Ricky Ashworth
Encyclopedia
Richard David Ashworth (born 17 August 1982 in Salford, England
) is a professional speedway
rider for Sheffield Tigers
who has represented Great Britain.
Son of David Ashworth and Mandy Winnard, Ricky was raised in Salford (originally from Irlam
) and went to Summerville County primary school and then on to Hope High School
. He started his racing career on a Yamaha
PW 50cc and Kawasaki
K100 as a motocross
rider up to the age of 10, changing his bike career to grass track racing after experiencing financial difficulties due to the spiralling cost of privately owning and maintaining motocross bikes
.
While gaining a high reputation for himself during his grass track days, Ricky was introduced to speedway. After a couple of practice sessions on a speedway bike he was talent-spotted by Belle Vue Colts
. He quickly signed for Premier League
side Sheffield Tigers
after just 12 months in the sport. He has since gone on to establish himself as a heat leader at the Owlerton
club and has also experienced Elite League
racing while doubling up with Peterborough Panthers
in 2004 and Poole Pirates
in 2005.
In 2006, Ashworth was given the number 1 jacket following the retirement of Sean Wilson
and some of his best meetings came when he took on the captaincy following Andre Compton
's absence. He retained the number 1 slot for the 2007 season. He took part in the Premier League Fours event in Peterborough
, but fell on his first race while attempting to overtake.
In 2007, Ashworth was booed by the Kings Lynn Stars fans after kicking Tomas Topinka's mechanic.
On November 27, 2008, it was announced that Ricky would once again ride for the Sheffield Tigers
and also take over from Andre Compton
as the Tigers Captain.
On September 27, 2009, on his home track, Ricky rode brilliantly to win the PL Riders Championship. He had top scored during the heats to gain automatic qualification to the Grand Final Heat where he was up against the riders Ty Proctor, Darcy Ward
and David Howe. With an awesome start from inside gate-1 he rode from the front to win his first honours in this event at the first time of trying.
In 2010, Ricky will double-up for Belle Vue Aces
, along with retaining the captaincy for Sheffield Tigers
.
On October 14, 2010, Ricky broke his existing Sheffield track record of 59.2 secs (54.56 mph) set on 21/5/09 with a new time of 59.1 secs at a speed of 54.65 mph). This continues to maintain Sheffield's accolade as being the fastest track in the UK.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a professional speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider for Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
who has represented Great Britain.
Son of David Ashworth and Mandy Winnard, Ricky was raised in Salford (originally from Irlam
Irlam
Irlam is a suburban town and unparished area within the City of Salford in Greater Manchester, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 18,504. The town lies on flat ground on the south side of the M62 motorway and the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, and is west-southwest of...
) and went to Summerville County primary school and then on to Hope High School
Hope High School (Salford)
Oasis Academy MediacityUK, formerly Hope High School, is an academy in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The school will move into a new building in 2012.-Name change:Oasis Academy MediaCityUK opened in September 2008 replacing Hope High School....
. He started his racing career on a Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
PW 50cc and Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
K100 as a motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
rider up to the age of 10, changing his bike career to grass track racing after experiencing financial difficulties due to the spiralling cost of privately owning and maintaining motocross bikes
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
.
While gaining a high reputation for himself during his grass track days, Ricky was introduced to speedway. After a couple of practice sessions on a speedway bike he was talent-spotted by Belle Vue Colts
Belle Vue Colts
The Belle Vue Colts are the junior youth development team of the Belle Vue Aces, the World's most famous motorcycle speedway team, based in Manchester in the northwest of England....
. He quickly signed for Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
side Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
after just 12 months in the sport. He has since gone on to establish himself as a heat leader at the Owlerton
Owlerton Stadium
Owlerton Stadium, sometimes referred to as Sheffield Sports Stadium, is a greyhound racing track in Owlerton near Hillsborough in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The stadium is also home to the Sheffield Tigers Speedway team and hosts BriSCA Formula One stock car racing events. It is operated...
club and has also experienced Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
racing while doubling up with Peterborough Panthers
Peterborough Panthers
The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006...
in 2004 and Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
in 2005.
In 2006, Ashworth was given the number 1 jacket following the retirement of Sean Wilson
Sean Wilson (speedway rider)
Sean Wilson is a former international speedway rider who has ridden for Great Britain at test level.-Career summary:...
and some of his best meetings came when he took on the captaincy following Andre Compton
Andre Compton
Andre Compton is a Speedway rider. He is the older brother of Redcar Bears' Benji Compton.-Career summary:...
's absence. He retained the number 1 slot for the 2007 season. He took part in the Premier League Fours event in Peterborough
Peterborough Panthers
The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006...
, but fell on his first race while attempting to overtake.
In 2007, Ashworth was booed by the Kings Lynn Stars fans after kicking Tomas Topinka's mechanic.
On November 27, 2008, it was announced that Ricky would once again ride for the Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
and also take over from Andre Compton
Andre Compton
Andre Compton is a Speedway rider. He is the older brother of Redcar Bears' Benji Compton.-Career summary:...
as the Tigers Captain.
On September 27, 2009, on his home track, Ricky rode brilliantly to win the PL Riders Championship. He had top scored during the heats to gain automatic qualification to the Grand Final Heat where he was up against the riders Ty Proctor, Darcy Ward
Darcy Ward
Darcy Stephen Ward is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider who won the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Australian Under-21 Championships as well as the 2009 and 2010 World Under-21 Championships...
and David Howe. With an awesome start from inside gate-1 he rode from the front to win his first honours in this event at the first time of trying.
In 2010, Ricky will double-up for Belle Vue Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
, along with retaining the captaincy for Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
.
On October 14, 2010, Ricky broke his existing Sheffield track record of 59.2 secs (54.56 mph) set on 21/5/09 with a new time of 59.1 secs at a speed of 54.65 mph). This continues to maintain Sheffield's accolade as being the fastest track in the UK.