Had some shocking News today, ive been intersted in speedway since a young lad and was only stopped from taking up the sport by a caring mum,today i heard the tragic news that a rider that i know quite well has died following an accident on sat 13th my most hated number, just 33years old with a young family, such a really nice bloke Rides for Team GB Lee Richardson , why is it always the nice ones . Bit upset to say the least, it is a dangerous sport but fatalities are rare fortunately. Sorry for posting on here as probably not many people even know him or even the sport but im just in total shock cant believe it and thinking about his poor young family. RIP Rico :'(
Heard about that on the news this morning, which surprised me as speedway isn't mentioned much down here, such a shame.
RIP Rico I was watching it live on speedwaylive.hu last night Joe Screen was the last product of the Hackney track, remember watching Barry Thomas teaching him for lap after lap after the main meetings on Friday nights
Hackney Hawks with my Dad as a kid in the 70s, right through the glory days of the HL1 Kestrels til it shut down. Dad still a season ticket holder at Arena Essex but that place never has the atmosphere of the Old Waterden Road for me. There was nothing better than Thommo's legendary charges round the boards from gate 4 during meetings. I also remember watching the then World Champion Billy Hammil shake a bike down after a meeting one Friday, just opened the throttle and did 4 laps, engine note never changed.... legend! Used to go to Rye House on a sunday too when Len Silver owned both and Rye was the feeder team for the Hawks. ... getting all misty eyed about my youth now. Might try Rye House again apparently its been totally revamped with Silver dollars.
I used to love watching it as a kid as we had a track in Newtongrange they'd buzz round. I will never forget the smell of the oil and the dirt in the face as they sped round. RIP Rico. Died doing what he loved the most.
Loved speedway when i was a kid used to go to cradley with my dad and his mate a ttt champion who owned a mbike shop , that smell of dope and the noise , loved it !. Thanks for the memory jog Barney. rip Rico.
