AARNIO, Tero Kalevi
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 April 1984, Kuusankoski, Finland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Berwick; (2010) Scunthorpe.
MAJOR HONOURS: Finnish Under-21 Champion: 2004, 2005.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Timo Aarnio (born: 15 February 1953, Kuusankoski, Finland).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.95 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Finn was just two months old when he was taken to his first speedway meeting and the sport has been in his blood ever since. His father, a former rider, became his coach - a position he has retained throughout his career - and Aarnio took his initial rides on an 80cc machine at his hometown track of Kuusankoski, when just 10-years-of-age in 1994. He first appeared on the junior scene in Sweden in 1996 and has ridden there every year since with the sole exception of 2008, when he concentrated on establishing himself in the UK with Berwick. Prior to that, he moved on to the full size 500 cc beasts in 2001, before claiming back-to-back successes in the Finnish Under-21 Championship in 2004 and 2005.

Having been signed by Berwick, the diminutive rider soon became immensely popular with the Shielfield Park faithful for his full-throttle style, earning the nickname of ‘Tero the Hero'. Still on board with the Bandits in 2009, Aarnio unfortunately suffered a number of confidence-sapping mechanical problems in the first half of the season; however, having remained an integral part of the Borders side, a drop to the reserve berth saw the Finn hit form with a bang on 8 August, when he tallied 14+2 points for Berwick in a home Premier League match against reigning Champions Edinburgh.

Regrettably, he ended the season on the injured list following an horrific crash in heat eleven of the Bandits' league fixture at Workington on 11 September. Chasing home rider Craig Cook, he fell on the third bend of the opening lap and team-mate Michal Makovsky was unable to avoid riding into him. Aarnio sustained a groin injury and was awaiting an operation shortly after the season's end. Having recuperated, Aarnio's services weren't required in the UK until early May 2010, when Scunthorpe swooped to sign him as a replacement for the injured Viktor Bergström.

ADAMS, Leigh Scott
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 April 1971, Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (1989) Poole; (1990-92) Swindon; (1993-95) Arena-Essex; (1996) London; (1997-98) Swindon; (1999-2000) King’s Lynn; (2001-02) Oxford; (2003) Poole; (2004-10) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Australian Under-16 Champion: 1986; Australian Under-21 Champion: 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992; Victoria State Champion: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995; Australian Champion: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009; World Under-21 Champion: 1992; Commonwealth Champion: 1993; World Team Cup Champion: 1999; Czech Golden Helmet Champion: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004; World Cup Champion: 2001, 2002; Elite League Riders’ Champion: 2009.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1989 [Poole], 2001 [Oxford], 2003 [Poole]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2000 [King’s Lynn], 2003 [Poole]; British League Cup winner: 2003 [Poole]; Pairs Championship winner: 2004, 2005 [both Swindon]; Elite Shield winner: 2008 [Swindon].
GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS: Challenge Champion: 1995, 1998; Scandinavian GP Champion: 2002, 2007, 2008; Slovenian GP Champion: 2003; Swedish GP Champion: 2004, 2007; Latvian GP Champion: 2007; European GP Champion: 2008. NOTE: Adams never won the World Championship, his closest effort being second place overall in the 2007 Grand Prix series.
RIDER LINKS: Second cousin of Cory Gathercole (born: 2 December 1986, Irymple, Victoria, Australia).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 10.00 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: With Swindon dropping into the lower league for 1999, the super-smooth speedster found himself without a track until King's Lynn swooped for his services at the end of April. The Aussie joined the Norfolk side as a replacement for Tomas Topinka, who had been axed by the then promotion. This was the only time in his long UK career that Adams wasn't fixed up with a club at the start of a campaign.

The Australian's testimonial meeting was held at Swindon on 31 July 2003, when Adams, himself, took victory in an individual contest. He became the highest scoring rider in Swindon's history when surpassing Martin Ashby's overall record in an away league match at Lakeside on 8 August 2008. Dubbed the ‘Sultan of Slide', the mighty Mildura-man continued to re-write the record books when, in April 2009, he became the first rider in British speedway history to reach the landmark of 10,000 points in official competitions. And, prior to the commencement of the UK season, Adams set another landmark when he became the first rider to win ten Australian Championships after dominating the series Down Under.

Capping his twentieth year of British racing, Adams - at the seventeenth attempt in its various guises - sealed his first-ever Elite League Riders' Championship success courtesy of a great display at Coventry on 2 October. Following that victory, the veteran racer was quick to quash rumours that he was to retire, stating that he intended to continue in domestic speedway for at least one more year. After his beloved Swindon had lost to Wolverhampton in the Play-Off final, the Aussie approached the last Grand Prix of the season at Bydgoszcz, Poland on 17 October and, just prior to the event, it was announced that it would be his final appearance on the World Championship stage. He bowed out with a tremendous second-place finish behind Nicki Pedersen, as he took his overall tally in the series to 1,278 points from 115 rounds between 1996 and 2009.

For a sixth season in succession, he won the Robins' Rider of the Year award and, in December, Swindon announced that Adams would once again spearhead their challenge in 2010. He remains one of the most popular and successful riders to ever sport the club's colours; his loyalty and dedication to the Wiltshire outfit has been clear for everyone to see, with the 2010 campaign representing his twelfth term of racing for the Robins, adding to his previous years with the club from 1990-92, 1997-98 and 2004-09.

In December, it was revealed that the BSPA had granted the brilliant Aussie a farewell meeting, which was pencilled in to take place at the Abbey Stadium in October 2010. This fuelled speculation that he would be embarking on his final season of Elite League racing, although Adams was quick to point out that he had yet to make a firm decision. However, early in February, the hugely consistent rider confirmed that the 2010 campaign would, in fact, be his final one in Europe.

The former world No. 2 planned to stage two farewell meetings, in Leszno, Poland, on 10 October, and at Swindon on 17 October, before he and his family returned to their native Australia to begin a new life. The Victorian hoped to remain involved in the sport in his homeland, with a view to getting involved with MA (Motorcycling Australia). He also wished to concentrate on his own training schools and also planned to try and set-up a Leigh Adams Academy, which would hold weekends in places like Adelaide, Perth, Mildura and Sydney.

Despite his advancing years, Adams was as consistent as ever in the opening weeks of the campaign, so much so that he shot to the head of the Elite League averages. Then, in May, it was announced that he was to have a well-deserved testimonial meeting Down Under at his local Olympic Park track in Mildura on 5 January 2011. As had happened in 2009, he was subsequently overhauled at the top of the averages by Wolverhampton's Fredrik Lindgren, before Peterborough's Kenneth Bjerre pushed him down to third position in the statistical run-down, but the Aussie still maintained an excellent figure in excess of 10 points per match. And, on 10 July, on the day of the British Grand Prix at Cardiff, he launched his biography entitled ‘The Book' in the Principality.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 115 - 4th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 1,278 - 5th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 625 - 4th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 180 - 6th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix wins: 8 - 6th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix finals: 28 - 6th on SGP all-time list

FIM Speedway World Cup Record:
SWC tournaments: 9
Events: 20 – 1st on Australian list; 4th on SWC all-time list
Points: 251 – 1st on Australian list; 3rd on SWC all-time list
Finals: 7
Gold medals: 2

ALLEN, Oliver (Olly) James
DATE OF BIRTH: 27 May 1982, Norwich, Norfolk.
BRITISH CAREER: (1997) Peterborough II; (1998) Mildenhall, Norfolk, Peterborough, Arena-Essex; (1999-2001) Swindon; (2002) Swindon, Peterborough; (2003) Swindon, Wolverhampton; (2004) Swindon; (2005) King’s Lynn, Swindon, Eastbourne; (2006-09) Coventry; (2010) Ipswich.
MAJOR HONOUR: Queensland State Champion: 2006.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1997 [Peterborough II], 1998 [Peterborough], 2007 [Coventry]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2000 [Swindon], 2005 [King’s Lynn], 2006 [Coventry]; Young Shield winner: 2000 [Swindon], 2005 [King’s Lynn]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2003 [Swindon]; Elite Shield winner: 2006 [Coventry]; Craven Shield winner: 2008 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Dave Allen (born: 4 July 1957, Norwich, Norfolk). Brother of Tommy Allen (born: 4 September 1984, Norwich, Norfolk).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.29 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Allen received a serious injury to the right hand whilst riding for Swindon in a Knock-Out Cup tie at Glasgow on 20 May 2001. The accident happened in a re-run heat ten, when he was sent sprawling after an over-zealous inside challenge from Stuart Swales on the third bend. Although in obvious discomfort, Allen bravely participated in the second re-run but was subsequently excluded by referee Jim McGregor for not making a bona-fide attempt to race. He was to miss over two months of action while he regained fitness.

Allen re-broke his throttle hand during the British Under-21 Final at Sheffield on 18 April 2002. This occurred in the second semi-final, when Chris Harris cut back underneath him exiting the fourth bend, only to inadvertently knock his fellow countryman off when they clashed on the home straight. Unluckily, Allen sustained a broken scaphoid when he spun and high-sided his machine on the third bend of heat one in a league match against the Isle of Wight at Swindon on 21 August 2003. And, after returning to the saddle, he suffered a recurrence of the injury when he crashed in the Pride of the East individual meeting at King's Lynn on 25 September.

In 2004, Allen sustained a hefty knock in a tussle with Rafal Dobrucki of Oxford in Swindon's first league match of the season at the Abbey Stadium on 8 April. This happened in heat eight, when the two riders clashed on the first bend and hurtled into the air safety barrier. That was to be the start of a series of unfortunate accidents that year, which also included sustaining abdominal injuries in a home league match versus Arena-Essex on 17 June when, in heat seven, he collided with the air barrier on the second bend and took a blow in the stomach from his handlebars. Then, in an away match at Eastbourne on 6 September, he clashed with Steen Jensen on the back straight of heat fourteen and was catapulted through the safety fence and on to the concrete stock-car track.

On 6 April 2005, Allen received shoulder ligament damage when he was accidentally brought down by King's Lynn colleague Jan Jaros in a Premier Trophy match at home to Reading. The incident happened in heat seven, when the two team-mates collided and crashed into the safety fence on the third bend. The 2007 campaign was blighted by a recurring shoulder injury for Allen, which saw him endure several spells on the sidelines in something of a stop-start season. This began when he was inadvertently taken off by Oxford's Steve Johnston in heat three of a league engagement at Cowley on 2 April. He did, however, play a part in what was a golden season for the Bees who scooped a fantastic treble, winning the League Championship, Knock-Out Cup and Craven Shield. In December that year, Coventry and Swindon concluded a direct swap deal that saw Allen join the Bees on a permanent basis, whilst Morten Risager became an asset of the Robins.

In 2008, Allen sustained three broken bones in his wrist in a crash in Poland on 1 May. This occurred whilst he was representing Grudziadz in a Division One fixture at Bydgoszcz when, in heat eleven, home rider Rafal Okoniewski caused the Brit to fall heavily. Allen entered his fourth successive season with Coventry in 2009 but, after a bright start to the campaign, he had the misfortune to sustain a broken tibia while again representing his Polish club, Grudziadz, in a league match versus Poznan on 3 May. Whilst he recuperated, the elder of the racing brothers was replaced by the returning Scott Nicholls on a short-term basis. Allen was to resume in the Bees' line-up in July, when Nicholls was released to join Ipswich on loan. His testimonial meeting subsequently took place at Brandon Stadium on 23 August, when Jason Crump took the spoils of victory in an individual event. After the conclusion of the season - in December - it was announced that Ipswich had agreed a loan deal with Coventry for the Norwich-born rider's services in 2010.

Allen was ruled out of action after a first-race crash with Darcy Ward during the Witches' league visit to Poole on 9 June. He returned to action a month later but, despite holding an average in excess of 5.5 points per match, he was released in mid-July when the Ipswich management opted to sign Chris Słaboń in a bid to move away from the foot of the Elite League table.

FIM Speedway World Cup Record:
SWC tournaments: 2
Events: 2 – 13th on the Great Britain list; 92nd on SWC all-time list
Points: 5 – 16th on the Great Britain list; 109th on SWC all-time list
Finals: 1
Gold medals: 0

ALLEN, Thomas (Tommy) David
DATE OF BIRTH: 4 September 1984, Norwich, Norfolk.
BRITISH CAREER: (2002) Mildenhall, Swindon II; (2003) Swindon, Swindon II; (2004) Rye House, Rye House II; (2005) Rye House, Swindon; (2006) Rye House, Belle Vue, Poole; (2007) Rye House, Swindon; (2008-09) Rye House; (2010) Somerset.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2005, 2007 [both Rye House]; Premier Trophy winner: 2005 [Rye House]; Craven Shield winner: 2006 [Poole].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Dave Allen (born: 4 July 1957, Norwich, Norfolk). Brother of Olly Allen (born: 27 May 1982, Norwich, Norfolk).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 4.42 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The younger of the Allen racing brothers made an unfortunate start to his 2005 campaign with Rye House, when he broke his tibia and fibula in pre-season practice at the club's Hoddesdon raceway in February. In 2008, Allen received knee ligament damage, when he crashed in his third outing during the Christer Karlsson Memorial meeting at Västervik, Sweden on 22 April. The ‘Tommy Gun' was again sidelined on 18 April 2009, after sustaining a broken arm in heat seven of Rye House's home match versus Scunthorpe in the Premier Trophy.

Unluckily, he was to be dogged by injury and misfortune all season long and, on 22 August, he suffered a broken finger on his left hand when he fell in heat seven of Rye House's home league match versus Somerset. Then, on 11 September, in the Rockets' Knock-Out Cup fixture at Edinburgh, he took a hefty whack to an ankle. And, the following night in a domestic fixture against Newport at Hoddesdon, Allen was involved in a frightening heat two spill. Chasing down visiting rider Jonas Andersson for third place, he clipped the back of the Swede's machine on the third bend, straightened up and powered through and over the safety fence, hitting the guard rail on the inside of the former greyhound track in the process. Miraculously, he escaped with just concussion from what initially looked a far worse situation.

He was to be out of action until the season's end whilst he recovered from the knock to his head. It was subsequently revealed that the rider had informed Rye House supremo Len Silver of his intention not to race the following year. This after his relentless injury problems during the campaign, coupled with various domestic and personal issues that Allen felt had adversely affected his sporting concentration when he was fit and healthy. However, within a very short space of time, the rider had had second thoughts about his decision and, at the end of November, Somerset named him in their starting line-up for 2010.

The Norwich-born rider faced a spell on the sidelines after crashing whilst racing for the Rebels in a home league match versus Scunthorpe on 30 April. In his first race of the night - heat two - he was comfortably holding third place, when he came to grief after entering the first turn for the second time. Although it was an innocuous looking fall, it was a while before Allen got to his feet and gingerly walked back to the pits.  It was later announced that he had taken a hefty knock to the knee, which had left him suffering cruciate ligament damage. The recovery period was anticipated to take some time and led Somerset to announce the signing of James Holder on 12 May, initially as a 28-day injury replacement.

ALLOTT, Adam Nick
DATE OF BIRTH: 19 March 1983, Stockport, Cheshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1998) Norfolk, Buxton; (1999) Buxton, Sheffield; (2000) Sheffield, Owlerton; (2001) Sheffield; (2002) Sheffield II, Swindon, Somerset; (2003) Buxton, King’s Lynn; (2004) King’s Lynn; (2005) King’s Lynn, Eastbourne, Workington, Stoke; (2006) Stoke II; (2007) King’s Lynn; (2008) Boston; (2009) King’s Lynn II, Scunthorpe; (2010) Buxton.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1999 [Sheffield], 2000 [Owlerton]; Young Shield winner: 1999 [Sheffield]; Premiership winner: 2000 [Sheffield]; Premier Trophy winner: 2001 [Sheffield]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2007 [King’s Lynn].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Nicky Allott (born: 15 December 1954, Buxton, Derbyshire). Great Nephew of Tommy Allott (born: 17 May 1908, Denby Dale, West Yorkshire). Grandson of Guy Allott (born: 19 September 1922, Penistone, South Yorkshire). Nephew of Trevor Stead (born: 24 May 1956, Sheffield, South Yorkshire) and Ian Stead (born: 25 April 1964, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). Cousin of Simon Stead (born: 25 April 1982, Sheffield, South Yorkshire).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 9.24 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Allott made his debut in the sport with the then-Norfolk Braves at Buxton on 2 August 1998 as a raw 15-year-old, scoring 3 points. That proved a one-off performance for the short-handed side, but he subsequently grasped the opportunity to represent his hometown club in the final sector of the season. It was quickly apparent that he had inherited the racing genes from his father, Nicky, and grandfather, Guy, both of whom had raced speedway in the past, of course. The following year, Allott started brilliantly when he won his first four rides in the Hitmen’s home league opener against Rye House on 23 May and looked to made strides in the sport. He was part of a very youthful side that included the likes of Aidan Collins, James Mann and Paul Burnett, and the kids were always entertaining to watch at the gateway to the Peak District.

The progress during the year was there for all to see as he topped the averages for the spa town team and this prompted Sheffield to offer him a place in their Premier League side on top of his commitments with the Hitmen. He collected his first maximum as Buxton defeated Mildenhall and also held the Bronze Helmet match-race title for a while. During the winter of 1999/2000, he joined Sheffield on a full-time basis and was to to based with the South Yorkshire club at PL and CL levels until 2002, a season that also saw him enjoy spells at Swindon and Somerset. However, at the start of 2003, Allott found himself with a team place and agreed to again race for Buxton until he could get back into the Premier League. His return lasted just two meetings before an opportunity came to race for King’s Lynn. With this move, his season turned for the better and the Norfolk outfit were so impressed that they signed him from Sheffield at the end of the year.

After two further terms on the Stars’ books, Allott linked with Stoke’s then-CL side in 2006, but he was to sustain serious injuries when he crashed whilst riding for the Spitfires in a Conference Shield match at Scunthorpe on 10 September. He suffered damage to his back and also a break to his right elbow, which needed plating. The accident occurred in heat fifteen of the match, when he was launched into the safety fence at high-speed after being unable to avoid Tai Woffinden and Ben Barker, who had fallen in front of him. He announced his retirement at the end of the year, following medical advice suggesting that another knock could leave him badly injured; however, he bravely made a track return in September 2007, when he re-joined King’s Lynn.

He didn’t race at the start of the 2008 campaign and, in fact, only completed half-a-dozen official matches for Boston at the tail-end of the season. However, Allott subsequently made a full-time return to racing in 2009, when he linked with King’s Lynn’s second side, the Barracudas, in the newly-formed National League. He also linked with Scunthorpe towards the end of June, when he replaced Nick Simmons in the Scorpions’ line-up. His spell with the Premier League side proved short-lived, though, as he was released in mid-July when Ritchie Hawkins joined the North Lincolnshire outfit. He saw the term out with the Barracudas for whom he tallied 283 points and a real-time 9.59 average from an ever-present total of twenty-four appearances. At the end of January 2010, it was revealed that Allott had concluded a deal to return to Buxton for the new campaign.

ANDERSEN, Anders Christian
DATE OF BIRTH: 10 May 1988, Herning, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2008-09) Glasgow; (2010) Berwick, Glasgow, Newcastle.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.74 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Dane started riding in his native country in 2006 and, having linked with Glasgow during the 2008 campaign, began his first full season of British racing with the Tigers the following year. Unfortunately, though, he sustained a broken thigh in heat thirteen of a Danish Super League match on 24 April, whilst representing Grindsted in a home fixture against Fjelsted. He was initially replaced in the Glasgow side for a month by Lee Smart, but ended up missing the remainder of the campaign whilst he recuperated. Having returned to fitness, he wasn't handed a slot in the Tigers' line-up for 2010, when the club's management followed a different route.

Early in March, though, he was recalled to the British scence when, on the eve of the season, Berwick stunned the sport by making a last-minute change to their seven-man roster for the campaign. This came after winter capture Nick Simmons had been called into hospital for remedial surgery to an old shoulder injury, which would sideline the Warwickshire-based speedster for the early part of the campaign. Following a frantic series of phone-calls, the blond Viking agreed to join the Bandits as his replacement at short notice.

A team re-shuffle in May saw the Dane lose his place to Michal Rajkowski, but he was immediately snapped-up by his former side, Glasgow, as a short-term replacement for the injured Mitchell Davey. When Andersen's 28-day spell in the side came to an end, he was replaced in the Tigers' line-up by John Branney. However, Newcastle and - in particular - Adam McKinna's misfortune proved to be the Dane's salvation as, on 11 June, the Diamonds moved swiftly to announce the capture of the Herning-born rider to cover the absence of their reserve through a serious neck injury.

ANDERSEN, Hans Norgaard
DATE OF BIRTH: 3 November 1980, Odense, Denmark.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001-02) Poole; (2003) Peterborough; (2004-05) Ipswich; (2006-07) Peterborough; (2008) Peterborough, Coventry; (2009) Poole; (2010) Belle Vue.
MAJOR HONOURS: World Cup Champion: 2006, 2008; Danish Champion: 2007; Czech Golden Helmet Champion: 2008.
CLUB HONOURS: Craven Shield winner: 2001, 2002 [both Poole], 2008 [Coventry]; League Championship winner: 2006 [Peterborough]; Elite Shield winner: 2007 [Peterborough]; Pairs Championship winner: 2008 [Coventry], 2009 [Poole].
GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS: Scandinavian GP Champion: 2004; Danish GP Champion: 2006; Czech Republic GP Champion: 2006; Grand Final Champion: 2006; Italian GP Champion: 2008.
ADDITIONAL INFO: The Dane rode as Hans N. Andersen during his early career, but the ‘N' has been dropped from his name in recent years. In 2008, Andersen served a 14-day ban imposed by the sport's authorities to enable the then Peterborough promoter Colin Horton to attempt to resolve the financial difficulties, which had led to the Danish rider withholding his services due to unpaid wages. He subsequently joined Coventry in August for the remainder of the season.

Having initially decided not to compete in British speedway in 2009 in order to focus on riding in fewer meetings, the Dane had a change of heart and was signed by Poole - his first UK club - late in May, when he replaced Ales Dryml in the Pirates' declared line-up. In November, Andersen was handed a wildcard for the 2010 Grand Prix series and, at the beginning of the following month, Belle Vue made the headlines when they announced that he would spearhead their attack in the new season, the Manchester-based outfit having agreed a loan deal with the Dane's parent club, Peterborough.

FIM Speedway Grand Prix Record:
Grand Prix ridden: 70 - 10th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix points: 681 - 8th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix races: 392 - 9th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix race wins: 102 - 8th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix wins: 4 - 9th on SGP all-time list
Grand Prix finals: 21 - 7th on SGP all-time list

FIM Speedway World Cup Record:
SWC tournaments: 8
Events: 18 – 3rd on Denmark’s list; 9th on SWC all-time list
Points: 196 – 3rd on Denmark’s list; 9th on SWC all-time list
Finals: 7
Gold medals: 2

ANDERSON, Jake William
DATE OF BIRTH: 7 October 1989, Ardmona, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Birmingham, Dudley, Somerset.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.00 (PL), 6.00 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Anderson starting racing junior speedway when aged thirteen, at the Undera Park raceway. He subsequently began practicing on the full-size 500cc machines two years later, before racing them properly at sixteen years-of-age. In December 2009, ‘Ando' was named as the final piece in Birmingham's team-building jigsaw for the 2010 campaign, joining five fellow riders from Down Under in Jason Lyons, Steve Johnston, Richard Sweetman, Justin Sedgmen and Aaron Summers. This came after the youngster had gained some British track time during the 2009 season, when he was a member of the Australian Under-21 team that toured National League tracks during the summer, racing against their British counterparts.

Much earlier in the year, on 31 January, he had ridden in the Australian Under-21 Final at Gosford, New South Wales, in a meeting won by Darcy Ward. Prior to the announcement of his signing for the Brummies, he took fourth place in the Victorian State Championship at Broadford on 12 December. The highly-rated youngster started the season on a 3.00 average due to the fact that his grandfather was Scottish. And, having appeared as a guest for Dudley in their historic opening meeting at Birmingham on 7 April, he was signed to ‘double-up' with the side a few days later following an injury setback for Adam McKinna.

After netting just 2 points in the Heathens' first league match at home to Buxton at Monmore Green on 13 April, Anderson really sparked into life in Dudley's Knock-Out Cup tie at Scunthorpe three days later, top-scoring with a 15-point haul. Then, on 18 April, in the return league fixture at Buxton, he became the first Heathens rider of the new era to post an unbeaten tally in recording 17+1 points, his total including a 6-point return from a tactical ride in heat seven.

The Aussie's season was temporarily derailed on 12 May, however, when the Brummies entertained Edinburgh in a Premier League encounter. In heat two, Anderson was sent through the safety fence after being involved in an horrific first bend pile-up with visiting rider Kalle Katajisto. Although he was able to walk away from the accident, he did suffer a chipped bone in his elbow. Although he subsequently returned to action for Birmingham, the club announced on 25 May that they had signed Kyle Newman as a replacement for the Australian, who was to focus on his National League duties with Dudley. And, having knuckled down with the Heathens, he made a return to the Premier League at the tail-end of June when a revised team declaration at Somerset saw him link with the Rebels in place of Mark Baseby.

ANDREWS, Richard (Rich) James
DATE OF BIRTH: 6 May 1992, Tiverton, Devon.
BRITISH CAREER: (2009) Newport II; (2010) Weymouth.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.00 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Having initially been part of the declared 1-7 of Newport’s new National League side in 2009, Andrews shuffled to the No. 8 position in June, being replaced in the main body of the team by Shelby Rutherford. Then, towards the end of the same month, he lost his place in the squad altogether, when Tom Young returned from injury. In February 2010, Weymouth handed the Tiverton-born youngster that last spot in their 1-7 for the new term after he had proved himself in the winter training schools at the Wessex Stadium.

ARMSTRONG, Jon Thomas
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 August 1974, Manchester, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (1992-93) Belle Vue; (1994) Coventry; (1996) Buxton, Sheffield; (1997) Buxton, Belle Vue II, Swindon, Stoke; (1998) Newport, Newport II; (1999) Belle Vue, Stoke; (2000) Newport; (2001) Stoke; (2002) Buxton, Stoke; (2003) Stoke; (2004) Mildenhall, Belle Vue; (2005) Mildenhall, Peterborough; (2006) Mildenhall, Peterborough; (2007) Boston, Birmingham, Buxton; (2008-09) Weymouth; (2010) Dudley.
CLUB HONOURS: Four-Team Championship winner: 2004 [Mildenhall]; Conference Trophy winner: 2004 [Mildenhall]; League Championship winner: 2004 [Mildenhall]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2004 [Mildenhall].
MAJOR HONOUR: Amateur League Riders' Champion: 1997.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 9.05 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: A lengthy career in the sport for the ‘Mighty Midget' began at Belle Vue in the 1990s and saw him represent a variety of clubs at all three levels of the sport, before he arrived at Weymouth in 2008. Regrettably, his campaign with the Wildcats came to an abrupt end on 31 May, when he suffered a broken tibia and patella tendon in a heat seven smash with team-mate Jay Herne during the Conference League Pairs Championship at his home track.

The Mancunian returned to the saddle with Weymouth as club skipper in 2009 but, after struggling with the leg he broke the previous year, he was ordered to take at least six weeks off on medical advice. In the interim, he was replaced in the Wildcats' line-up by Mark Burrows. Later in the season, following Lee Smart's departure from the Wessex club, Armstrong - although still ruled out by knee problems - was briefly re-introduced into Weymouth's declared 1-7, thus allowing them a facility in his continued absence. This was utilized in a home National Trophy engagement with Mildenhall on 31 July, but the move was subsequently vetoed and the Wildcats instead enlisted the services of Benji Compton in early August.

During his elongated spell on the sidelines, doctors ordered Armstrong to undergo a knee arthroscopy to assess the full extent of the damage. However, after being kept waiting by the NHS, he ended up spending £3,500 to get it looked at privately. Having been warned that an operation might make things worse, he nonetheless decided to go for it anyway and underwent surgery on 26 August. Thankfully, this proved a success and Armstrong began planning his comeback to racing in earnest. And, on 9 April 2010, Dudley announced his acquisition as a short-term replacement for the injured Ben Taylor.

He had been due to revert back to his parent club, Weymouth, following the Heathens' National League match at Rye House on 1 May but, because of his northern base and his full-time job, it was logistically impossible for him to do so. This meant he was able to stay on with Dudley, for whom he had quickly become a big hit because of his all-action efforts. The club was delighted with the news and stated that the Manchester-born veteran would stay with them as a stand-in whilst Taylor continued his recuperation from a complicated wrist injury. In the meantime, although he remained on board with the Heathens, it was revealed later in May that Newport had concluded a deal to purchase Armstrong on a full transfer from Weymouth.

ASHWORTH, Richard (Ricky) David
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 August 1982, Salford, Greater Manchester.
BRITISH CAREER: (2001) Sheffield II; (2002) Sheffield, Sheffield II; (2003) Sheffield; (2004) Sheffield, Peterborough; (2005) Sheffield, Poole; (2006-09) Sheffield; (2010) Sheffield, Belle Vue.
MAJOR HONOUR: Premier League Riders’ Champion: 2009.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2002 [Sheffield]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2002 [Sheffield]; Young Shield winner: 2002 [Sheffield]; Pairs Championship winner: 2010 [Sheffield].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 7.94 (PL), 3.97 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Rewinding in time, Ashworth's initial speedway rides took place in second-half events at Belle Vue in 2001, after the outbreak of foot and mouth disease had put paid to any grass-track racing that year. He subsequently made his debut for Sheffield Prowlers at Conference level in July that same season. And he grabbed a place in the senior Sheffield side the following term, when the Tigers went on complete a glorious treble of winning the League Championship, Knock-Out Cup and Young Shield. Indeed, they only just missed out on a clean-sweep, losing narrowly to Trelawny in the Premier Trophy final. Ashworth performed very well in his first season at this level to average 4.94, having appeared in a full, gruelling quota of fifty-six matches. The season also saw him remain with the Prowlers, with whom he posted an impressive 9.27 figure from twenty-three appearances.

The Salford-born racer increased his average to 7.57 with the Tigers in 2003 and added to his list of honours - albeit as a guest - when he helped Poole to win the British League Cup, appearing in both legs of the final against their South Coast rivals, Eastbourne. Further improvement in 2004 saw Ashworth raise his end-of-term figure to 8.29 and he also spent the season ‘doubling up' alongside Andrew Appleton at Peterborough. In total, he made twenty-two appearances for the Panthers, scoring 97 points for a 4.55 average. Remaining ever-loyal to Sheffield in 2005, his final figure slipped back slightly to 7.98 in a campaign that also saw him extend his top-flight experience with a further twenty-two appearances for Poole, as he shared a ‘doubling up' role with Edward Kennett.

Having assumed the No. 1 race-jacket due to team-mate Andre Compton's preference not to ride in the opening heat, a fifth straight term with the Tigers in 2006 brought 480 points and a career-high 8.59 second-tier average, as he remained ever-present during the 54-match programme. There was heartache, though, as the South Yorkshire side lost out to King's Lynn in the Play-Off final, going down 100-82 on aggregate. Ashworth maintained a consistent performance level in 2007, as Sheffield again suffered the anguish of losing out in the race for the league title via the Play-Off system. The semi-final stage saw them gain some revenge by defeating King's Lynn, but they were beaten 111-74 by a very determined Rye House side at the final hurdle.

Unswerving in his reliability from the No. 1 position, he continued to give Andre Compton top-end backing the following season, before taking over pole position in the club's averages in 2009. This came after his tall-scoring colleague had initially decided to retire, before a change of heart and circumstances rather than intent saw him end up in the Workington line-up. On 27 September, Ashworth used his substantial knowledge of the Owlerton circuit - not to mention his characteristically exciting and aggressive riding style - to great effect by taking victory in the Premier League Riders' Championship, as he scooped his initial major individual honour. In November, the Tigers once more named him as a member of their starting line-up for 2010, as he continued his long association with the club. The following month, it was also revealed that he had agreed to represent Belle Vue in a ‘doubling-up' capacity.

He was replaced as Sheffield captain by Paul Cooper a week after a home defeat at the hands of Birmingham on 15 April. Shortly after, Ashworth sustained some ligament damage to a wrist when he crashed out of heat one in Sheffield's Premier Trophy encounter at Birmingham on 30 May. But, on the plus side, another career highlight saw him join forces with Josh Auty to win the Premier League Pairs Championship on 9 July. In the final, the Sheffield duo gained a stunning 7-2 race win over defending Champions Birmingham to take the title in front of a large crowd at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena. In the showdown race, the Tigers' No. 1 went around the outside to hit the front, but it was his partner who stole the show as he overhauled Brummies' skipper Jason Lyons after Steve Johnston had suffered an engine failure.

ASPEGREN, Robin Alexander
DATE OF BIRTH: 24 March 1989, Vetlanda, Sweden.
BRITISH CAREER: (2010) Newport.
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 7.00 (PL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Eastbourne gave the highly-rated youngster a trial at the end of the 2009 season, the Swede representing the Eagles in home and away challenge matches against Poole, on 10 and 14 October, respectively. Although not initially handed a 2010 UK berth, Aspegren did eventually gain a place in the Newport side, some three weeks following the broken collarbone suffered by compatriot Anders Mellgren during a Swedish Elite League match on 8 June. As confirmed by the Welsh club, whilst in the UK the Vetlanda-born rider used Mellgren's equipment.

His stint in the Wasps' colours was to be fleeting but, after making his debut in a league match at Edinburgh on 2 July, he was to notch an excellent 9-point tally at Berwick the following evening. Then, on his home debut at Queensway Meadows, he fell in his opening ride before roaring to three straight wins and another 9-point haul versus Champions-elect Edinburgh. That gave him a real-time average of exactly 7.00 from his 3-match spell and he had certainly caught the eye of many a keen observer.

Mellgren had been due to return to the Newport line-up for a home league match versus Stoke on 18 July, but missed the meeting after unfortunately suffering a further injury setback. As a result, the Welsh outfit moved quickly to re-declare with Aspegren, who had made such a good impression during his original spell in the team.

ATKIN, Anthony (Tony) Neville
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 April 1966, Wrexham, North Wales.
BRITISH CAREER: (1986) Stoke; (1994) Wolverhampton; (1995) Bradford; (1996) Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Buxton; (1997) Stoke; (1999-2002) Stoke; (2003-07) Newport; (2008) Newport, Berwick; (2009) Newport II, Newport; (2010) Newport II.
CLUB HONOURS: Knock-Out Cup winner: 1995 [Bradford]; Pairs Champion: 2009 [Newport II].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 8.32 (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: The four-times British 350cc Grass-track Champion (1993, 1997, 1999 and 2000) sustained a broken ankle while riding for Newport against the Isle of Wight at Queensway Meadows in the Premier Trophy competition on 6 April 2008. The accident happened in heat three after the popular Wrexham-born rider had clipped Cory Gathercole's machine and then hit Paul Fry, before careering into the safety fence. Regrettably, the Welsh track was forced to close down shortly afterwards following promoter Tim Stone's death on 26 April. Only the side's Premier Trophy and Knock-Out Cup matches were permitted to count in the riders' records and Atkin subsequently re-located to Berwick.

The veteran of the grass-track and speedway scene resumed with Newport's new National League side as skipper in 2009 and also linked with the senior Premier League outfit at Queensway Meadows late in May, when he replaced Kyle Newman. His stint back in the senior side proved short-lived, though, as the Wasps' promotion recalled Newman - together with Kyle Hughes - as ‘doubling-up' riders in place of Atkin early in June. Aside from his Knock-Out Cup success with Bradford in 1995, a career highlight occurred at the Isle of Wight on 18 August 2009, when he partnered Grant Tregoning to the NL Pairs Championship. Late in October, it was confirmed by the Newport management that Atkin had signed on the dotted line to again represent the Hornets in 2010.

AUTY, Joshua (Josh) Liam
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 September 1990, Mirfield, West Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (2005-06) Scunthorpe; (2007) Redcar, Scunthorpe; (2008) Redcar; (2009-10) Sheffield, Coventry.
MAJOR HONOURS: British Under-15 Champion: 2004, 2005; Queensland State Under-21 Champion: 2010; Queensland State Champion: 2010.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 2006, 2007 [both Scunthorpe]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2006 [Scunthorpe]; Conference Trophy winner: 2006, 2007 [both Scunthorpe]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2007 [Scunthorpe]; Pairs Championship winner: 2010 [Sheffield].
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.07 (PL), 3.04 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Following a disappointing 2008 campaign in Redcar's colours, Auty was identified with Sheffield the following year, when he again linked with his former mentor and Tigers' team manager, Eric Boocock. He also initially took the role of club No. 8 at Coventry, prior to being promoted to a ‘doubling-up' role in place of Joel Parsons in June. However, when his fellow ‘doubling-up' rider, Jordan Frampton, sustained a wrist injury on 20 July, the Bees temporarily dispensed with using the facility.

Both Auty and Frampton were recalled to the dual position at the end of August, though, when Filip Sitera was released. Meanwhile, with Sheffield, he showed resurgent form throughout the campaign to post an average of 7.51 (including bonus) from forty-one official appearances. Following the season, the Yorkshire lad spent the winter riding Down Under as part of a Darren and Sharon Boocock Scholarship, organized in the main by Ayr Speedway enthusiast and former rider Marcus Williams.

Whilst in Australia, the youngster won the Queensland Under-21 title at Gladstone on 21 November, defeating Mitchell Davey, Hugh Skidmore and Tyson Nelson in the final. Shortly after that triumph, it was confirmed that Auty would remain with Sheffield - despite competition for his services from other tracks - for a second successive term in 2010, whilst also continuing to ‘double-up' with his parent club, Coventry. He continued to enjoy his Australian trip on 12 December when, at North Brisbane, he added the senior Queensland State Championship to his U-21 title, winning the final ahead of Darcy Ward, Joe Haines and Mitchell Davey. Then, on 16 January at Mildura, he finished third in the Australian Under-21 Championship, behind Darcy Ward and Justin Sedgmen.

Auty efficiently bedded himself into the Sheffield side in the early weeks of his second campaign in their idiosyncratic colours, before his scoring really began to take-off a couple of months into the season. This culminated in a starring performance at his former track, Redcar, which saw him net 16+1 points from six rides on 28 May. His showing included a crucial victory over former World Champion and Bears' linchpin Gary Havelock in the penultimate race, which secured a Tigers' win on the night.

Adding to his early career highlights, the Mirfield-born rider followed home team-mate Ricky Ashworth to win the Premier League Pairs Championship on 9 July. In the final, the Sheffield duo gained a stunning 7-2 race win over defending Champions Birmingham to take the title in front of a large crowd at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena. The showdown race saw the Tigers' No. 1 go around the outside to hit the front, but it Auty who stole the show as he overhauled Brummies' skipper Jason Lyons after Steve Johnston had suffered an engine failure.