans. In 1999, the Robins opted to join the Premier League but, perfectly reasonably, the Dane was keen to further his career in the top-flight and subsequently joined Coventry on loan. However, after completing just seven Craven Shield matches for the Bees, he and fellow Dane Rene Madsen were released as the Brandon-based outfit re-shuffled their side. Gjedde eventually relocated to Wolverhampton - who were in the midst of an injury crisis - and was all set to remain with the Monmore men in 2000 but, just a month before the tapes were due to rise, he was involved in a car crash in his homeland. The accident left him with a broken right kneecap, which was quickly operated on and, later in April, he made an attempt to return. However, in a practice session, he went into a corner and felt the knee crack again. That ruled him out of action for the entire year. Keen to re-establish himself in the sport again in 2001, he was allowed to join Reading on loan and enjoyed a good year with the Smallmead club. After that, it came as no surprise when Swindon boss Peter Toogood recalled him to Blunsdon for the 2002 campaign. Just before the season, however, Gjedde snapped his Achilles' tendon while playing football in Denmark and for a while, it looked like he was in for another spell on the sidelines. Thankfully, frequent physiotherapy did the trick and he only ended up missing the Robins' first two Premier Trophy matches. Remaining with the Wiltshire club in 2003, he also ‘doubled-up' with Elite League Oxford and did very well for the Silver Machine outfit. His 2004 campaign with Swindon was hampered by ten weeks on the sidelines due to a broken right ankle, suffered when riding for his Swedish side, Vargarna, in a home match versus Indianerna on 4 May. Put in simple terms, the Dane then enjoyed the best year of his career in terms of Elite League racing in 2005. It was a just a shame that his season's racing was curtailed by a track crash in his homeland, which left him with two snapped ligaments. Of course, he was the subject of much terrace talk when it became common knowledge that only two riders with green sheet averages in excess of 8.00 were permitted per team for the following year. His final official figure (exclusive of bonus points) was 8.08 and, with Leigh Adams (9.95) and Lee Richardson (8.24) to also consider, team boss Alun Rossiter had a lot to weigh up before naming his 2006 line-up. As things turned out Gjedde was to spend another year on loan at Reading, where he grew in confidence as the season progressed. After assisting his country to World Cup glory in a gripping final at Smallmead Stadium on 22 July, he went on to help the renamed Bulldogs reach the Play-Off final where they only just missed out on the Championship amid dramatic scenes against Peterborough. After once again returning to Swindon in 2007, he spent the following season on loan at Belle Vue and then featured in a full-time move to the Aces in 2009, when he was part of a swap deal that took Simon Stead to the Robins' nest on a permanent basis. He had assumed the role of captain for the Manchester club this term, however, following a 2-point return from a league match for the Aces at Swindon on 23 July, Gjedde was forced to admit that his season was over. This was due to a detached shoulder ligament, which was the legacy of a crash at Eastbourne on 20 June, when Cameron Woodward clipped his rear wheel in the original running of heat fourteen. Although the Holstebro-born speedster had tried to ride through the injury, the pain proved too much and it was confirmed that he required an operation, which would need six-to-nine months' recovery time. He therefore decided to get the repair work done as soon as possible, with a view to being fully fit for the start of the 2010 campaign. In his absence, Belle Vue initially operated the rider replacement facility but, three weeks into August, they made widespread changes that saw Gjedde's name, together with those of Tomasz Chrzanowski and Morten Risager, deleted from the team declaration, as dramatic modifications were effected. Incoming was the returning Jason Crump, together with Lubos Tomicek, whilst the Aces also opted to sign both Joel Parsons and Michal Rajkowski under the rule that permits Premier League riders to ‘double-up' with clubs in the higher sphere. The Dane duly had his shoulder operation in Denmark on 24 August, when the ligaments were pinned back into place.

GOUGH, David John
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 January 1986, Newport, Gwent, South Wales.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001) Newport II; (2002) Carmarthen; (2003) Carmarthen, Newport II; (2008-09) Plymouth.
CLUB HONOURS: Conference Trophy winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; National Trophy winner: 2009 [Plymouth]. RIDER LINKS: Brother of Graig Gough (born: 24 November 1981, Newport, Gwent, South Wales).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Having initially ridden at Conference level for Newport in 2001, Gough appeared lost to the sport after the 2003 campaign. However, he returned late in the 2008 season, when he was identified with Plymouth. Remaining with the Devils for the start of the 2009 campaign, he was a valued team member until he sustained a broken collarbone in a heat fourteen spill during a National Trophy encounter with Weymouth at St Boniface Arena on 11 September. He subsequently returned to action for the side on 10 October, when they entertained the USA Dream Team in a challenge match. Gough's input helped Plymouth secure top spot in the National Trophy, as the Devils added to their Conference Trophy and Knock-Out Cup successes of the previous term.

GRAJCZONEK, Joshua (Josh) Lee
DATE OF BIRTH: 5 February 1990, Kirwan, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) Glasgow; (2009) Glasgow, Belle Vue.
MAJOR HONOUR: Queensland Under-21 State Champion: 2009.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Aussie assumed the role of Belle Vue's No. 8 rider in 2009, but lost the position in a mid-June change, when he was replaced for a short spell by fellow countryman Kevin Doolan. Upon the conclusion of Doolan's permitted period in the position, Grajczonek resumed in the capacity with the Aces.

GRAVERSEN, Jan
DATE OF BIRTH: 10 April 1987, Sallingsund, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) Mildenhall; (2009) King's Lynn.CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2009 [King's Lynn]; Premier Trophy winner: 2009 [King's Lynn]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2009 [King's Lynn].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Graversen made an immediate impact in British speedway when he appeared in the Shareholders' Junior Trophy at Mildenhall on 14 October 2007 and came mightily close to the track record in his very first outing. That sealed him a team spot with the Fen Tigers in 2008 but, in a troubled campaign, the team went on to become the first in British speedway history to ‘flatline' - losing all thirty league fixtures that they contested. To his credit, Graversen plugged away throughout and made more appearances than anyone else to finish with a real-time average of 4.51. Mildenhall were, of course, taken over by the King's Lynn promotion towards the end of that difficult season and it was only natural that they would take the talented Dane to Saddlebow Road as one of their reserves for the start of the 2009 campaign. Graversen was to enjoy a superb campaign with the Stars, increasing his average to close on 6 points per match and he was also one of five riders - the others being Darcy Ward, Emiliano Sanchez, Chris Schramm and Linus Eklöf - who completed a glorious treble with the side, winning the League Championship, Premier Trophy and Knock-Out Cup.

GREGORIC, Maks
DATE OF BIRTH: 26 August 1985, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Redcar.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Gregoric was drafted into the Redcar team at the end of September 2009, following the back injury sustained by Gary Havelock. The Slovenian has represented his country in the Speedway World Cup since 2006 and also rides for Kolejarz Rawicz in the Polish Second Division. He is the latest in a line of riders to venture to the UK, following in the tyre-tracks of Matej Ferjan, Matej Zagar, Jernej Kolenko and Aleksander Conda. He made an immediate impact with the Bears, too, netting a classy 8+1 points in his debut against Scunthorpe in the Young Shield quarter-final at the South Tees Motorsports Park on 1 October, before roaring to a 12-point haul in the return leg a day later.

GRIEVES, James Robert
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 September 1974, Paisley, Scotland.
BRITISH CAREER: (1991-95) Glasgow; (1996-97) Wolverhampton; (1998) Wolverhampton, Berwick; (1999) Edinburgh; (2000-02) Glasgow; (2003-04) Glasgow, Wolverhampton; (2005) Newcastle, Wolverhampton; (2006) Newcastle; (2007) Redcar, Wolverhampton; (2008) Redcar; (2009) Glasgow.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1993 [Glasgow], 1994 [Glasgow], 1996 [Wolverhampton]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 1993 [Glasgow], 1994 [Glasgow], 1996 [Wolverhampton], 1999 [Edinburgh]; Premiership winner: 1997 [Wolverhampton]; Young Shield winner: 2007 [Redcar].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Grieves - whose lengthy career in the saddle has been littered with many team trophies - surprisingly didn't start riding until he was fifteen years-of-age. His first skids occurred under the watchful eye of Olle Nygren at one of the Swede's renowned training school's at King's Lynn. Grieves' father, also named James, was a fan of the Glasgow and he knew Colin Caffrey and Kenny McKinna, both of whom served the Tigers during their racing careers. As such, the duo built a 125cc machine for the youngster to practice on. He eventually moved up to a full size machine and rode in the second-half of meetings at Glasgow's then home of Shawfield Stadium. Grieves made odd appearances for the Tigers in 1991 and 1992, before stepping into the side on a full-time basis in 1993 - a year when he played a key part in the side's League Championship and Knock-Out Cup double by posting an average in excess of 6 points per match. He posted a similar figure the following season, when Glasgow remarkably replicated their double success with a power-packed team that also included the likes of Robert Nagy, Nigel Crabtree, David Walsh and Mick Powell. He remained with the Tigers until a move to Wolverhampton in 1996, when his Midas touch saw another league a cup double come his way. The Scotsman stayed with Wolves for two full terms, before a team re-shuffle in July 1998 saw him displaced by Jesper B. Jensen (now Monberg). That left Grieves without a track for a month or so, but he was eventually signed by Premier League Berwick in August as a replacement for injured club skipper Scott Lamb. A move to Edinburgh followed in 1999 and he put together a fine campaign to attain a real-time average of 9.16 - a figure that easily nestled him within the top twenty riders at PL level. After such a good season he was expected to remain with the Monarchs in 2000, but Glasgow made him an offer he couldn't refuse and he headed back to the west and the Tigers' new home at Ashfield, which they had moved into the previous year. His first term back with the ‘Stripes' culminated in his testimonial meeting at the venue on 28 October, when the Grieves Select defeated Wolverhampton 52-38. The Paisley-born rider enjoyed a further four seasons with Glasgow and also assisted Wolves in the latter two (2003 and 2004) in the No. 8 berth. Regrettably, his ‘04 campaign ended prematurely when he sustained back injuries in a crash during his first outing at Newcastle's Brough Park on 30 August. After deciding not to continue with the Tigers, a change of scenery ironically took him to Newcastle in 2005, and he again represented top-flight Wolverhampton as and when required. Grieves resisted approaches from several clubs to spend a second year with the Diamonds, however, he then moved on to their arch rivals, Redcar, in 2007 - a season when once more he was a valuable squad member with Wolves. The Scot spent another term on Cleveland in 2008, but the year was mired in financial uncertainty and, coupled with family life in Paisley, this probably played a major part in his decision to once again return to Glasgow for his nineteenth season in the sport. A superb victory in the prestigious Ashfield Classic on 28 September also played a part in making his mind up, the circuit being his favourite racing strip in the UK. Grieves is a tenacious performer on most tracks, however, one which he has been known not to have a penchant for is Sheffield, although on more than one occasion he has shown that he can mix it with the best of them at the Owlerton bowl; he notched 13 points for Redcar there in a league fixture on 17 May 2007, before tallying 10 for the Bears in the corresponding match on 10 July 2008 and, on 30 April this year, he scored 11+2 points as Glasgow posted a shock 48-47 success in a Premier Trophy encounter. When he's not riding or preparing his machinery, Grieves is a bus mechanic for Glasgow co-promoter Stewart Dickson's company. The Scotsman didn't ride again after 20 September in 2009, but signed-off with a 15-point maximum in a home league match against Birmingham. Had had been feeling the effects of neck injury sustained at Edinburgh, which he had attempted to ride through. It also transpired that he had had a painful kidney stone to content with. Although the setbacks curtailed his racing for the year, he was able to continue with his day job. Having finished inside the Premier League's top ten courtesy of a real-time average of a shade under 9 points per match, Grieves put pen to paper as the first name on Glasgow's team-sheet for the 2010 campaign in late October.

GUSTAFSSON, Simon Anders
DATE OF BIRTH: 26 May 1990, Kumla, Sweden.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007-09) Eastbourne.
MAJOR HONOUR: European Under-19 Team Champion: 2008.
CLUB HONOURS: Knock-Out Cup winner: 2008 [Eastbourne]; Elite Shield winner: 2009 [Eastbourne].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Henrik Gustafsson (born: 14 August 1970, Kumla, Sweden).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Gustafsson was involved in a collision with Chris Holder whilst riding for his Swedish club, Indianerna, on 5 May 2009; the incident left him with a broken collarbone.