Lee Richardson (1979-2012)

Very sad news indeed - former Bees rider Lee Richardson died yesterday after a track crash in Wroclaw, Poland BBC report Tonight's meeting between Coventry and Lee's Lakeside team, due to be televised on Sky, has been postponed RIP Lee

Tragic news indeed. Lee was an England international of many years standing and all-time top points scorer in World Team Cups for England. It seems he collided with another rider on the back straight on the first lap and hit the safety fence. No air fences on straights. It's easy to forget how dangerous motor sports can be and how these guys take huge risks to entertain the fans every time they get on a bike. Condolences to Lee's family.

That is very sad. I only ever saw him ride as a "star of the future". I have lost several friends the same way - Brett Alderton, Ashley Jones to name only two. It's a great sport, but it can break your heart.

just like to say r.i.p Lee Richardson a fab rider God bless you Lee

Friday night at Brandon was a very sad occasion as riders, officials and fans paused to remember Lee Richardson, who had ridden for both of the clubs who were meeting in the fixture, Coventry and Peterborough Speedway is a dangerous sport, and thankfully outcomes like that which occurred in Wroclaw last Sunday are few and far between It is at times like this that the "Speedway Family" comes together, and this has been shown up and down the UK, and throughout Poland and the rest of Europe, during the last week, with many fund-raising schemes being set up for Lee's young family, and a special mass being celebrated in cathedrals in Wroclaw, Czestochowa and other cities in Poland Friday night's programme contained a double-page spread of photos of Lee during his spell with The Bees, and I reproduce them here

Emma Richardson, pictured laying flowers at one of her late husband's speedway bikes Lee Richardson Support Fund RIP Lee

Report from the Evening Telegraph on the inquest held this week into the death of Lee Richardson SPEEDWAY rider Lee Richardson would have known "perfectly well" the risks he faced competing in the sport before he was killed in a horrific crash following a race in Poland, a coroner said. The former Coventry Bees star, 33, suffered multiple injuries after careering into a wooden safety fence while competing for PGE Marma Rzeszow against Betard Sparta Wroclaw on May 13 last year. An inquest in Hastings, East Sussex, heard his front wheel touched the rear wheel of another rider as he prepared to overtake him on the inside. The impact, on the first bend of the third heat at the Olympic Stadium in Wroclaw, sent Richardson at "full force" into the 4ft barrier, mechanic Dariusz Lapa said in a statement. Richardson was stretchered off the track while still conscious and driven by ambulance to the local accident and emergency department. But, the inquest heard, after being transferred to general surgery he suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at just after 8.30pm, prompting tributes to the 1999 world under-21 champion from across the speedway community. Recording a verdict that he died following a motorcycle accident, East Sussex coroner Alan Craze said father-of-three Richardson, would have been well aware of the dangers involved in his sport. Mr Craze said: "At the end of the day, you have got to recognise that brave and courageous people like him who want to take part in sport which carries with them a considerable degree of danger know perfectly well that there is a chance that something like this can happen."

Twelve months ago today we lost Lee Richardson to injuries sustained in a track-crash in Wroclaw The speedway family doesn't forget - RIP Rico

Remembering Lee Richardson on what would have been his 35th birthday RIP Rico

Thank you MR.

Lee Richardson 25 April 1979 - 13 May 2012 #RICO

Eight years ago today, we lost Lee Richardson Never forgotten #RICO