| Lee Richardson | |
| Nationality: | British (English) |
| Birth Date: | 25 April 1979 |
| Birth Place: | Hastings, England |
| Death Place: | Wrocław, Poland |
| Nickname: | Rico |
| Career1: | Great Britain |
| Years2: | 1995, 1997-1999 |
| Career2: | Reading Racers |
| Years3: | 1996, 1999 |
| Career3: | Poole Pirates |
| Years4: | 1997, 2004 |
| Career4: | Peterborough Panthers |
| Years5: | 1997 |
| Career5: | King's Lynn Stars |
| Years6: | 2000-2003 |
| Career6: | Coventry Bees |
| Years7: | 2005–2007 |
| Career7: | Swindon Robins |
| Years8: | 2008 |
| Career8: | Eastbourne Eagles |
| Years9: | 2009–2012 |
| Career9: | Lakeside Hammers |
| Career10: | Poland |
| Years11: | 1999 |
| Career11: | Piła |
| Years12: | 2000 |
| Career12: | Grudziądz |
| Years13: | 2001, 2004–2005 |
| Career13: | Zielona Góra |
| Years14: | 2002 |
| Career14: | Wrocław |
| Years15: | 2003 |
| Career15: | Lublin |
| Years16: | 2006–2009 |
| Career16: | Częstochowa |
| Years17: | 2010–2012 |
| Career17: | Rzeszów |
| Career18: | Sweden |
| Years19: | 2004-2010 |
| Career19: | Vetlanda |
| Years20: | 2011-2012 |
| Career20: | Vargarna |
| Indivyear1: | 1999 |
| Indivhonour1: | World Under-21 Champion |
| Indivyear2: | 2002 |
| Indivhonour2: | GP Challenge |
| Indivyear3: | 2003 |
| Indivhonour3: | Elite League Riders Champion |
| Teamyear1: | 1997 |
| Teamhonour1: | Premier League Champion |
| Teamyear2: | 1998 |
| Teamhonour2: | Premier League KO Cup Champion |
| Teamyear3: | 2005 |
| Teamhonour3: | Elite League Pairs Champion |
| Teamyear4: | 2008,2009 |
| Teamhonour4: | Elite League KO Cup winner |
Lee Stewart Richardson (25 April 1979 – 13 May 2012)[1] was a British international motorcycle speedway rider.[2] [3]
Richardson made his British debut for the Reading Racers in 1995.[4]
Richardson represented Great Britain at senior and under-21 level and featured in several World Cup tournaments. Richardson was World Under 21 champion in 1999.[5] [6]
In October 2002, during the Speedway Grand Prix Qualification he won the GP Challenge, which ensured that he claimed a permanent slot for the 2003 Grand Prix.[7] He won the Elite League Riders' Championship, held at Brandon Stadium on 18 October 2003.[8]
He was also a fully fledged Grand Prix rider for four seasons from 2003 until 2006.[9] Richardson joined the Lakeside Hammers for the 2009 season.
On 13 May 2012, Richardson died of internal bleeding in a Wrocław hospital following a collision with a safety fence during a Polish League match.[10] [11]
Richardson's mother Julie was a presenter for ScreenSport Television. His father Colin is a former rider. His uncle Steve Weatherley, another rider, was paralysed in a crash with Vic Harding whilst racing in a meeting at the Hackney Wick Stadium (Harding later died in hospital).
| Year | Position | Points | Best finish | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31st | 3 | 19th | 1 wild card appearance | |
| 2002 | 25th | 17 | 5th | 2 wild card appearances. 5th in British Grand Prix | |
| 2003 | 16th | 45 | 7th | Missed 2 Grands Prix through injury | |
| 2004 | 11th | 76 | 3rd | 3rd in British Grand Prix | |
| 2005 | 13th | 55 | 2nd | 2nd in Polish Grand Prix | |
| 2006 | 15th | 39 | 8th |