Lee Richardson

I RODE with Lee Richardson a fair amount.

TAKEN from this week’s Kevin Doolan column, in the Ipswich Star newspaper.

I RODE with Lee Richardson a fair amount.

We grew up in the under-21s together and travelled to and from different countries in world qualifiers.

We met up at many tracks and more recently I’ve ridden with him at Lakeside Hammers. His passing on Sunday is very tragic.

I found Lee friendly and helpful and we often shared a coffee together.

Like so many speedway riders our paths crossed at times, but few speedway riders are in each other’s pockets. There is so much travelling involved, especially when racing abroad, you can’t spend much time together.

So, like everyone in speedway I was devastated to hear about his death.

Of course, all riders know it’s something that’s out there.

Every time you go to the tapes you know the risks, you know the possible outcomes.

I always look at the risks and rewards involved in speedway and I’m sure Lee did too.

I suppose every few weeks I think about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. That way I’m always 100% focused on the sport I’m in, knowing the risks, knowing the rewards.

I won’t be alone in that, I imagine many riders think about the risks on a regular basis.

But it’s quite simple. As riders we love the sport, we give speedway 100%.

If we didn’t, we may as well put our kevlars away.

SPEEDWAY is such a great family.

When the type of tragedy unfolds as we have had this week with the death of Lee Richardson, the family of speedway rallies round.

Help and support for his young family will be everywhere in our sport.

But you can be sure Lee loved his lifestyle of racing. He loved his family and he loved his racing.

He will be sadly missed.

THE rest of the Kevin Doolan column will be in Thursday’s Ipswich Star.

The Kevin Doolan column - every Thursday in the Ipswich Star newspaper.