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SPEEDWAY ACE FACES SETBACK
April 14, 2004
The 24-year-old was representing his Elite League club Peterborough Panthers in his first return to Brandon where he spent four years before his winter switch to Cambridgeshire.
Richardson led heat six before lifting on the fourth corner of the first lap that allowed Coventry duo American Billy Janniro and 16-year-old Dane Morten Risager to ride alongside him down the back straight.
The trio entered the first turn of the second lap leaving the former under-21 World Champion no room to turn and he hit the deck heavily.
Amazingly Richardson returned to the tapes to grab a second place in the re-run after Janniro was excluded, before withdrawing from the meeting.
"Billy took a gap which wasn't really there and he was a bit stupid," said Richardson.
"I felt sick and dizzy afterwards and shouldn't have really rode after.
"I feel pretty rough at the moment and very disorientated and its even worse when its not your fault.
"Billy did come up to me and apologise and explain he didn't mean to hurt me.
"But at the end of the day Billy's a bit wild and I've paid the end result.
"To not finish a meeting is my loss and at a price to me."
Richardson's bike was not as damaged as first thought with snapped mud guards and bent clutch levers the main problems.
Richardson admitted he was looking forward to riding at his former track - who paid £22,500 for him to Poole Pirates in 2000 - and was amazed at Coventry Stadium's face-lift in the winter.
"I was there for four years and was getting ready for a good night," he said.
"The place looks totally revamped and it was fantastic joy to see.
"It was good to go back and it is unfortunate what happened but that's speedway."
The Panthers eventually lost the match 53-42 as Czech star Lukas Dryml was also forced to withdraw after crashing in Heat 11 with American newcomer Brian Yarrow.
The day had started well for Peterborough after they won the mid-day home fixture against Coventry at the East of England Showground 52-41 with Richardson scoring 11+1, remaining unbeaten in four outings after suffering a engine failure in his opening ride.
Following a difficult start to the season, Richardson helped the 1999 Elite League Champions record their first victory on Good Friday with a one point 47-46 win over Arena Essex after he publicity claimed the team's results were
unacceptable to the management, sponsors and supporters.
Richardson has withdrawn from tonight's league match at Arena Essex and is looking to be fully fit for the opening individual Grand Prix in Sweden on May 1.
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