JACOBS, Joseph (Joe) Louis
DATE OF BIRTH: 14 August 1993, Ipswich, Suffolk.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Mildenhall; (2010) Mildenhall, Rye House.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.10 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Jacobs first started riding motorcycles at the age of just 4, before moving on to trials bikes when 8 years-of-age. He is a protégé of former Ipswich, Reading and England ace Jeremy Doncaster, and was quite a star for Rye House in the 2008 Academy League, a year that also saw him attain fourth place in the British Under-15 Championship. He linked with Mildenhall in 2009 and was to complete twenty-seven official meetings for the Fen Tigers in his maiden term, yielding 119 points and a 4.87 real-time average.

In November, the club revealed that Jacobs would be remaining with them for 2010 and he showed good form too in the early months of the campaign, but Mildenhall were to experience off-track problems and - at the tail-end of July - he was signed by Rye House to replace the injured Jamie Smith. Then, at Somerset on 30 July, he had to settle for the runner-up spot in the British Under-18 Championship. He had been the joint top scorer in the qualifying heats, but lost out to the Isle of Wight's Brendan Johnson in the deciding finale.

Regrettably, he was injured shortly after being recruited by the Cobras in a National League fixture at Buxton on 15 August. Having turned 17 years-of-age the day before, it was feared that Jacobs had sustained a broken bone in his foot whilst bringing up the rear in heat ten; he fell on the first turn of the third lap, before re-mounting and going down again on the fourth bend.

However, the club received positive news a day later that he had escaped without any broken bones from his accident in the Peak District, although he had been left with a major swelling to his foot and ankle, which prevented him from any weight bearing. He recovered quickly thereafter, though, and returned to action for Rye House in a National League fixture against Scunthorpe at Hoddesdon on 28 August.

JAKOBSEN, Klaus
DATE OF BIRTH: 30 January 1989, Aaby, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) Stoke; (2009) Stoke, Coventry; (2010) Stoke, Peterborough, Birmingham.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.35 (PL), 3.00 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The talented Dane joined Stoke for the start of the 2008 campaign and went on to score 204 points from thirty-seven official appearances for a real-time average of 5.48. He remained on board with the Potters in 2009 and, in June, also linked with Coventry in the No. 8 berth, following the Bees’ decision to promote Josh Auty from the position to a ‘doubling-up’ role. He raised his average to close on 6 points per match for the Loomer Road outfit and, in January, got the nod over compatriot Jesper Kristiansen as the final piece in the club’s team-building jigsaw for 2010.

Following that, there was speculation that he might also ‘double-up’ with a top-flight outfit and, within days, he had agreed to fill that very role with Peterborough. However, the Dane’s future at Stoke looked uncertain in early May, when the club confirmed that they had applied to the BSPA for a facility to cover his absence. Neither the Potters nor the Elite League Panthers, where Jakobsen was a squad member, had been able to make contact with the Dane amid rumours that he had quit the sport due to family problems.

At the tail-end of the same month, Peterborough opted to dispense with the ‘doubling-up’ system, replacing Jakobsen and Linus Eklöf with permanent reserve Mathieu Trésarrieu. And, after utilizing the rider replacement facility in his absence, Stoke made major team changes at the beginning of June; this saw them draft in both Claus Vissing and Jan Graversen in place of the absent Dane and broken ankle-victim Adam Roynon.

However, Jakobsen was to make a return to the British scene with Birmingham when, on 1 August, the Perry Barr-based club announced his acquisition to replace leg injury-victim Chris Kerr. The Aaby-born rider’s stint in the side came to an end during September, though, when Kerr was declared fit to return to the Brummies’ line-up.

JANOWSKI, Maciej (Maciek)
DATE OF BIRTH: 6 August 1991, Wrocław, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Polish Under-21 Champion: 2008, 2010; World Under-21 Team Cup Champion: 2008, 2009; European Under-19 Team Champion: 2009.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.00 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Just six days after his sixteenth birthday, on 12 August 2007, the rider who prefers to be known as Maciek Janowski (pronounced Mash-ek Yan-ov-ski) made his debut for his hometown club, Wrocław, in a Polish Extraleague Play-Off fixture versus a visiting Rzeszów septet, marking the occasion by scoring a single point. It may have been a largely inauspicious debut, but he was on the road to big things and he really started to blossom in 2008.

Indeed, on 19 August, he was victorious in the Polish Under-21 Championship at Rybnik; this came after he had tied for top spot on 13 points with surprise packet Daniel Pytel, before convincingly winning a title run-off against the tall-in-the-saddle Poznań representative. A week later, on 26 August, he followed that up by romping to a 15-point full-house at Leszno to seal the Youth Extraleague Individual Championship.

And at Holsted, Denmark, on 21 September, he top-scored for Poland with 11 points as they narrowly edged out the home nation to triumph in the World Under-21 Team Cup. He capped a fine year by also winning the Polish Silver Helmet (the unofficial Under-21 Polish Championship) at Rzeszów. Justifiably, his efforts led to the Polish magazine Tygodnik Żużlowy [Speedway Weekly] awarding him with the accolade of Junior of the Year.

More honours came his way in 2009, when he won the prestigious Polish Bronze Helmet (the unofficial Under-19 Polish Championship) at his home circuit. And at Holsted, Denmark, on 23 August, both he and Przemysław Pawlicki netted 15 points apiece as Poland landed the European Under-19 Team Championship. Further glory came at Gorzów on 5 September, when Poland successfully defended the World Under-21 Team Cup, with Janowski carding a 13-point haul.

With his talents much sought after, it was Swindon who landed the Polish hot-shot’s prized signature in 2010. This came after Thomas H. Jonasson had received a 28-day ban for failing to appear in the Robins’ away league fixture at Ipswich on 16 August. Janowski subsequently made his debut for the Wiltshire outfit in a home league match versus Ipswich on 30 August, scoring 3 points from four outings. He then tallied 4 points in Swindon’s next home match against Wolverhampton, before producing a sensational showing at Lakeside’s technical raceway on 3 September, when he notched 11+3 points from a six-ride schedule.

More great stuff came from his wheels on 9 September, when he carded a superb haul of 9+2 points from four starts in the return home match against Lakeside. And, the Wrocław rider followed that up by winning the Polish Under-21 Championship for the second time at Toruń two days later, when he scorched to a 15-point maximum to finish just 1-point ahead of Coventry and Stal Gorzów’s Przemysław Pawlicki.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 1 – 119th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 1 – 128th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 5 – 105th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 0 – n/a
Grand Prix wins: 0 – n/a      
Grand Prix finals: 0 – n/a

JĘDRZEJAK, Tomasz
DATE OF BIRTH: 14 July 1979, Ostrow Wielkopolski, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001-02) Belle Vue; (2004) Belle Vue; (2008-09) Lakeside; (2010) Eastbourne.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.71 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: As a youngster, Jędrzejak (pronounced Yenz-yay-ak) first rode at his hometown circuit in 1996, winning a team place that same year. He remained with Ostrów until the end of 1999, before linking with Częstochowa and, during his second term with the side, he came to Belle Vue as a virtual unknown, making his British debut on 4 June 2001. He went on to achieve an average of around 4 points per match and replicated that level of performance with the Aces in 2002, before being omitted from the club’s plans in 2003. Returning in 2004, he showed much better form for the Manchester club, but was only to appear in a dozen league fixtures, yielding 83 points and a 6.13 average.

On 4 June 2005, then-Swindon boss Alun Rossiter announced the signing of Jędrzejak as a replacement for Sébastien Tresarrieu. The move collapsed just five days later, though, because the trainer of his Polish club, Ostrów, refused to release him. He subsequently enjoyed a late-season stint with Lakeside in 2008 and was set to return to the Hammers side in May 2009 as temporary cover for the injured Joonas Kylmäkorpi.

The moved didn’t materialize, though, as Jędrzejak was unable to travel to England after complaining of a sickness bug that had seen his form drop alarmingly. He did, however, return to the British racing scene mid-way through the 2010 campaign, when he joined Eastbourne in place of compatriot Dawid Lampart; the move being announced late in June after Belle Vue had given the Eagles permission to approach their asset, having been unable to accommodate him within the Aces’ averages.

The Pole suffered a groin strain whilst racing in Sweden on 21 September and, after being troubled by the problem for over a fortnight, he successfully came through a lunchtime fitness test at Arlington on 8 October ahead of Eastbourne’s Knock-Out Cup semi-final clashes against Wolverhampton. But, although he appeared in both legs as the Eagles successfully made it through to face Poole in the final, Jędrzejak was subsequently ruled out of any further action due to continuing problems with his groin.

JOHNSON, Brendan David
DATE OF BIRTH: 4 June 1992, Poole, Dorset.
BRITISH CAREER: (2007) Oxford II; (2008) Weymouth; (2009) Isle of Wight, Somerset; (2010) Isle of Wight, Weymouth.
MAJOR HONOUR: British Under-18 Champion: 2010.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 2008 [Weymouth]; League Championship winner: 2008 [Weymouth].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.31 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Johnson shared a ‘doubling-up’ role with Jay Herne at Somerset in 2009, but was relinquished of the position in June, with the Aussie assuming a full-time position in the Oak Tree Arena outfit. The teenager continued to represent the Isle of Wight in British speedway’s third tier but, on 20 August, sustained head and other injuries in an horrific high-speed crash in the final heat of the Islanders’ National Trophy encounter with Mildenhall at Smallbrook Stadium. The Poole-born rider had been dicing for the lead with visiting racer James Birkinshaw, when they collided as they sped shoulder-to-shoulder down the back straight, and both crashed heavily.

The track paramedics were swiftly on the scene and, after lengthy attention, Johnson was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital. After further extensive treatment, doctors heavily sedated the youngster and placed him in intensive care on life support systems, and the decision was taken to airlift him to Southampton General Hospital. The first 24-48 hours were critical but – just three days after the accident – there came the wonderful news that the team of doctors treating Johnson had taken the decision to gradually bring him out of his induced coma, whilst also reducing his dependency upon the various systems that were aiding his breathing and other functions to zero.

Whilst he continued to make good progress in his recuperation, the Isle of Wight acquired the services of Dean Felton to shore up the gap in their side. Remarkably, Johnson returned to the track with some after meeting practice laps at Poole on 15 October, following Bournemouth’s Knock-Out Cup final success over Buxton. He continued on the road back with a trip to Australia – during which he practiced and learned more about engines etc. – and just before he left, the brave youngster received the Rider of the Year award at the Isle of Wight’s presentation evening.

The subsequent news was very good as Johnson got in plenty of laps Down Under and, just before Christmas, it was announced that he had concluded a deal to resume National League action with the Islanders in 2010. He was to give good service to the side that races out of Smallbrook Stadium and, on 30 July, enjoyed a career high when he scooped the British Under-18 Championship courtesy of an excellent display at Somerset. That completed a remarkable turnaround of fortunes for the youngster who, less than twelve months previously, had been in a coma fighting for his life.

Johnson crashed during the Isle of Wight’s National Trophy encounter with Weymouth at Smallbrook Stadium on 31 August and was taken to hospital. Thankfully, he was released at about midnight and, although nothing was broken, he had suffered knee damage and was likely to be on crutches for a couple of weeks. Naturally, the Islanders’ management sought cover and signed John Resch, with Johnson subsequently re-locating back to Weymouth – with whom he won the then-Conference League Championship in 2008 – towards the end of September.

JOHNSTON, Steven (Steve) Paul
DATE OF BIRTH: 12 October 1971, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (1992) Sheffield; (1993) Sheffield, Long Eaton; (1994-96) Long Eaton; (1997) Ipswich; (1998-2002) Oxford; (2003) Belle Vue; (2004) Swindon; (2005) Wolverhampton; (2006) Arena-Essex; (2007) Coventry; (2008) Ipswich; (2009) Somerset; (2010) Birmingham.
NOTE: Johnston also appeared for Oxford prior to joining Coventry in 2007, but this is not credited in his career record because the club closed down prematurely, with all their matches expunged from the records.
MAJOR HONOURS: Western Australia State Champion: 1994, 1996, 2004.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2001 [Oxford], 2007 [Coventry]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2007 [Coventry]; Craven Shield winner: 2007 [Coventry]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2010 [Birmingham].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 8.84 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Coventry hosted a testimonial meeting for the popular Australian racer on 22 June 2008, when Scott Nicholls took victory in an individual event. Having dropped back into the Premier League as skipper of Somerset in 2009, it was subsequently announced in June that ‘Johno' had become a full-time Rebels' asset after the club agreed to buy his contract from the British Speedway Promoters' Association. The popular Aussie also concluded a deal to keep him at the club in both 2010 and 2011. However, in mid-November, after only his first season with the club, it was announced that he would be leaving the Oak Tree Arena outfit.

It was explained that Johnston had been signed by the club's previous promoting company, Somerset Promotions Ltd, and it was with them that a contract had been agreed for a further two years. But, the new promotional company, OTA Promotions Ltd, were unable to reach agreement on personal terms with the rider. The Rebels' management expressed their gratitude for the job he had done and the Aussie left on amicable terms. As things turned out, the veteran racer wasn't without a club for very long because Birmingham stepped-in to acquire his services almost immediately. The move meant he again linked with management members Graham and Denise Drury, whose stewardship he had previously ridden under at Long Eaton in the 1990s. And, in April, it was revealed that Johno had become a full-time Brummies' asset after the club's promotion had concluded a satisfactory deal with their counterparts at Somerset.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 1 – 120th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 7 – 93rd on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 6 – 98th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 1 – 84th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix wins: 0 – n/a      
Grand Prix finals: 0 – n/a

FIM Speedway World Cup Record:
SWC tournaments: 2
Events: 3 – 11th on Australia’s list; 84th on SWC all-time list
Points: 20 – 10th on Australia’s list; 75th on SWC all-time list
Finals: 0
Gold medals: 0

JONASSON, Thomas Hjelm
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 November 1988, Vetlanda, Sweden.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Edinburgh; (2010) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOUR: Swedish Under-21 Champion: 2009.
CLUB HONOUR: League Championship winner: 2008 [Edinburgh].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.66 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: After impressing with Edinburgh in 2008 the Swede, who rides under the name of Thomas H. Jonasson, began the 2009 campaign in a ‘doubling-up' capacity with Belle Vue. However, before making any appearances for the Aces, a team re-shuffle saw the Manchester outfit opt for a straight 1-7 following the signing of Morten Risager in May. Following discussions between Jonasson and the Edinburgh management in June, it was announced that the Swede would be "withdrawing from UK racing for the immediate future." The Swede had a hectic schedule at the time, competing in Poland and Britain, as well as his homeland. He was also contesting the World Under-21 Championship, the Swedish Under-21 Championship, the World Under-21 Team Championship and the GP qualifiers.

The sudden and untimely passing of his father, Michael, on 30 April was also seen as a major factor in Jonasson's decision to scale back his activities, as his dad had played a vital role in his racing development and career management. However, Jonasson subsequently returned to the Monarchs' line-up to help out the club in July, following completion of the 28-day period required under SCB rules. His resumption in the side proved short-lived, however, and he was replaced in a renewed team declaration towards the end of the same month by Max Dilger.

Prior to his official departure from the Monarchs' 1-7, Jonasson emphasized his enormous talent when he won the Swedish Under-21 Championship at MÃ¥lilla on 24 July and, a day later, for the second year running, he took third place in the Swedish Championship - behind Andreas Jonsson and Fredrik Lindgren - on the same circuit. Following the broken pelvis suffered by Andrew Tully at Wolverhampton on 3 August, Edinburgh offered the Swede the opportunity of a late run in the side, but he turned it down because of his busy schedule. After the season's end, there was speculation that Swindon were interested in handing Jonasson a berth in their 2010 line-up and, on 26 November, it was confirmed that he had joined the Wiltshire side on a full transfer.

In January, it was revealed that SVEMO, the Swedish Motor Federation, had handed Jonasson a worldwide ban from 27 April for four weeks, because he missed a Grand Prix qualifier at Daugavpils, Latvia, and instead rode the following day in Poland after his Polish club, Gorzów, and their federation had withdrawn start permission. The Swede appealed against the verdict and was awaiting the outcome as the tapes rose on the UK season. The decision was upheld, though, and having started the campaign brightly for the Robins, this was a blow to both the rider and club. Swindon's management moved to cover their bases by bringing in Justin Sedgmen - who had started the term on fire for Birmingham - as cover in the No. 8 berth, the Aussie replacing Steve Boxall in the role at the Wiltshire club.

Jonasson missed further meetings for the Robins after a crash in Sweden on 6 July was followed by a bout of extreme toothache. Then, on 5 August, he missed a scheduled flight and arrived both late and ill equipped for Swindon's home league match versus Peterborough, failing to score from three rides as a result. And, on 10 August, whilst representing Elit Vetlanda in a Swedish Elite League match at Vargarna, he was involved in a nasty heat five spill with home rider Scott Nicholls, in which he sustained concussion. However, he recovered sufficiently to make his Grand Prix debut as a wildcard in the Scandinavian round at MÃ¥lilla four days later, when he performed flamboyantly and only just missed out on a semi-final berth having notched 8 points from his five-ride schedule.

Unfortunately, following his GP exploits, he was handed a 28-day ban after missing the Robins' league fixture at Ipswich on 16 August. The Swede didn't travel to Foxhall Heath for the encounter and the suspension effectively meant he would be absent for the remainder of Swindon's 2010 season. By his own admission, Jonasson acknowledged that he needed to become a more organised rider and that participating in three leagues was too much but, with an abundance of talent, he remained an integral part of the Wiltshire club's future plans. Underlining his talent, the Swede had appeared in seventeen official meetings for the Robins, scoring 113 points for a real-time average of 5.91.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 1 – 121st on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 8 – 92nd on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 5 – 106th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 1 – 85th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix wins: 0 – n/a      
Grand Prix finals: 0 – n/a

JONES, Mark
DATE OF BIRTH: 2 December 1986, Albury, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Newport II.
MAJOR HONOURS: Australian Under-16 Champion: 1999, 2001.
RIDER LINKS: Brother of Ashley Jones (born: 19 November 1981, Albury, New South Wales, Australia).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.00 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Jones is the brother of the late Ashley, who started his British career with Newport in 2002, riding alongside fellow Aussies Frank Smart, Craig Watson and Scott Smith. Regrettably, Ashley was involved in a high-speed heat fourteen track accident at Myrtleford Speedway, while representing home state Victoria against New South Wales in a challenge match on 12 November 2005. Sadly, he passed away at the Royal Melbourne Hospital the following day. The younger of the two siblings made his senior debut, having turned 16-years-of-age, at Olympic Park, Mildura in 2002.

He subsequently spent the 2007 campaign in the UK as a mechanic for King's Lynn's Trevor Harding, but didn't get offered a team place. After talks with Newport co-promoter Nick Mallett, it was revealed in February 2010 that Jones had agreed to represent the Welsh club's National League side in the new season. He is one of only four riders to have won the Australian Under-16 Championship on two occasions, his successes coming at Mildura in 1999 and Tamworth in 2001; the other double Champions being Jason Hawkes (1987 when he beat Leigh Adams, and 1988 when he beat Jason Crump), Rusty Harrison (1995 and 1997) and Arthur Sissis (2008 and 2009).

The Aussie was to enjoy a good first term in domestic British racing, appearing in nineteen official matches for the Hornets, from which he gleaned 169 points and an impressive average of exactly 9.00. His stint with the Welsh side came to an end on 22 August, when he netted 10+3 points in a National Trophy fixture against the Isle of Wight at Queensway Meadows. Following that, he bade a fond farewell and departed Down Under because his six-month work permit had come to an end. His place in the Newport side was subsequently filled by the returning Tim Webster.

JUUL LARSEN, Peter
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 November 1990, Outrup, Denmark
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Glasgow; (2010) Redcar.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.00 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Dane always rides as Peter Juul. The speedster was signed by Glasgow late in 2008 and made just one official appearance for the club at the end of the campaign. He again lined-up for the Tigers from the off in 2009 but, after struggling for form, he was replaced by Robin Törnqvist late in May. He returned to the UK with Team Viking Select in 2010 and impressed at Plymouth on 9 July, when romping to a paid maximum tally of 16+2 points. The following week, Redcar announced his signing on a 28-day loan as cover for the injured Stuart Swales.