SANCHEZ, Emiliano Diebo
DATE OF BIRTH: 9 December 1977, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BRITISH CAREER: (1999-2001) Glasgow; (2002-03) Trelawny; (2004) Hull, Peterborough; (2005) Hull; (2006) Sheffield; (2007) Birmingham; (2008) Stoke, Scunthorpe; (2009) King's Lynn.
MAJOR HONOURS: Argentine Champion: 2000, 2002; Italian Champion: 2004, 2005.
CLUB HONOURS: Premier Trophy winner: 2002 [Trelawny], 2009 [King's Lynn]; League Championship winner: 2004 [Hull], 2009 [King's Lynn]; Knock-Out Cup Winner: 2004 [Hull], 2009 [King's Lynn]; Young Shield winner: 2004 [Hull].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The rider nicknamed ‘Potty' spent the 2007 campaign with Birmingham, but his season was cut short after suffering serious injuries in a league match at Newport on 19 August. This happened in heat fifteen, as the Argentine racer chased the Wasps' Tom Hedley along the home straight. Sanchez clipped the Aussie's rear wheel and careered into the safety fence, sustaining two broken fingers on the right hand, a broken nose, collapsed lung and internal injuries. He subsequently required an operation that led to the removal of his spleen. In June 2008, agreement was reached between Stoke and Scunthorpe for Sanchez and Andrew Moore to swap sides in a direct rider exchange. In 2009, Sanchez was a late replacement for John Oliver in the King's Lynn side just prior to the season, after the Australian had enlightened the club that he would be staying at home Down Under because his partner was expecting a baby. A great team man, the Argentine enjoyed a fabulous season, posting a real-time average in excess of 8 points per match and scooping the club's Rider of the Year award, as he claimed the second treble success of his career, helping the Stars secure the League Championship, Premier Trophy and Knock-Out Cup. In 2004, whilst on the books of Hull, he had won the League Championship, Knock-Out Cup and Young Shield.

SARJEANT, James
DATE OF BIRTH: 16 November 1993, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Scunthorpe II.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Sarjeant began the 2009 term in Scunthorpe Saints' declared 1-7 but, following the return of Scott Richardson at the beginning of May, he instead took over the role of the club's No. 8 from Jack Hirst. Later that same month, though, he was promoted back to the main body of the side in place of Ricky Scarboro. However, on 22 June, following Belle Vue's Elite League encounter versus Coventry, Sarjeant unluckily sustained a broken arm in a second-half spill. His place in Scunthorpe's National League side was subsequently filled by John MacPhail. Having recovered from his injury, Sarjeant returned to the Saints' declared squad at the end of July, when he took the place of Byron Bekker.

SCARBORO, Ricky John
DATE OF BIRTH: 31 July 1966, Grunby, Nr. Skegness, Lincolnshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1999) Mildenhall, King's Lynn II; (2000-01) Boston; (2002) Boston, King's Lynn II; (2003) Oxford, Oxford II, Mildenhall, Stoke II; (2004) Oxford II, Coventry II; (2005) Oxford II, Sittingbourne, Scunthorpe; (2008) Scunthorpe II, Sittingbourne; (2009) Scunthorpe II, King's Lynn II.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The former six-times East Midlands Grass-track Champion joined Scunthorpe's National League side in mid-Aril 2009, replacing James Birkinshaw in the squad. He was, however, replaced in late May, when James Sarjeant moved up from the No. 8 slot to a position in the side's declared 1-7. Scarboro wasn't on the sidelines for long, though, as he joined King's Lynn's National League side shortly afterwards as a replacement for the injured Jake Knight. Upon Knight's return to fitness at the end of July, the Grunby-born rider made way in a re-declaration of the Barracudas' squad.

SCHLEIN, Rory Robert
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 September 1984, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001-02) Edinburgh, Sheffield II; (2003-04) Edinburgh, Belle Vue; (2005-07) Coventry; (2008) Coventry, Ipswich; (2009) Coventry.
MAJOR HONOURS: Australian Under-16 Champion: 2000; Australian Under-21 Champion: 2003, 2004; South Australia State Champion: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2001 [Sheffield II], 2003 [Edinburgh], 2005 [Coventry], 2007 [Coventry]; Elite Shield winner: 2006 [Coventry]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2006, 2007 [both Coventry]; Craven Shield winner: 2007 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Lyndon Schlein (born: 1 December 1951, Adelaide, South Australia).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Schlein returned to Coventry for a fifth season in 2009, following a brief loan spell at Ipswich that began in mid-August the previous year. He initially joined the Bees in the winter of 2004/05, after showing a liking for the Brandon circuit in his visits for Belle Vue, with whom he had been ‘doubling-up' from Edinburgh. Regrettably, though, his first season with Coventry was wrecked when he sustained a broken back, which ruled him out for two-thirds of the campaign. Then, in August 2006, he had the misfortune to suffer a broken leg, however, he bounced back to play his part in the Bees' wonderful treble success of 2007. The ‘Roo Boy' was in the wars again whilst representing Dackarna in a home Swedish Elite League match against Piraterna on 5 May 2009; he sustained a dislocated shoulder after being unable to avoid a collision in front of him between Fredrik Lindgren and Robert Kosciecha. And, on 10 July, in Coventry's home league match versus Ipswich, the Australian crashed in heat four, suffering a broken collarbone, together with wrist, finger and knee injuries. In the interim, whilst he recuperated, the Bees re-signed popular German Martin Smolinski to plug the gap. Having regained fitness - and following practice spins at both Sheffield and Coventry - Schlein returned to the Bees' line-up in August, with Smolinski standing down after a brief stay. The Aussie suffered more misfortune on 1 October, when he bizarrely sustained a suspected dislocated knee after being hit by flying shale whilst representing Coventry in heat nine of a Midland League match at Peterborough. Thankfully, though, it wasn't as bad as first thought and he was able to take his regular place in the Bees' line-up for their next fixture in the Knock-Out Cup semi-final at Belle Vue on 5 October. Regrettably, the season was to end with yet another setback, when Schlein sustained a serious shoulder injury in the annual 16-Lapper at Ipswich on 22 October. The accident occurred in the final, when Coventry team-mate Olly Allen fell in front of the Australian, leaving him nowhere to go, before closely following compatriot Troy Batchelor inadvertently rode over him.

SCHRAMM, Chris
DATE OF BIRTH: 30 May 1984, Maldon, Essex.
BRITISH CAREER: (2000) Peterborough II, Berwick, Arena-Essex; (2001-02) Peterborough II, Reading; (2003) Newport, Wimbledon, Peterborough II, Oxford II; (2004) Reading, Oxford II; (2005) Berwick, Peterborough; (2006) Newport; (2007) Newport, Ipswich; (2008) Ipswich; (2009) King's Lynn, Eastbourne.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2002 [Peterborough II], 2009 [King's Lynn]; Premier Trophy winner: 2009 [King's Lynn]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2009 [King's Lynn].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Schramm has had sport in his blood for many years; having originally been powered by horses, before settling for horse-power instead. Indeed, between the ages of eight and fourteen, he was a keen show-jumper, before he sold his horse in order to purchase his initial speedway steed. Schramm took his first speedway skids at Sittingbourne, before eventually breaking into Peterborough's Conference League team on 5 May 2000, when he impressively raced to 12+1 points from seven outings in a home match against Boston. Shortly afterwards, he took his Premier League bow in a match for Berwick at Swindon on 1 June. A couple of PL meetings also came his way with Arena-Essex on successive evenings, again versus Swindon at Blunsdon and also against Newport in a home encounter, on 7 and 8 September, respectively. The only drawback to an impressive first term was a collarbone injury, which he suffered in heat nine of Peterborough's fixture versus Ashfield at the East of England Showground on 2 June. The youngster continued to work hard at his game in 2001, when he again represented the Pumas at Conference level. The year also saw ‘Schrammy' break into the Reading team during the Premier Trophy schedule and, following Marc Norris' decision to step down from the side, he made one of the reserve berths his own. In 2002, he was once more identified with both Peterborough in the Conference League and Reading in Premier League circles. The Pumas were the most successful of his two teams, winning their League Championship by a single point from Sheffield in a very tight finish. A change of scenery took Schramm to Newport in 2003 and his new team-mates included the likes of Craig Watson, Niels-Kristian Iversen and Frank Smart. He also made two appearances for Wimbledon in the Conference Trophy and three for Peterborough in British speedway's third tier, before linking with the Oxford Silver Machine Academy in July. A return to Reading followed in 2004 and he also remained on board with Oxford's Conference League outfit. The Racers concluded their campaign in third position and, despite a short spell out with a hip injury, Schramm posted a healthy 5-point average. By coincidence, Oxford also ended their campaign occupying third place in the Conference League table. This was to be Schramm's final year in that particular sphere of racing and he signed off with a near 10-point average. The season also saw an international debut come his way on 12 May, when he recorded 12+2 points for the Great Britain Under-21 side in a match against Wimbledon at Plough Lane, suffering his only defeat at the hands of home ace Mark Burrows. Berwick was his next port of call in 2005 and he also spent the term as Peterborough's No. 8 rider. For the Bandits, he raised his average close to the 6-point mark, but for the Panthers appearances were thin on the ground and, in fact, he only represented the Panthers in a single Elite League fixture. Individually, Schramm enjoyed a fabulous evening at Rye House on 30 April, when he finished as runner-up to Edward Kennett in the British Under-21 Championship. His programmed rides brought him 11 points and a direct route into the final, but he was unable to prevent Kennett from grabbing glory, whilst Richard Hall took third spot on the rostrum. He returned to Newport in 2006 and again posted a solid 6-point average. Staying with the Wasps in 2007, Schramm was also installed as Ipswich's No. 8 rider in the highest sphere of British racing. Having impressed with the Witches, he made the full-time step-up in 2008 and battled away throughout to average over 4 points per match. A return to the Premier League saw him represent King's Lynn in 2009 and he was also was introduced as Eastbourne's No. 8 rider in May, as a direct replacement for James Holder. The Essex lad enjoyed a terrific term with the Stars, posting a real-time average of around 8.5 points per match - the highest of his career - and helping the side to a glorious treble of the League Championship, Premier Trophy and Knock-Out Cup.

SCREEN, Joseph (Joe)
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 November 1972, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1989-93) Belle Vue; (1994-97) Bradford; (1998) Belle Vue; (1999) Hull; (2000-02) Eastbourne; (2003) Eastbourne, Belle Vue; (2004-08) Belle Vue; (2009) Poole.
MAJOR HONOURS: British Under-21 Champion: 1990, 1993; Division One Riders' Champion: 1992; World Under-21 Champion: 1993; British Champion: 1996, 2004.
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Screen had qualified for the 2001 Grand Prix series, but broke a thigh whilst representing Eastbourne at King's Lynn on 25 April. The injury was to rule him out for the remainder of the season, with his GP place filled throughout by Henrik Gustafsson; (2) The Chesterfield-born rider celebrated his testimonial at Belle Vue on 2 May 2004, when the meeting was abandoned following a nasty crash involving Sean Wilson in the first semi-final. Having headed the qualifying scorers at the time of the curtailment, Jason Crump was subsequently awarded first place (3) The former British international was a surprise addition to Poole's 2009 squad, but has performed solidly for the Dorset side during the current term.  Screen, a real stalwart of British speedway, has spent a majority of his career riding for Northern sides and has a special affinity with Manchester's Belle Vue. Not known for lightning starts, but renowned for his leg-trailing style and ability to conjure breathtaking passes.

SEDGMEN, Justin Maxwell
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 February 1992, Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Somerset.
RIDER LINKS: Brother of Ryan Sedgmen (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The younger of the two racing brothers first turned a wheel amidst the junior scene at Mildura, when aged just eight. He moved on to the full size 500 cc machines some eight years later and subsequently finished fourth in the 2009 Australian Under-21 Championship - in a meeting won by Darcy Ward - at Gosford, New South Wales, on 31 January, prior to embarking on a career in the UK with Somerset.

SEDGMEN, Ryan Phillip
DATE OF BIRTH: 6 February 1990, Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Newport II.
MAJOR HONOURS: Victoria State Under-16 Champion: 2005; Australian Under-16 Champion: 2006.
RIDER LINKS: Brother of Justin Sedgmen (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: In a team re-shuffle in April 2009, Sedgmen was replaced in the Isle of Wight side by Chris Johnson, prior to appearing in an official meeting for the club. The Aussie wasn't without a team for too long, though, as he joined Newport's National League set-up towards the end of May, replacing Lee Dicken.

SHIELDS, Adam Matthew
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 February 1977, Kurri-Kurri, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2000-02) Isle of Wight; (2003) Isle of Wight, Eastbourne; (2004-06) Eastbourne; (2007-09) Lakeside.
MAJOR HONOURS: Australian Under-21 Champion: 1997; Premier League Riders' Champion: 2002; New South Wales State Champion: 2005.
CLUB HONOURS: Young Shield winner: 2001 [Isle of Wight]; Pairs Championship winner: 2002 [Isle of Wight]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2003 [Isle of Wight], 2009 [Lakeside].
RIDER LINKS: Nephew of David Shields (born: 1 October 1957, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia). Cousin of Ben Shields (born: 10 December 1981, Mulbring, New South Wales, Australia) and Kurt Shields (born: 28 December 1986, Kurri-Kurri, New South Wales, Australia).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Australian received a broken collarbone whilst representing Vargarna in a home Swedish Elite League fixture versus Luxo Stars on 9 August 2005. Later, the rider from Kurri-Kurri sustained a dislocated shoulder, when Magnus Zetterstrom collected him during a league meeting in Sweden on 6 May 2008. Representing Rospiggarna in a match at Indianerna, Shields' injury occurred in heat sixteen, when Zetterstrom caused both the Australian and his team-mate, Greg Hancock, to fall after a desperate attempt to overhaul both visiting speedsters. Lakeside's popular skipper is an established top-flight performer, who possesses an abundance of natural ability.  Having returned from injury, he found a rich vein of form in 2008 that helped propel the Hammers towards the Play-Offs, but regrettably sustained spinal injuries at Peterborough on 21 August, which saw his campaign come to a premature end.  The Aussie recovered to again showcase his immense talents in 2009, but was unfortunately struck down by a broken collarbone on the final lap of heat twenty-four in the Speedway World Cup Race-Off at Leszno, Poland, on 16 July. Lakeside duly signed Piotr Swiderski as a temporary replacement, with the rider from New South Wales fit to resume after a six-week lay-off at the start of September. He went on to help the Hammers win the Knock-Out Cup in October, when they defeated Coventry on aggregate.

SIKE, Tamas (Tommy)
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 June 1986, Szeged, Hungary.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Berwick.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Sike first rode a 500cc speedway machine in 2001 at Gyula in his Hungarian homeland. He eventually paid his first visit to the UK in March 2008, initially as a mechanic for Norbert Magosi, but was a regular competitor in the second-halves at Shielfield Park. He was to make only one official appearance for Berwick on 20 September, before sustaining an injury in the Ashfield Classic at Glasgow just eight days later. Having become domiciled in the UK, the 2009 season saw riding with regularity in second-half events at Berwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow. As such, he jumped at the chance of representing the Bandits again towards the end of August, when he was drafted into the declared line-up in place of Frank Facher.

SILVER, Andrew George
DATE OF BIRTH: 13 January 1967, Hampstead, North London.
BRITISH CAREER: (1983) Rye House; (1984) Rye House, Oxford, Poole, Wolverhampton; (1985) Rye House, Cradley Heath; (1986) Arena-Essex, Cradley Heath; (1987) Arena-Essex, Swindon; (1988-91) Swindon; (1992-94) Eastbourne; (2009) Rye House.
MAJOR HONOUR: National League Riders' Champion: 1987.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Len Silver (born: 2 February 1932, Mile End, Tower Hamlets, East London).
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Whilst on the books of Arena-Essex, Silver linked with Swindon as their No. 8 rider in 1987; (2) In 1988, he joined the Wiltshire side on loan in a swap deal that saw David Smart move in the opposite direction to the Purfleet club; (3) Swindon purchased the Londoner outright from the Hammers in 1989, as he became a full asset of the Robins; (4) A team re-shuffle saw Silver replaced at Swindon by Morten Andersen in October 1991; (5) Having subsequently appeared for Eastbourne, the all-action racer suddenly announced his retirement from the sport after the Eagles' opening league fixture of the 1994 season at Coventry on 26 March; (6) Nicknamed ‘Hi-Oh', he sensationally returned to regular racing with Rye House in 2009, aged 42, having not appeared domestically for 15 years! Understandably, it took a while to adjust to the set-ups that had evolved in the intervening years, but Silver was to register many eye-catching scores, culminating in a wonderful six-ride paid maximum tally of 15+3 points when the Rockets entertained Stoke in a Premier League fixture on 31 August. Indeed, his form was a revelation, but it wasn't without incident; on 12 September, in Rye House's home league match versus Newport, he was left battered and bruised from a heavy fall after visiting rider Jordan Frampton had brought him down in heat fourteen, yet returned to complete the re-run - and secure a vital 5-1 with team-mate Luke Bowen in the process. For his trouble, Silver was left nursing a heavily bruised thigh and post concussion syndrome, which was to keep him out of action of a few weeks.

SIMMONDS, Mark Douglas
DATE OF BIRTH: 10 May 1971, Truro, Cornwall.
BRITISH CAREER: (1989-96) Exeter; (1997) Isle of Wight; (1998-04) Exeter; (2008-09) Plymouth.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2000 [Exeter]; Premier Trophy winner: 2004 [Exeter]; Conference Trophy winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; National Trophy winner: 2009 [Plymouth].
RIDER LINKS: The father of Simmons' wife, Tony Sanford (born: 31 July 1951, Exeter, Devon), lost his life the day after crashing on the first bend at Exeter on 7 September 1981.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Simmonds spent much of his career with Exeter, aside from a year on loan at the Isle of Wight in 1997. He first appeared officially for the Falcons in 1989 and, in total, was to spend fifteen seasons with the Devon club. During this lengthy span, the Truro-born rider deservedly enjoyed a successful testimonial meeting at Exeter on 20 September 1999, when his own Simmo's Select defeated Colesie's One 2 Six - a team headed by Michael Coles - 47-43. Simmons made a surprise comeback bid in 2008, when he agreed to be a back-up rider for Plymouth. Having not ridden since the end of the 2004 season, this came after he had completed eight practice laps at Newport, followed by another sixteen laps at the Devils' Press and Practice Day a week later. He was to remain with Plymouth in 2009 but, what should have been one of the season's highlights turned into a nightmare for the veteran speedster, when he appeared in the National League Riders' Championship at Rye House on 26 September. He lost control and fell on the first bend of heat one and, after a pile-up with Jade Mudgway in heat fourteen, ended up being taken to hospital with a suspected fractured ankle. Thankfully, subsequent X-rays showed nothing broken, although Simmonds did sustain very bad bruising and swelling, the effects of which kept him out of action for the remainder of the season.

SIMMONS, Nicholas (Nick) Steven John
DATE OF BIRTH: 24 July 1981, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1997) Shuttle Cubs, Ryde; (1998) Newport, Newport II, Isle of Wight, Exeter; (1999) Isle of Wight, Stoke, Newport II; (2000) Arena-Essex; (2001) Newport, Newport II, Somerset; (2002) Isle of Wight; (2003) Stoke, Mildenhall; (2004) Exeter, Weymouth; (2005) Exeter, Sittingbourne; (2006) Isle of Wight; (2007) Newport; (2008) Newport, Belle Vue; (2009) Newport, Isle of Wight, Scunthorpe, Somerset.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2003 [Mildenhall]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2003 [Mildenhall]; Premier Trophy winner: 2004 [Exeter].
RIDER LINKS: Son of former junior rider Steve Simmons (born: 25 December 1955, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire).
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) The rider from Leamington Spa broke his tibia and fibula whilst riding for Arena-Essex in a Premier Trophy fixture at Newport on 2 April 2000. The accident occurred in heat four, when he lost control and his the safety fence with some force; (2) Simmons was in the wars again on 8 April 2007, when he broke his scaphoid while representing Newport in a Premier Trophy match versus Mildenhall at Queensway Meadows. The damage was done in heat seven, after team-mate Phil Morris and visitor Kyle Legault had collided on the first bend, with Simmons being catapulted into the fence as a result of riding over his partner's machine. Although he was to ride in the Wasps' next four matches, Simmons finally had to take a break from racing in order to recuperate; (3) Newport staged a testimonial meeting for Simmons on 16 March 2008, when Lewis Bridger took victory in an individual event; (4) Newport were forced to close down after promoter Tim Stone's death on 26 April 2008. Only the side's Premier Trophy matches were permitted to count in the riders' records and Simmons subsequently re-located to Belle Vue; (5) Having again linked with Newport in 2009 - whilst also representing the Isle of Wight at National League level - the much-travelled rider sustained a hand injury in April and was subsequently replaced in the Wasps side by Kyle Newman. Upon his recovery, he continued to represent the Islanders and also returned to the Premier League in June, when he was signed by Scunthorpe as a replacement for Byron Bekker. His stint with the Scorpions didn't last long, though, since he was replaced towards the end of the same month by Adam Allott. Early in July, however, he again returned to PL action, joining Somerset in place of Jay Herne.

SITERA, Filip
DATE OF BIRTH: 18 April 1988, Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Coventry.
MAJOR HONOURS: Czech Republic Under-19 Champion: 2006, 2007; Czech Republic Under-21 Champion: 2006, 2007.
CLUB HONOUR: Craven Shield winner: 2008 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Grandson of Miloslav Verner (born: June 1938, Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic); Nephew of Vaclav Verner (born: 6 May 1949, Prague, Czech Republic) and Jan Verner (born: 9 March 1951, Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Czech star returned to the Coventry side in 2009 as a replacement for Ricky Wells, whilst the young New Zealand-born rider awaited receipt of the necessary permit. His spell in the side proved brief, though, covering just two Knock-Out Cup matches versus Peterborough. However, when Ben Barker sustained a broken leg on 26 April, the Bees again turned to Sitera with his second stint of the season beginning in May. Barker was subsequently deemed fit to return late in July but, due to an injury to Jordan Frampton, the Czech maintained his spot in the Coventry line-up. Sitera finally lost his place in the side at the end of August, however, when Frampton - together with fellow ‘doubling-up' rider Josh Auty - was recalled to the team's declared squad.

SKIDMORE, Hugh
DATE OF BIRTH: 2 November 1990, Glenreagh, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Sheffield.
MAJOR HONOUR: New South Wales State Champion: 2009.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The teenager beat Darcy Ward to win the New South Wales State Championship for 2009, prior to notching a 5-point tally in the Australian Under-21 Championship. As such, he attracted much attention from the UK before linking with Sheffield in June, when he initially replaced the injured Ritchie Hawkins. The Aussie had impressed in second-half outings at Owlerton, having purchased equipment from former Grand Prix star Chris Louis. The youngster produced some eye-catching performances for the Tigers, but his season ended prematurely in heat one of a league match at Newport on 20 September, when he fell heavily and sustained a broken radius bone in his wrist. Prior to jetting back home to Australia at the campaign's end, Skidmore was the first rider to agree a return to Sheffield for 2010.

SKORNICKI, Adam
DATE OF BIRTH: 22 October 1976, Wolsztyn, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2000-04) Wolverhampton; (2005) Wolverhampton, Arena-Essex; (2006) Oxford; (2007) Belle Vue; (2008) Poole; (2009) Wolverhampton.
MAJOR HONOUR: Polish Champion: 2008.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2002 [Wolverhampton], 2008 [Poole], 2009 [Wolverhampton].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The immensely popular ‘Sqóra' became the first-ever Pole to participate in British speedway for ten successive seasons in 2009, when he rejoined Wolverhampton after spending the previous term with Elite League Champions Poole. Skornicki played a crucial role in the Pirates' domestic domination and proved to be a mega-dependable second-string rider. The hugely entertaining rider also enjoyed prestigious individual success by romping to a superb victory in the Polish Championship. Adding to his success of the previous year, he enjoyed back-to-back league title glory in 2009, in what was also his second Championship triumph with the Wolves. Regrettably, shortly after that success, Skornicki suffered knee ligament damage and a dislocated shoulder, when he tangled with Peterborough's Claus Vissing in heat eight of a Midland League clash at Monmore Green on 26 October. He subsequently returned home to Poland for an exploratory operation on his knee.

SMART, Lee Mitchell
DATE OF BIRTH: 5 April 1988, Swindon, Wiltshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2003) Swindon II, Stoke II; (2004) Mildenhall; (2005) Somerset, Weymouth, Mildenhall; (2006) Plymouth; (2007) Birmingham, Weymouth; (2008) Birmingham, Mildenhall, Weymouth; (2009) Weymouth, Glasgow, Stoke, Birmingham.
CLUB HONOURS: Conference Trophy winner: 2004 [Mildenhall]; League Championship winner: 2004 [Mildenhall], 2008 [Weymouth]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2004 [Mildenhall]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2008 [Weymouth].
ADDITIONAL INFO: It all started for Smart in junior grass-track racing when he was just six years-of-age. He began to practice on a speedway machine three years later and a further two years after that, in 1999, he was identified as the club mascot for his hometown team, Swindon. The ultra-keen youngster began participating in second-halves in 2001, before making his official debut for Swindon Sprockets the day after his fifteenth birthday at Carmarthen, on 6 April 2003. The rules of the day permitted riders to also appear for a team that was participating in the Conference Trophy and Smart jumped at the opportunity to link with Stoke Spitfires. The Swindonian first teamed up with Graham Drury at Mildenhall in 2004 and what a season it was to be, as the Fen Tigers scooped no less than four trophies, winning the League Championship, Knock-Out Cup, Conference Trophy and Four-Team Championship. Although Smart didn't feature in the Four-Team success, he was very much a regular in the side for their other three trophy wins. His impressive performances for the Suffolk outfit led to him being capped at Under-21 level on 15 August, when he represented Great Britain against Mildenhall at West Row and notched a solid 8+1 points. Following regular second-half outings at Somerset, it seemed only natural that Smart would link with the Rebels in 2005. And the year saw him also continue at Conference level, initially with Weymouth, before he returned to Mildenhall. Although it was understandably tough going with Somerset, it still came as a shock on 22 July, when a re-declared line-up saw both Smart and Jason King axed from the side and replaced by Trevor Harding and Chris Mills, respectively. In 2006, he was to ride solely for Plymouth in what was their first season of activity at the St. Boniface Arena. The Devils made a sensational return to the sport, actually finishing on top of the league table, but losing in the Play-Off Final to a powerful Scunthorpe side. Plymouth also reached the finals of the Knock-Out Cup and the Conference Trophy, but again had to play second fiddle in both to the all-conquering Scorpions. Smart made great strides in his first season with the Birmingham in 2007; in fact, so much so that he became a fully-fledged asset in July, when promoter Graham Drury took up the option to purchase his contract from Somerset. Indeed, the Wiltshire lad played a big part in the Brummies' amazing comeback season, which featured appearances in the finals of the Premier Trophy and Young Shield, as well second place in the completed Premier League table. When his commitments would allow, he also continued to hone his skills with Weymouth in the Conference League and, all-in-all, enjoyed a wonderful term of progress. However, after beginning a second season with the Brummies, Smart was to lose his team spot early in August when a raft of changes also saw James Birkinshaw and the injured Jack Hargreaves axed. Replacing the trio were Tomasz Piszcz, James Cockle and Jay Herne. The Wiltshireman was immediately snapped-up by Mildenhall, but lost his place in the side after only six matches, following the takeover of the club by Keith and Jonathan Chapman. As a result, Smart returned to Weymouth for the final two months of the campaign and played a vital role in the Wildcats' Four-Team Championship triumph, closely followed by their first-ever League Championship success as they defeated Boston in the Play-Off Final. He was still identified with Weymouth at the start of the 2009 season, but was drafted into the Glasgow side on a short-term basis, following a leg injury sustained by Anders Andersen in Denmark on 24 April. When his spell in the team came to an end, Smart was replaced by Lee Dicken in the Tigers' line-up. The Swindon-born rider subsequently joined Stoke in June at the conclusion of Mark Burrows' temporary stint with the club. Meanwhile, his association with Weymouth came to a sudden and acrimonious end on 2 July, when the Wildcats visited Bournemouth in a Knock-Out Cup tie. Following his exclusion in heat eleven, when home rider Jerran Hart had laid his machine down, Smart immediately left the stadium after being signed out by the track doctor with a wrist injury. This led to a dispute with the promotion, the upshot of which saw his ties with the club severed. Unable to find a suitable replacement, it looked as if Weymouth would eventually re-introduce the injured Jon Armstrong into their declared 1-7, thus allowing them a facility in his continued absence. That moved was vetoed, however, and they instead brought in Benji Compton. Back in the Premier League, Smart's time with the Potters was to last a month, before he was recalled by parent club Birmingham to fill the space vacated by Manuel Hauzinger. Meanwhile, the gap created in the Stoke side was subsequently filled by Craig Branney towards the end of July.

SMETHILLS, Lee Kenneth
DATE OF BIRTH: 30 March 1982, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) Mildenhall; (1999) Workington, Buxton, Rye House, Belle Vue, Newcastle; (2000) Workington, Buxton; (2001) Workington; (2002) Hull, Belle Vue; (2003) Exeter; (2004) Newcastle, Berwick; (2005) Exeter; (2006) Berwick, Wolverhampton, Rye House; (2007) Glasgow, Oxford II; (2008) Sheffield; (2009) Buxton, Weymouth.
CLUB HONOUR: Premiership winner: 2002 [Hull].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Smethills is something of an all-rounder, since prior to taking his first speedway laps at Sheffield's training track in November 1997, he was crowned British Cycle Speedway Champion on three occasions and also represented England in the European Team Championship. He was a useful runner too and once took victory in the Salford Cross Country Championship. The Bolton-born rider represented Workington in 2000, but his season came to an abrupt halt on 3 September, when, in heat eight of a home engagement against Swindon, he tangled with Olly Allen on the home straight and came down awkwardly. Unluckily, the upshot was a serious hand injury. Having represented a number of teams in the interim - mainly at PL level - Smethills dipped into the National League in 2009, rejoining one of his first club's, Buxton. However, following a home match versus the Isle of Wight on 5 July, he requested some time out of the sport and, as such, was handed a 28-day ban because he was deemed to be withholding his services. His place in the Buxton squad was eventually filled by Greg Blair at the end of the same month. After much speculation - and having served his ban - Smethills returned to the sport in August, when he linked with Weymouth as a direct substitution for Matt Wright.

SMITH, Darren William
DATE OF BIRTH: 19 May 1981, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1996) Mildenhall; (1997) Peterborough II; (1998) Skegness, Norfolk; (1999) Newcastle, Glasgow, Peterborough; (2001) Somerset, Boston; (2002) Boston, Wolverhampton II; (2003) Swindon II; (2004) Mildenhall; (2009) Mildenhall.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1997 [Peterborough II], 2004 [Mildenhall].
RIDER LINKS: Brother of Jamie Smith (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The elder brother of Jamie Smith quit the sport after representing Mildenhall in 2004. However, he made a competitive racing comeback when a re-declaration of the Fen Tigers' line-up saw him replace Gary Cottham at the end of May 2009. His stint back in the sport proved short-lived, as he decided instead to concentrate on his business concerns in the car industry. His spot in the Mildenhall squad was subsequently filled by Dakota North in early July.

SMITH, Jamie Paul
DATE OF BIRTH: 20 July 1983, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) Norfolk; (1999) Eastbourne, Glasgow; (2000) Newcastle, Peterborough II, Hull, Somerset; (2001) Hull, Somerset; (2002) Hull; (2003) Swindon; (2004) Somerset, Coventry; (2005) Somerset; (2006) Somerset; (2007) Mildenhall, Stoke; (2008) Reading, Boston; (2009) King's Lynn II.
CLUB HONOURS: Premiership winner: 2002 [Hull]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2003 [Swindon - non-riding reserve].
RIDER LINKS: Brother of Darren Smith (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Smith's 2003 season came off the rails in a home match against Somerset on 3 July when, on a track left heavy by rain, he lost control on the pits corner in heat five and came down, with the closely following Graeme Gordon unable to avoid the stricken rider. The upshot was torn muscle and knee ligament damage for Smith and he was out of action for a little over two months. Despite the obvious hindrance of his injury, he determinedly returned to the saddle in August, but he was only back for five weeks before a further hefty knock in a home fixture versus King's Lynn aggravated his knee injury and spelled the end of his campaign; (2) The Peterborough-born rider sustained broken ribs when he crashed whilst riding for Somerset at Newport in a Premier Trophy encounter at Newport on 24 April 2005. This occurred in heat eight, when spun around on the first corner and hit the safety fence after being forced wide by home rider Kristian Lund; (3) Regrettably, the 2006 season had barely got underway, when Smith was involved in a much-publicized freak collision with the track grader after winning heat twelve of Somerset's Premier Trophy match at King's Lynn on 29 March. His season was immediately over and he spent the rest of the year recuperating from a shattered left tibia, together with damage to his knee and ankle; (4) Bravely, he returned to track action with Mildenhall in 2007, but he was to be involved in another horrific early-season accident. This occurred at the Fen Tigers' West Row venue on 7 April, when Newport provided the opposition in a Premier Trophy encounter. In heat fourteen, Smith tangled with Nick Simmons on the pits bend and his throttle appeared to jam open, sending him careering into the safety fence at high speed, prior to cart-wheeling over the 12-foot high stock-car barrier and on to the greyhound track. He received a cracked right tibia and a broken ankle, although things could so easily have been much worse. Having recovered, he subsequently made another comeback with Stoke some three-and-a-half months later, on 21 July. (5) Smith was again in the wars on 28 July 2008 when, whilst representing Reading, he fell awkwardly on the pits bend during heat seven of the Racers' home league match versus Glasgow and sustained a broken left shoulder that ended his season on the spot; (6) Smith replaced Benji Compton in King's Lynn's National League team just prior to the commencement of their 2009 campaign. However, he was again badly injured whilst representing the Buccaneers in a league encounter at Mildenhall on 31 May. The accident, in heat three, saw Smith slam into the safety fence on the pits bend - in the self same place he had come to grief a little over two years previously - and he was subsequently taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, having sustained multiple injuries, including a broken hip and spine damage. The unlucky rider made a brave attempt to return from injury when he put in some practice laps at King's Lynn on 7 August, but he ended the session suffering severe pain in his lower back and ruled himself out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

SMITH, Kozza
DATE OF BIRTH: 20 March 1988, Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) King's Lynn; (2009) King's Lynn, Ipswich.
CLUB HONOUR: League Championship winner: 2009 [King's Lynn].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The rider, formerly known as Korey Williams, made his UK debut with King's Lynn in March 2008 and enjoyed an impressive first term to attain a real-time average in excess of 6 points per match. In 2009, he was again named in the King's Lynn side and also as one of the ‘doubling-up' riders at Ipswich, alongside Carl Wilkinson. However, when the Witches entertained Lakeside in a challenge match on 19 March, Smith sustained a punctured lung and broken shoulder blade in an alarming heat two spill. He returned to track action in mid-May, but was in the wars again on 8 August, however, when a fall in a league match at Rye House left him nursing a dislocated right ankle. The injury occurred in heat eight, when he got into trouble on the third and fourth corner of the Hoddesdon raceway, and came down awkwardly. Regrettably, he was to miss the remainder of the campaign and returned to Australia before the end of October. He had been told that his right ankle required another operation, so had returned home in order to get the necessary medical attention as soon as possible.

SMITH, Robert (Rob) William
DATE OF BIRTH: 18 February 1988, Eastbourne, East Sussex.
BRITISH CAREER: (2004) Mildenhall; (2005) Wimbledon; (2006) Plymouth; (2007) Boston, Plymouth; (2008-09) Rye House II.
RIDER LINKS: Brother of former junior rider Phil Smith.

SMITH, Scott Anthony
DATE OF BIRTH: 29 September 1973, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1990-95) Cradley Heath; (1996-99) Sheffield; (2000) Berwick; (2001-02) Sheffield; (2003) Sheffield, Exeter; (2005) Berwick; (2008) Workington, Berwick; (2009) Sheffield.
MAJOR HONOUR: British Under-21 Champion: 1992.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 1995 [Cradley Heath], 1999 [Sheffield]; League Championship winner: 1999, 2002 [both Sheffield]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2002 [Sheffield]; Young Shield winner: 2002 [Sheffield].
ADDITIONAL INFO: For practically all of his career, the rider has been affectionately known as ‘Scud' Smith throughout the speedway fraternity. The Yorkshireman hadn't ridden since representing Berwick in 2005, but was called into the Workington side for the start of the 2008 campaign following the severely broken leg sustained by Craig Branney in the annual indoor ice spectacular at Telford on 24 February. Smith offered the Comets a wealth of experience, having first ridden officially in 1990 for Cradley Heath - alongside the likes of future World Champions Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill - prior to being associated with his hometown track, Sheffield, for several years. Understandably, after such a long lay-off, he started the campaign quietly and it was no surprise when he was eventually displaced in the Workington line-up by Barry Burchatt. Almost immediately, though, Smith was snapped-up by Berwick, but was in the wars whilst representing the Bandits in a home league match against the Isle of Wight on 10 May. Regrettably, the meeting came to shocking end due to an horrific crash that also injured some supporters. As the tapes went up on heat seven, visiting rider Paul Fry locked machines with Smith going into the first bend, leaving the duo unable to control the outcome. With both bikes going at full-bore, the pair smashed head-long into the fencing, shattering the barrier to smithereens and sending Smith deep into the no-man's-land, but Fry and the machines kept on going, flying over the remains of the fence and into the supporters' area. The IOW rider ended up against the stadium's perimeter wall, some fifty feet from the track, while the flying bikes struck three very unlucky supporters who were walking past. Fry sustained knee ligament damage and a couple of broken toes, while Smith sustained whiplash injuries and ligament damage to his right knee. Both riders were well shaken-up and shocked at the severity of the incident. The local police subsequently treated the incident as they would a regular accident scene and the meeting was abandoned. Smith returned to the Berwick side in a league match against Scunthorpe at Shielfield Park on 24 May, but, in heat two, he jarred his right leg and aggravated the injury to his knee ligaments, forcing his early withdrawal from the meeting. He suffered another fall in an away match at King's Lynn on 5 June, but subsequently returned to promoter Peter Waite's ‘Dream Team' to see the season through with a creditable near 6-point real-time average. It was thought that his racing days were behind him but, following foot injuries to Paul Cooper, he re-joined parent club Sheffield in August 2009. Having come into the side late on, the veteran rider put together some useful scores until he was collected by team-mate Richard Hall in heat seven of a home league match versus Edinburgh on 17 September. The accident left Smith suffering from blood clots in his leg and necessitated a spell on the sidelines.

SMOLINSKI, Martin
DATE OF BIRTH: 6 December 1984, Graefelfing, Nr. Munich, Germany.
BRITISH CAREER: (2004-07) Coventry; (2009) Coventry.
MAJOR HONOURS: German Under-21 Champion: 2003; German Champion: 2007, 2009.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2005, 2007 [both Coventry]; Elite Shield winner: 2006 [Coventry]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2006, 2007 [both Coventry]; Craven Shield winner: 2007 [Coventry].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The German first rode on a 50 cc machine at Olching in his native country during 1992. His subsequent efforts to perfect his technique eventually paid dividends in 2003, when he was victorious in the German Under-21 Championship. The following term, he posted an eye-catching 14-point tally for his country in a Speedway World Cup qualifying round against Finland, Italy and Latvia. Following that, he was a late-season signing for Coventry as a replacement for Tomasz Piszcz, who had unfortunately broken a leg. However, due to work commitments, he was only able to ride in three official matches for the Bees, before Piszcz was deemed fit to return. Smolinski made a full-time return to Coventry in 2005 and again lined-up with the side in the two years that followed, playing a significant part in their treble success of 2007 with a real-time average (inclusive of bonus points) of 5.70 from fifty-two appearances. And, in a year to remember, he was also crowned German Champion, too. Unable to be accommodated, he sat out the 2008 UK campaign, before eventually returning to the Bees for a stint as cover for the injured Rory Schlein late in July 2009. Smolinski's stay proved brief, though, as he appeared in just four league matches before Schlein was fit to resume in the side.

SNEDDON, Derek
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 July 1982, Falkirk, Scotland.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) Hull; (1999) Linlithgow, Isle of Wight; (2000) Ashfield, Edinburgh; (2001) Edinburgh, Glasgow; (2002) Newcastle; (2003) Edinburgh; (2004-05) Armadale; (2006-08) Edinburgh; (2009) Newcastle.
CLUB HONOURS: Conference Trophy winner: 2005 [Armadale]; Premier Trophy winner: 2008 [Edinburgh]; League Championship winner: 2008 [Edinburgh]; Play-Off winner: 2008 [Edinburgh].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Scot sustained a badly broken left femur whilst representing Edinburgh in a British League Cup fixture at Workington on 29 March 2003. The accident occurred on the first lap of a re-run heat eight, when he was involved in a coming together with home rider Chris Collins on the exit of the second bend. As a result, Sneddon straightened up and smashed through the safety fence, before ending up on the Derwent Park terracing. He captained the Monarchs side that scooped the League Championship in 2008, but fractured his jaw in a heat two spill at Armadale in the first leg of the Play-Off final against King's Lynn on 17 October. Unable to be accommodated within the points-limit in 2009, the popular team man linked with Newcastle on loan.

STACHYRA, Dawid
DATE OF BIRTH: 15 August 1985, Lublin, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Ipswich.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The youngster joined Ipswich for 2009, once again confirming the close links that the Witches have with Polish riders. Stachyra rode for Rzeszow in the Polish Extra League in 2008 and prior to that he represented TZ Lublin in Division One. He first appeared at Foxhall Heath in the annual 16-Lap Classic in October 2008, when he netted a 5-point tally in a meeting won by Scott Nicholls.

STARKE, Paul Simon
DATE OF BIRTH: 18 November 1990, Hereford, Herefordshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007) Buxton; (2008-09) Plymouth.
CLUB HONOURS: Conference Trophy winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; National Trophy winner: 2009 [Plymouth].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Starke rode for both Swindon Sprockets and Birmingham Bulls in the Academy League in 2007 and, having impressed, he officially came into Buxton's declared squad on 3 August that year. He went on to make a dozen appearances for the Hitmen, before linking with Plymouth in time for the start of the following season. He made great strides with the Devils, posting a real-time average in excess of 7 points per match, a figure which he replicated with the Devon outfit in 2009 as he helped them win the National Trophy, adding to their Conference Trophy and Knock-Out Cup successes of the previous year.

STEAD, Simon Trevor
DATE OF BIRTH: 25 April 1982, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1997) Peterborough II; (1998) Peterborough, Buxton; (1999-2001) Sheffield; (2002) Sheffield, Peterborough; (2003-04) Workington, Wolverhampton; (2005-07) Belle Vue; (2008) Coventry; (2009) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Youth Development League Riders' Champion: 1998; British Under-21 Champion: 2001, 2002, 2003.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1997 [Peterborough II], 1998 [Peterborough], 1999 [Sheffield], 2002 [Sheffield]; Four-Team Championship winner: 1999 [Sheffield], 2004 [Workington]; Young Shield winner: 1999, 2002 [both Sheffield]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2002 [Sheffield], 2005 [Belle Vue]; Pairs Championship winner: 2003 [Workington], 2006 [Belle Vue]; Craven Shield winner: 2008 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Trevor Stead (born: 24 May 1956, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). Nephew of Ian Stead (born: 25 April 1964, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). Cousin of Adam Allott (see separate entry).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Having spent the 2008 campaign on loan at Coventry, Stead became a full Swindon asset in 2009, when he figured in a swap deal that saw Charlie Gjedde cement his move to Belle Vue. The Sheffield-born rider - who has accumulated a host of club honours during his British career - was the Robins' highest profile acquisition of the winter, being a flamboyant racer who had always previously excelled on the fast-paced Blunsdon raceway. During a career that began a dozen years ago with Peterborough in the then Amateur League, ‘Steady' has represented Great Britain at international level and appeared  as both a wildcard and reserve in the Grand Prix series, making four appearances between 2003 and 2006. He was also a non-riding reserve for the British GP at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in both 2008 and again this term.

STEPHENS, Seemond Lee
DATE OF BIRTH: 9 August 1967, St Austell, Cornwall.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) St Austell, Exeter, Sheffield, Swindon; (1999) Eastbourne, Swindon, St Austell; (2000-01) Exeter; (2002) Trelawny, Exeter; (2003) Exeter, Eastbourne; (2004-05) Exeter; (2006-09) Plymouth.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1998 [St Austell], 2000 [Exeter]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 1998 [St Austell], 1999 [St Austell], 2008 [Plymouth]; Premier Trophy winner: 2004 [Exeter]; Conference Trophy winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; National Trophy winner: 2009 [Plymouth].
ADDITIONAL INFO: A versatile motorcyclist, Stephens first sat on a speedway bike - aged 30 - at St Austell's famous Claycountry Moto Parc venue at the end of the 1997 season. Prior to making a full-time switch to the shale sport, he had been the Cornish Moto-Cross Champion on no less than ten occasions. His career in speedway has seen him predominantly based in Cornwall - where his roots are - and Devon. He was a fast learner at the discipline and soon developed a reputation for lightning quick starts. Exeter's County Ground circuit was ideally suited to his style, but since its unfortunate closure at the end of the 2005 season, he has been associated with Plymouth. Stephens also had a go at sidecar racing in July 2008, when he partnered Gary Davey in the Mid-Cornwall Premier club's all-star meeting at Porth, near Newquay. In a family link, his mother, Shirley, was part of the promotion at Trelawny during 2001 and 2002.

Å TICHAUER, Hynek
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 June 1987, Pardubice, Czech Republic.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Wolverhampton.MAJOR HONOUR: Czech Republic Under-19 Champion: 2005.
CLUB HONOUR: Elite League Championship winner: 2009 [Wolverhampton].
ADDITIONAL INFO: For the 2009 campaign, Wolverhampton gave a British debut to the promising young rider, who caught the eye of the promotion after an impressive second-place finish - behind Matej Kus - in the previous year's five-round Czech Republic Under-21 Championship. Regrettably, Å tichauer's season was interrupted by a vertebrae break, which he sustained in a first heat crash whilst representing Lublin in a Polish Division Two fixture at Miskolc on 19 July. Although he returned to action on the continent later in the season, he wasn't recalled by Wolves but was credited with being a Championship winner with the side, having made sixteen league appearances prior to injury.

STODDART, Sean
DATE OF BIRTH: 20 January 1987, Edinburgh, Scotland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2003) Armadale, Trelawny II, Carmarthen II, Newcastle II; (2004) Armadale, Edinburgh; (2005) Armadale; (2006) Edinburgh, Boston; (2007) Newcastle, Boston, Cleveland; (2008) Newcastle; (2009) Edinburgh, Scunthorpe II.
CLUB HONOUR: Conference Trophy winner: 2005 [Armadale].
ADDITIONAL INFO: After struggling for form, the likeable Scot withdrew from the Edinburgh side in July 2009. He was replaced in the Monarchs' team declaration by Byron Bekker. The Scotsman subsequently linked with Scunthorpe's National League operation shortly afterwards following an injury to Richard Franklin. His stay with the Saints was all too brief, though, as earlier in the day of their visit to King's Lynn for a Knock-Out Cup encounter on 31 July, he telephoned team manager Malcolm Vasey to inform him of his decision to retire with immediate effect. He was replaced in Scunthorpe's declared line-up mid-way through the following month by Gary Irving.

STOJANOWSKI, Krzysztof
DATE OF BIRTH: 5 January 1979, Zielona Gora, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2005) Isle of Wight; (2006) Isle of Wight, Swindon; (2007-08) Isle of Wight; (2009) Swindon.
CLUB HONOUR: Four-Team Championship winner: 2007 [Isle of Wight].
ADDITIONAL INFO: The affectionately nicknamed ‘Stoj' became renowned for his tenacious attitude and flamboyant riding style during a four-season stint with the Isle of Wight. He originally joined the Islanders in the early part of 2005 to replace Tomas Suchanek, who was sold at that time to Elite League Poole. The Pole was a huge hit with the Island fans due to his on-track battling and point-scoring ability, not to mention his broken English! Having also enjoyed a spell as a squad member with Swindon in 2006 - as well as making several guest appearances for the Wiltshire side in 2008 - it was, perhaps, little surprise when Stojanowski made a full-time move into the Elite League with the Robins in 2009. However, after enduring a confidence-sapping spell of form, the likeable speedster requested that he be allowed to step down from the team early in June. He was subsequently replaced in the Swindon side by Paul Hurry.

STONEHEWER, Carl Bryan
DATE OF BIRTH: 16 May 1972, Manchester, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (1988-89) Belle Vue; (1990) Wolverhampton; (1991-93) Belle Vue; (1994) Peterborough; (1995-96) Long Eaton; (1997) Long Eaton, King's Lynn, Peterborough, Coventry, Eastbourne; (1998) Sheffield; (1999-2002) Workington; (2003) Workington, Belle Vue; (2004-05) Workington; (2007-08) Workington; (2009) Redcar, Poole.
MAJOR HONOURS: Premier League Riders' Champion: 2000, 2001.
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) ‘Stoney' didn't ride again in 2005 after receiving severe arm burns in a track accident during Workington's home league encounter against the Isle of Wight on 23 July. The Comets' supporters blamed Islanders' captain Craig Boyce for what happened, but the Aussie was later absolved from blame by the Workington promotion. (2) The Mancunian's testimonial was held at Workington on 24 September 2005, when Simon Stead emerged victorious from an individual event; (3) Stonehewer was to miss the entire 2006 campaign while he recovered from his arm injury and he announced his retirement from the sport. However, his appetite for racing was rekindled when he appeared in some support races in Kevin Little's farewell meeting at Redcar on 5 April 2007 and, following an early-season injury to new Comets' signing Kenneth Hansen, he sensationally returned to action for Workington as the young Danish rider's replacement a little over two weeks later on 21 April - almost twenty-one months after his last official meeting for the club!; (3) Stonehewer, together with fellow ‘doubling-up' rider Tomasz Piszcz, lost his place in the Poole squad in a shake-up late in May 2009; the duo were replaced by Paul Fry and Ben Wilson.

STONEMAN, Danny
DATE OF BIRTH: 22 April 1992, Cullompton, Devon.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007-09) Plymouth.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Stoneman again linked with Plymouth for a third term in 2009, initially in the club's No. 8 role; however, he was promoted to a position in the declared 1-7 at the expense of Marc Andrews in June.

STRUDWICK, Lee
DATE OF BIRTH: 23 July 1988, Pembury, Kent.
BRITISH CAREER: (2005) Wimbledon; (2006-09) Rye House II.
RIDER LINKS: Cousin of Niall Strudwick (born: 29 May 1990, Pembury, Kent).

SUMMERS, Aaron Richard
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 March 1988, Adelaide, South Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007) Buxton, Edinburgh; (2008) Edinburgh, Redcar II; (2009) Edinburgh.
MAJOR HONOUR: Australian Under-16 Champion: 2004.
CLUB HONOURS: Premier Trophy winner: 2008 [Edinburgh]; League Championship winner: 2008 [Edinburgh]; Play-Off winner: 2008, 2009 [both Edinburgh].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Summers' short visit to the UK in 2007 convinced the Edinburgh management to sign the Aussie and it was a decision neither the rider nor the club have regretted. His entertaining style produced a real-time average in excess of 6 points per match as the Monarchs stormed to the League Championship, Premier Trophy and Play-Off treble in 2008. And, in another super season for the club in 2009, he again posted a similar average as the club again won the Play-Offs, defeating King's Lynn in the final.

SUNDSTRÖM, Linus Erik
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 October 1990, Avesta, Sweden.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Rye House.
MAJOR HONOUR: European Under-19 Team Champion: 2008.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Sundström caught the eye when he made several late-season appearances in open events at the tail-end of 2008, including riding in the last-ever meeting at Reading's Smallmead Stadium on 19 October, when he qualified for the final and finished fourth overall. He was snapped-up by Rye House for his first full term of UK racing in 2009 and produced many excellent performances to post a real-time average in excess of 7 points per match. It was thought that the Swede's campaign had ended prematurely on 19 September, when he was brought down by Edinburgh's Ryan Fisher in heat eleven of the Rockets' Knock-Out Cup encounter at Hoddesdon. A fractured left scaphoid was the initial diagnosis, however, he fortunately escaped with severe bruising and was able to return to action for Rye House in the Young Shield quarter-final at Sheffield on 1 October.

SWALES, Stuart John
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 May 1975, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1991) Middlesbrough; (1992-93) Middlesbrough, Bradford; (1994) Middlesbrough, Bradford, Long Eaton, Cleveland; (1995) Middlesbrough; (1996) Cradley Heath & Stoke; (1997-2000) Newcastle; (2001) Glasgow; (2009) Redcar.
CLUB HONOUR: Knock-Out Cup winner: 1993 [Bradford].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Jack Swales (born: 3 September 1935, Hutton Rudby, Yarm, Cleveland). Nephew of twin brothers Tim and Tony Swales (born: 25 February 1948 Hutton Rudby, Yarm, Cleveland). Cousin of Jonathan Swales (born: 11 June 1975, Northallerton, North Yorkshire), Jamie Swales (born: 5 March 1982, Northallerton, North Yorkshire) and junior rider Matthew Swales (born: 25 September 1984, Northallerton, North Yorkshire). Second cousin of Andrew Swales (born: 27 November 1977, Northallerton, North Yorkshire).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Swales hails from a speedway dynasty and spent much of his career based in the North-East until a switch to Glasgow in 2001 but, after a run of disappointing returns for the Scottish outfit, he quit the sport at the beginning of July that year. He was replaced in the side a month later by Henning Bager, who took his UK bow with the side. However, almost eight years later, Swales made a dramatic return to Premier League racing in July 2009, when he linked with Redcar in place of the released Benji Compton. This followed some impressive performances at non-league level in the Summer Championship at Scunthorpe.

SWEETMAN, Richard Thomas
DATE OF BIRTH:  28 July 1990, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) Isle of Wight; (2009) Birmingham, Swindon, Belle Vue.
MAJOR HONOUR: New South Wales State Under-21 Champion: 2007.
ADDITIONAL INFO: Having initially begun competing in junior level racing at just eleven years-of-age, Sweetman is another of the many young Australians who are forging a route to the top in speedway. After winning the New South Wales State Under-21 Championship in 2007, he was the target of many British clubs and subsequently made his way to the UK for a season of racing at Premier League level with the Isle of Wight the following year. A move to Birmingham followed in 2009, when he also filled the position of the No. 8 rider at Swindon until a switch in July saw him replaced in the role at the Wiltshire club by Cory Gathercole. As a full asset of the club, he still remains very much a part of the Robins' future plans, though, and a couple of performances from the reserve berth for the Brummies fully emphasized why - on 8 July, he bagged 19+1 points in a PL match versus Berwick at Perry Barr; then, on 12 July, he scorched to a 20+1 paid maximum haul in a home league encounter against Workington. Sweetman's excellent form had been noted by Belle Vue and he was to link with the Aces in a ‘doubling-up' capacity in September, alongside fellow Aussie Joel Parsons.

SWIDERSKI, Piotr
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 May 1983, Gostyn, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2006-07) Peterborough; (2008) Ipswich; (2009) Ipswich, Lakeside.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2006 [Peterborough]; Elite Shield winner: 2007 [Peterborough].
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Swiderski was a huge hit in his first season at Ipswich in 2008 and his return for 2009 was greeted with universal approval by the Witches' fans. The rider first linked with Peterborough in 2006 and returned to ride for the East of England Showground-based side the following term after an impressive debut campaign. His never-say-die attitude and solid performances subsequently saw  Ipswich swoop for the Pole in 2008 on a loan deal from the Panthers; (2) The Gostyn-born rider was unable to replicate his good form for the Witches in 2009, however, and this led to him being released and replaced in the side by Troy Batchelor in a July shake-up. He wasn't out of work in the UK for long, though, as he joined Lakeside on a temporary basis following the injury suffered by Hammers' skipper Adam Shields in the Speedway World Cup Race-Off at Leszno, Poland, on 16 July. The Pole's run in the team came to an end at the beginning of September, when Shields was fit to resume racing.