Gary Richard Peterson (9 June 1946 – 17 October 1975) was a New Zealand international motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2] He earned 21 caps for the New Zealand national speedway team.[3]

Speedway career

Peterson became the champion of New Zealand after winning the 1973 New Zealand Championship.[4]

He rode in the top two tiers of British Speedway from 1968 to 1975,[5] riding for Nelson Admirals,[6] Newcastle Diamonds, Wolverhampton Wolves and Bradford Northern.

In 1970, he topped the league averages during the 1970 British League Division Two season.[1][7] [8] Peterson missed the 1974 season for Wolves due to having to return home to New Zealand because of his mother's illness.[9]

In 1975, Peterson died in a crash at Monmore Green Stadium during the Midland Cup final match. Riding for Wolves he lost control of his bike and hit a track lighting pylon.[2][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Riders to Remember....Gary Peterson". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Roll Of Honour". Motorcycling New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. ^ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ "A cinders debut". Nelson Leader. 31 May 1968. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. ^ "A cinders debut". Nelson Leader. 31 May 1968. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Kiwi Gary going home". Wolverhampton Express and Star. 6 March 1974. Retrieved 20 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Speedway rider Gary Peterson killed". Reading Evening Post. 18 October 1975. Retrieved 21 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.


No tags for this post.