Jan Tony Soren Rickardsson is a Swedish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1989 to 2006. Rickardsson is notable for winning six Speedway World Championship titles in 15 attempts. In 2011, Rickardsson was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
At the Swedish Sports Gala in 2014
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to simply as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only one gear and have no brakes. Racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt, loosely packed shale, or crushed rock. Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways, powersliding or broadsiding into the bends. On the straight sections of the track, the motorcycles reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).
A speedway rider on the track
Col Stewart races his speedway motorcycle wearing a leather helmet. Photo taken around 1930.
Speedway riders, Sydney, 9 February 1946, by Ray Olsen, Pix Magazine photographer.
All 4 riders leaning into the first corner – note the elbows.