PARKER, Shane Andrew
DATE OF BIRTH: 29 April 1970, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (1990-94) Ipswich; (1995-96) Middlesbrough; (1997-98) King’s Lynn; (1999) Hull; (2000) King’s Lynn, Belle Vue; (2001-02) Peterborough; (2003) King’s Lynn, Peterborough; (2004-09) Glasgow; (2010) Somerset.
MAJOR HONOURS: Australian Under-16 Champion: 1985; South Australia State Champion: 1991, 1994, 2001, 2002.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 1991 [Ipswich]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2001 [Peterborough]; Pairs Championship winner: 2005, 2006 [both Glasgow].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 8.15 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Parker has ridden bikes for most of his life, having first tried cycle speedway at just three years-of-age. He then moved on to moto-cross, before taking up junior speedway at eleven and finally the full-size machines when fifteen at North Arm, Adelaide. And, an early success came not long after that, when he won the Australian Under-16 Championship. Prior to his twentieth birthday, in 1990, he ventured to the UK to link with the then-Division Two Ipswich and remained with the club – through their elevation back to the top-flight the following year – until the conclusion of the 1994 campaign. A switch to Middlesbrough for the two years of the large amalgamated Premier League was to prove a precursor for a return to British speedway’s uppermost tier with King’s Lynn in 1997, for what was the first season of the all-new Elite League.

After two terms with the then-nicknamed Knights, Parker spent a year at Hull as the East Yorkshire club dipped a toe in the higher echelon for just a single season. For the new Millennium, the Aussie was again identified in the colours of King’s Lynn but, with the Norfolk side riding high in the league standings, it came as a considerable shock when he was dropped and replaced by Peter Nahlin towards the end of July. Parker subsequently saw the season out with Belle Vue, prior to linking with Peterborough in 2001. The regular patrons at the East of England Showground were to enjoy his trademark brand of showmanship and flamboyance for a couple of seasons, before he became the first rider to take advantage of a rule change in 2003 that permitted him to also ‘double-down’ with King’s Lynn, who had returned to the second sphere of racing. That certainly kept the rider from Down Under busy, as the year saw him total a whopping 70 official appearances between the Panthers and the revamped Stars!

Parker moved into the Premier League on a full-time basis when he signed for Glasgow in 2004 and, in six seasons with the club, his popularity simply soared – so much so that he joined the likes of Steve Lawson and Charlie Monk at the sharp end of the club’s legends’ list. In his first term with the Scottish outfit, he was quickly dubbed the ‘King of Ashfield’ and his dominance at the circuit saw him launch a year-on-year assault on the track record, which he lowered on a number of occasions. An example of his conviction to the club occurred in 2005 after he had suffered a collarbone break in Glasgow’s league fixture at Newport on 10 June. This was sustained in heat four of the match, when he clipped the rear wheel of Wasps’ guest Stuart Robson during a titanic scrap. Despite the injury, he heroically rode alongside George Stancl a little over a fortnight later, on 26 June, when the duo took victory in the Premier League Pairs Championship at their Ashfield Stadium.

In a hectic year, his testimonial was also played out at the Glasgow venue on 17 July, when Sam Ermolenko took victory in an individual event. Meanwhile, off the track, Parker was the leading light in reforming the Speedway Riders’ Association and he organized their first-ever awards evening, too. The Tigers replicated their PL Pairs triumph on 8 October 2006, when Parker master-minded a successful defence of the title with Danny Bird. Regrettably, the Aussie suffered a bout of pneumonia prior to the start of the 2008 season. Then, after a difficult beginning to the campaign whilst he regained fitness, his tall scoring form for Glasgow returned, only for him to suffer a broken collarbone and lower arm whilst making a guest appearance for King’s Lynn in a league match at Berwick on 3 May. Parker sustained the injuries in the opening heat, after clashing with home team member Norbert Magosi on the first bend.

It had been thought that the 2009 campaign might represent the Adelaide-born speedster’s last in the saddle but, in August, the Scottish Sun gave Glasgow supporters a ray of hope when the rider himself stated that it was a little premature to suggest he would retire at the end of the term. The veteran Aussie sustained a broken knuckle in the Tigers’ league match at Berwick on 19 September and although he rode in the following day’s home encounter versus Birmingham, he was forced to pull out of the meeting after two rides and seek medical advice. The upshot meant a plaster cast on his hand and the remainder of the campaign on the sidelines. Glasgow fans were shocked in November, however, when Parker quit the club; there was no animosity – it was simply a combination of the travelling from his Midlands’ base and the continuous weekends away from his family.

Subsequently, at the tail-end of the month, he was named in Somerset’s starting line-up for 2010 and, although he didn’t begin the season too well, Parker soon got back amongst the points to maintain an average of well over 8 points a match. As ever, he also proved to be a great leader and guiding light in the pits; his attributes and qualities being essential in view of the number of younger riders in the Rebels’ line-up.  

PARSONS, Joel Lewis
DATE OF BIRTH: 24 July 1985, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2003) Rye House II, Wimbledon; (2004) Rye House II, Hull, King's Lynn II; (2005) Hull, Mildenhall; (2006) Newport, Belle Vue; (2007) Sheffield, Belle Vue; (2008) Sheffield, Swindon; (2009) Sheffield, Coventry, Belle Vue; (2010) Scunthorpe, Peterborough.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 2003 [Rye House II]; League Championship winner: 2004 [Hull]; Knock-Out Cup Winner: 2004 [Hull]; Young Shield winner: 2004 [Hull].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.28 (PL), 3.00 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Parsons sustained a dislocated knee whilst appearing for Rye House in a Conference League match at Sheffield on 13 October 2003 when, in heat seven, he was sent tumbling after being hit by home rider Paul Cooper. The Aussie was in the wars again in 2005, when he suffered a back injury in Hull's opening Premier Trophy match versus Stoke at Craven Park Stadium on 16 March. The injury bug struck again later that same season when, in Parsons' first Conference League match for Mildenhall - versus Oxford at West Row on 3 July - he was involved in a heat eleven coming together with Ben Barker, which unfortunately resulted in him breaking his right leg in two places.

Parsons became a full-time Premier League rider in 2006 and represented Newport at that level, whilst also dipping his toe in the top-flight with appearances for Belle Vue. A move to Sheffield followed a year later and he was to spend three seasons with the Owlerton-based outfit, whilst also furthering his top-flight experience, initially again with Belle Vue and then Swindon. In 2009 - his third term with the Tigers - the Aussie was a late replacement for Adam Roynon in a ‘doubling-up' capacity at Coventry, following the injuries sustained by the Englishman in pre-season practice at King's Lynn. However, he was subsequently replaced in the role by Josh Auty in June.

Parsons did make a late-season return to the top-flight in a ‘doubling-up' role alongside Michal Rajkowski at Belle Vue in August, though. This was part of a massive change at the Manchester club, which also saw the Aces sign Jason Crump and Lubos Tomicek. Meanwhile, those replaced were Tomasz Chrzanowski and Morten Risager, together with the injured Charlie Gjedde. In another Belle Vue alteration at the start of September, the Australian's ‘doubling-up' partner was changed to fellow countryman Richard Sweetman. In December, Scunthorpe revealed that they had acquired the services of the Aussie on loan from Sheffield for the 2010 campaign. Then, in March, he was handed the No. 8 spot at Peterborough after Linus Eklöf was upgraded from the position to a ‘doubling-up' berth.

Having proved a fantastic addition for the Scorpions in the Premier Trophy, Parsons was to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines when he sustained a back injury in the side's opening league fixture of the campaign versus Berwick at the Eddie Wright Raceway on 23 April. The rider crashed in heat twelve and, in a blow for both him and the club, was regrettably later diagnosed with two broken vertebrae. Scunthorpe utilized the rider replacement facility in his absence, whilst Peterborough replaced him in their No. 8 slot with Craig Cook in May.

PAWLICKI, Przemysław
DATE OF BIRTH: 5 September 1991, Leszno, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Coventry.
MAJOR HONOURS: European Under-19 Champion: 2009; European Under-19 Team Champion: 2009; World Under-21 Team Cup Champion: 2009.
CLUB HONOUR: League Championship winner: 2010 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Piotr Pawlicki Sr. (born: 31 July 1963, Zaborów, Poland). Brother of Piotr Pawlicki Jr. (born: 30 November 1994, Leszno, Poland).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.00 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Pawlicki made a spectacular, double-figure scoring Polish Extraleague debut with Leszno in 2008 when, on 20 July, he netted 11 points in a home encounter versus Wrocław. And, having finished fourth in the Polish Under-21 Championship, the Polish magazine Tygodnik Żużlowy [Speedway Weekly] awarded him with the accolade of Revelation of the Year. In 2009, he made further huge strides and produced a jaw-dropping performance at Tarnów on 11 July to win the European Under-19 Championship, ahead of Maciej Janowski and Martin Vaculik. He followed that up by helping Poland to land the European Under-19 Team Championship by netting a full 15 points in the final at Holsted, Denmark, on 23 August.

Then, at Gorzów on 5 September, Pawlicki posted another 15-point maximum as Poland claimed the World Under-21 Team Cup for a fifth successive year. Regrettably, his momentum came to a sudden halt three days after the WTC glory when he crashed in a junior meeting at Gorzów, sustaining a broken arm. Fully fit for 2010, he appeared on Coventry’s radar following an early-season injury to Christian Hefenbrock and, on 20 April, Bees’ boss Alun Rossiter was delighted to announce that, although it had taken some time to finalise, he had pulled off the signing of the teenage hotshot as a replacement for the unlucky German.

The Pole belatedly made his Coventry debut on 10 May, notching an impressive 7-point tally in a league encounter at Swindon. However, the Warwickshire club was then dealt a major blow with the news that they are unable to track him in their home league clash with Ipswich four days later. Alun Rossiter subsequently held urgent talks with Pawlicki and his advisors after the rider was told he instead had to practice at Gorzów in preparation for an away Extra League fixture at Zielona Góra on 16 May. The Bees received a boost on 20 May, though, when Pawlicki was able to make his home league debut versus Wolverhampton. This came after he had been due to take a Polish Pairs booking for his Gorzów club, but the event was rained-off and he was able to gain clearance to fly to the UK instead.

Pawlicki was unable to replicate his success of the previous year in the European Under-19 Championship at Goričan, Croatia, on 24 July – instead he had to settle for the runner-up spot following a three-man title run-off. This occurred after he had tied on 14 points with fellow Pole Patryk Dudek and Swede Denis Andersson. It was Andersson who took victory on a rain-soaked circuit, whilst Pawlicki passed his compatriot for the silver medal.

The Leszno-born rider produced an eye-catching display for Coventry against table-topping Poole at Brandon on 9 September, when he scored 12 (paid 14) points as the Bees completed a late surge up the Elite League table to grab a Play-Off spot. However, he suffered a crash whilst racing in Germany the following day and picked up an arm injury, which required pain-killers to enable him to participate in the Polish Under-21 Championship final at Toruń on 11 September. He came through that meeting successfully with a 14-point score in second place, behind Swindon recruit Maciek Janowski, but reported further pain after his later rides.

He did, however, declare himself fit to represent the Bees in the first leg of the Play-Off semi-final at home to Peterborough two days later. And Coventry went on to achieve a 101-82 aggregate victory over the Panthers, before facing runaway table-toppers Poole to decide the title. After winning 51-39 in the first leg at Brandon on 27 September, Coventry journeyed to Wimborne Road for the return fixture seven days later. And they completed an astonishing transformation from early-term relegation candidates to Championship material on a stunning night when they overturned the overwhelming favourites – not only by defending their 12-point first leg lead, but also by winning the away leg, 50-40, as well. Pawlicki top-scored for the Bees on the night, his remarkable haul of 16+1 points from a reserve berth undoubtedly being a crucial factor in the League Championship success.

PEDERSEN, Bjarne Aagaard
DATE OF BIRTH: 12 July 1978, Ryde, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2000-01) Newcastle; (2002) Poole; (2003) Poole, Newcastle; (2004-10) Poole.
MAJOR HONOURS: Danish Under-21 Champion: 1999; Danish Champion: 2004; Elite League Riders’ Champion: 2004; World Cup Champion: 2006, 2008.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2001 [Newcastle], 2003 [Poole], 2004 [Poole], 2008 [Poole]; Craven Shield winner: 2002, 2006 [both Poole]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2003, 2004, 2010 [all Poole]; British League Cup winner: 2003 [Poole]; Pairs Championship winner: 2007 [Poole].
GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHT: European GP Champion: 2004.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 7.76 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Dane first rode in his homeland at Holstebro in 1990, prior to venturing to the UK to link with Newcastle ten years later. And, in a sensational debut UK term, he posted an average in excess of 9 points per match for the Diamonds, whilst also becoming something of an expert on the inside line at the Brough Park raceway. If Pedersen’s first season at Newcastle had been brilliant, then his second year with the club was sensational as notched over 500 points, upped his average to over the 10-point mark and helped the side claim the Premier League Championship.

A move into the top-flight was inevitable after such scintillating form and it was Poole who won the race for his coveted signature for the 2002 campaign. And, despite the step-up in class, he showcased several eye-catching performances to average close on 7 points per match and his undoubted ability was there for all to witness.

Although the ultra-professional Pedersen slightly increased his average with the Pirates in 2003, he didn’t make the strides that had been predicted of him. However, he benefited substantially from being able to ‘doubling-down’ – alongside Coventry’s Stuart Robson – with Newcastle from mid-May onwards, as the familiar surroundings of Brough Park again brought out the best in him.

After that, he was to enjoy a terrific year in 2004, winning the Danish Championship at Holsted, the European Grand Prix at WrocÅ‚aw, Poland, and the Elite League Riders’ Championship at his home Wimborne Road circuit, as well as raising his average to 8.63 with Poole. Understandably, he scooped the club’s Rider of the Year award for his brilliant efforts.  

He was to head the Pirates’ averages in 2005 and was to regularly post figures in excess of 9 points per match, as the Dorset club added to their back-to-back League Championship and Knock-Out Cup doubles of 2003 and 2004, their Craven Shield success of 2002 and their British League Cup triumph of 2003; indeed, he was an integral part of their various successes.

Pedersen’s testimonial meeting took place at Poole on 18 March 2009, when the County Crest Pallets defeated Newcastle 50-37. That year represented his eighth consecutive season for the club and he also continued in the role of captain, having been appointed the position in 2006 due to his extensive experience with the side. Meanwhile, on the individual front, the Dane was a Grand Prix regular from 2003 to 2008 but, having totaled 58 appearances and 457 points in the series, he didn’t figure beyond that point.

Late in the campaign, it was agreed that he could take a break from representing the Pirates in some challenge matches in order to spend time with his partner, Lone, who was expecting a child in early October. Pedersen did confirm, though, that he would be available to ride for Poole should they go into the Relegation Race-Off against the Premier League Play-Off victors.

However, in the event the Pirates avoided that scenario, but Pedersen was quick to confirm that he wanted to continue representing the Dorset side for at least two more years. And, in December, despite a drop in form that had seen his real-time average dip to 8.31, the club confirmed that he would once again line-up for them in 2010. And he was to show resurgent form to up his average to close on 9 points a match and also top Poole’s statistical run-down for the campaign.

The season also saw Pedersen become the club’s all-time third highest point-scorer during the Pirates’ league fixture versus South Coast rivals Eastbourne at Wimborne Road on 4 August. The Danish star overtook Steve Schofield in the standings to move behind top man Craig Boyce and the second-placed Pete Smith.

The Pirates dominated the domestic programme to comfortably head the Elite League table, but they missed out on the Championship after losing to Coventry in the Play-Off final. They did at least gain some consolation at Wimborne Road on 27 October, when Pedersen top-scored as they clinched an aggregate victory over Eastbourne to lift the Knock-Out Cup; it being the Dane’s third such success with Poole in the competition.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 58 – 13th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 457 – 15th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 296 – 12th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 55 – 16th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix wins: 1 – 22nd on SGP all-time list      
Grand Prix finals: 7 – 17th on SGP all-time list

FIM Speedway World Cup Record:
SWC tournaments: 10
Events: 24 – 1st on Denmark’s list; 2nd on SWC all-time list
Points: 249 – 2nd on Denmark’s list; 6th on SWC all-time list
Finals: 9
Gold medals: 2

PENFOLD, Michael
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 November 1991, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Glasgow.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Mark Penfold (born: 21 April 1956, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.00 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Penfold began racing in his native Australia in 2004, following in the tyre tracks of his father, Mark, who had competed on the speedway and long-track scene. His performances during the Aussie season in 2009/10 attracted the attention of the Glasgow management, who took the opportunity to snap him up for future reference. However, when it became clear that Robert Ksiezak would be out of action for the remainder of the season following an accident at Berwick in April, the Tigers' promotion acted quickly to get Penfold to the UK sooner than planned as his compatriot's replacement in May.

The Aussie found points hard to come by, though, and amid significant team changes in early June he lost his place to compatriot Nick Morris, as former Great Britain international Joe Screen also arrived at the Scottish club. In actual fact, the rider from Newcastle, NSW, had scored only 2 points in five appearances for the Tigers and those came in a Knock-Out Cup tie at home to King's Lynn on 23 May. His other four point-less matches for Glasgow had been in the Premier League.

PERRY, Thomas (Tom) Andrew
DATE OF BIRTH: 22 February 1993, Albrighton, Nr. Wolverhampton, Shropshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Dudley.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.00 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Perry began racing on the grass-track scene when aged just 6 and, four years later, first rode a speedway bike in 2003. He has enjoyed many club meeting victories on the grass, with an early career highlight being crowned British 125cc Youth Champion in 2006. However, he really came on in leaps and bounds in 2009, recording second and third-place finishes in the British Championship at 250cc and 350cc levels, respectively. He also claimed fourth position in the British Under-21 Championship and, at 16 years-of-age, became the youngest ever rider to appear in the 500cc British Masters Championship, having won the qualifier.

The West Midlander went on to finish a remarkable fifth in the big event at St Agnes, Cornwall on 20 September, beating ex-winners Glen Phillips and Paul Hurry. The year also saw him make his debut abroad when, in France in August, he competed against some of the best long-track riders in the world, eventually finishing a quite brilliant third, behind Theo Pijper and Stephane Trésarrieu. The Wolverhampton-born racer turned 17 in February 2010 and, early the following month, was handed his initial team berth in speedway when Dudley confirmed his signing for their first season of National League participation.

Despite his lack of experience on shale, Perry began the season strongly, notching 6+3 points in the Heathens’ historic opening meeting against the USA Dream Team at Birmingham’s Perry Barr Stadium on 7 April. He then performed even better in the side’s first league match, tallying an excellent 10+3 points versus Buxton the following week at Wolverhampton’s Monmore Green Stadium on 13 April.

Whilst he continued to rack-up the points on the shale, he also maintained his form in speedway’s sister sport by winning the British Under-21 Grass-track Championship at the Dunmow Club’s Ugley Bowl on 13 June, when he topped the podium ahead of Rob Mear and Harland Cook. But he was to end the season on the injured list after sustaining a fractured wrist in a first lap crash in heat three of a Play-Off semi-final encounter at Buxton on 17 October.

However, that was pretty much the only downside for Perry in his debut term of speedway racing, as he finished with an impressive 6.99 average, having notched 155 points from twenty-two official matches. Indeed, he capped a brilliant first season by lifting the major honour at Dudley’s presentation night on 29 October, when he lifted the Ivor Hughes award for Heathens’ Rider of the Year, voted by fans, at a packed Cradley Heath Liberal Club.

PICKARD, Jaimie (Jay)
DATE OF BIRTH: 23 February 1990, Stourbridge, Worcestershire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2006) Plymouth; (2007) Plymouth, Stoke II; (2008) Plymouth; (2009) Newport II; (2010) Plymouth.
CLUB HONOURS: Conference Trophy winner: 2008 [Plymouth]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2008 [Plymouth].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.00 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Pickard, a former protégé of the much-travelled Dean Felton, linked with Newport’s new National League side in 2009, but lost his place in the team in June upon the Hornets’ acquisition of young Australian Todd Kurtz. Although he subsequently didn’t link officially with another side, he did see out the campaign with a number of appearances for his former team, Plymouth, as the Devon outfit cemented top-spot in the National Trophy. In December, though, he was officially named as one of the Devils’ reserves for 2010.

POOLE, Taylor Nicholas
DATE OF BIRTH: 15 July 1992, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Mildenhall; (2010) Stoke.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.00 (PL).
RIDER LINKS: Son of Mick Poole (born: 27 November 1966, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Taylor is the son of former speedway ace Mick; he is also the grandson of Terry, who was a leading short-track rider, before he became the speedway promoter at Gosford, NSW, during the 1990s and into the Millennium. Coming from a family steeped in the sport, the youngster started in junior speedway at just ten years-of-age. Having worked his way up to a full size steed, Poole ventured to the UK in August 2009 to join Mildenhall as a replacement for Dean Felton, participating in a practice spin at Peterborough and a second-half event at Coventry prior to making his debut for the Fen Tigers. Just a month previously, he had cracked a bone in his left foot at Barliegh Ranch Raceway in Newcastle, NSW, after a collision with another rider.

A subsequent operation at Gosford Hospital had quickened-up the recovery time and the tussle-haired rider was raring to go upon his arrival in Britain, despite still having metalwork in his foot. His stay in Britain was brief, but it served to showcase his talent and whetted the rider's appetite to follow in his dad's tyre-tracks. In mid-December, Peterborough revealed that Poole - like his father before him - had become an asset of the club. It was stressed, however, that the youngster would be given time to find his feet in the UK and wouldn't be rushed into the Panthers' line-up; as such, shortly afterwards he was loaned to Premier League Stoke for the 2010 campaign.

And he began like a whirlwind in the Premier Trophy competition in the Potters' colours, notching 18 points at Scunthorpe on 26 March and tallying 15+1 in a home encounter versus Redcar twenty-four hours later, both scores being enhanced by 6-point returns from tactical outings. The big totals continued to come from his wheels, before he was temporarily grounded when he sustained a hand injury in heat two of a league match at Newcastle on 30 May.

PRIEST, Luke Alex James
DATE OF BIRTH: 18 June 1985, Birmingham, West Midlands.
BRITISH CAREER: (2000) Ashfield, Owlerton; (2001) Sheffield II, Boston; (2002) Sheffield II; (2003) Sheffield II, Stoke II; (2004) Newport, Stoke II, Sheffield II; (2005) Stoke II; (2006) Stoke, Stoke II; (2007) Stoke II; (2008) Weymouth, Mildenhall; (2009) Bournemouth, Workington, Mildenhall; (2010) Mildenhall, Newport II.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2000 [Owlerton], 2001 [Sheffield II]; 2008 [Weymouth]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2006 [Stoke II].
RIDER LINKS: Son of John Priest (born: 5 September 1952, Birmingham, West Midlands)
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.23 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Priest received severe injuries whilst riding for Stoke's Conference League side in a home fixture versus Scunthorpe on 5 July 2006. The accident saw him go under the air safety barrier, suffering pelvic, elbow and ankle injuries in addition to internal organ damage. After initially being in a critical but stable condition, a long period of recuperation followed, before he bravely returned to the saddle late in the 2007 campaign.

On 31 July 2008, Priest was travelling to Redcar to take a guest booking for Newcastle in a Premier League fixture that fell foul to inclement weather. On the journey, he stopped at Manchester Birch services but, when he returned to his van, the side door had been forced open and his kitbag stolen. Two helmets and two race suits, together with back protectors, knee pads and boots were amongst the items taken, which totalled £2,500 in value.

The rider was involved in controversy following a heat three clash with Sam Hurst, whilst representing Bournemouth in a Knock-Out Cup encounter at Newport on 26 April 2009. Priest was adjudged to have ridden into his opponent and disqualified from the re-run; however, having ridden back to where the incident occurred, he was allegedly punched by Hurst. After the riders had returned to the pits, a mass fight broke out and the Birmingham-born speedster was handed a £300 fine by referee Dave Watters.

Late in May 2009, Priest was released by both Bournemouth and Workington, his replacements being Danny Warwick and Craig Cook, respectively. He was soon snapped-up by Mildenhall, though, where he took the place of Mark Thompson and did a solid job to post a real-time average in excess of 7 points per match. At the end of November, the Suffolk club was pleased to announce that Priest would remain with them for the 2010 campaign. And he was to maintain an average in excess of 6.5 points per match, before the Fen Tigers' premature closure due to off-track problems. After a spell of inactivity, he was signed by Newport as a replacement for Tim Webster in August.

PROCTOR, Tyron (Ty)
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 February 1987, Longwarry, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008) Redcar, Peterborough; (2009) Redcar, Wolverhampton; (2010) Wolverhampton.
MAJOR HONOUR: Victoria State Champion: 2010.
CLUB HONOUR: League Championship winner: 2009 [Wolverhampton].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.03 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Proctor finished as runner-up to Chris Holder in the 2008 Australian Under-21 Championship at Mildura, prior to embarking on his first season of league racing in Britain, where he linked with Redcar. He was soon hailed as a great character to be around in the pits and, because of his on-track exploits, understandably acquired the nickname of ‘The Showman’. The Aussie also made some impressive appearances for top-flight Peterborough in his debut campaign and finished on a high when he scooped the Bears’ Rider of the Year award.

For 2009, he remained with Redcar for a second term and also joined Wolverhampton in a ‘doubling-up’ capacity. In a glorious end to the campaign, he participated in both legs of the Play-Off final as Wolves defeated Swindon to win the Elite League Championship. More success came shortly afterwards – although it wasn’t officially recognized – when he rode as a guest for King’s Lynn in both legs of the Premier League Knock-Out Cup final and helped them defeat Edinburgh. His impressive form was rewarded in early November, when he was handed a place in the Wolverhampton side for 2010.