Ryan Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Ryan Geoffrey SullivanRyan Geoffrey Sullivan (born 20 January 1975, in Fitzroy, Victoria
(a suburb of Melbourne
) is an Australian international speedway
rider.
in the late 1970s and as a child, Sullivan played Australian Rules Football
but became interested in speedway when it became obvious that he was not of the ideal build to be a professional footballer.
His parents bought him a junior speedway bike and he had his first ride at the Olympic Park Speedway in Mildura in 1985 although his home track was the Sidewinders Speedway in the semi-industrial Adelaide suburb of Wingfield
, a 112m long track run by the Sidewinders Junior Speedway Club solely aimed at junior Motorcycle speedway
development. Within a couple of seasons Sullivan was seen as one of the best junior riders in South Australia, winning the South Australian Under-16 Individual and Pairs Championships in 1989 and 1990.
Sullivan finished in second place at the 1990 Australian Under-16 Championship behind future Australian
team mate and three time World Champion
Jason Crump
. He would go one better on January 12, 1991 winning his first individual Australian title at his home track in Adelaide.
Ryan Sullivan won three Australian Under-16 Pairs Championships, first in 1989 with that years National Individual Champion Brett Tomkins, backing that up in 1990 teaming with fellow Adelaide rider Troy Norvil. He won his third and last junior pairs title on January 13, 1991 paired with Brett Woodifield, a week before his 16th birthday at which time he would graduate into the senior ranks.
After having gained his motor mechanic qualifications at age 19, Sullivan was regarded one of the best young riders in Australia, going on to win the South Australian Championship
in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and the Australian Under-21 Championship in 1993 and 1996 (the championship was not held in 1994 or 1995).
Sullivan scored his first podium finish in the Australian Championship in 1997 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
when he finished equal second on points with Jason Crump but lost a run-off and was credited with third place. He again finished in third place in 2002 at the ⅓ Mile Wayville Showground at home in Adelaide
before going on to win his first and so far only Australian senior championship in 2004, the first year the championship was run as a series (held over 3 rounds) rather than the single meeting format that had been in place since the first running of the title in 1926. Sullivan was undefeated over the three rounds finishing ahead of defending champion Leigh Adams
who finished 2nd in all three with Todd Wiltshire
finishing in third with 2 fourth and 1 third placings.
and, although he had not ridden in Britain since 2006, in August 2008 he returned to ride for Peterborough until the end of the that season. He has also ridden for the Poole Pirates
but returned to the Panthers on a full transfer in 2006. He is currently riding in Sweden (Rospiggarna
), Poland (Unibax Torun
) and Russia (Togliatti).
rider from 1998 until 2006 and won four Grand Prix meetings. In the 2002 Speedway Grand Prix
series he won the British and Slovenian meetings and in the 2003 Speedway Grand Prix
series he won the Swedish and Scandinavian meetings.
In September 2008, he made it through to the Grand Prix Challenge – the final of the 2009 Grand Prix qualification
rounds. Despite winning his first three heats, he only scored one point in his following two rides and failed to qualify for the 2009 Grand Prix.
Fitzroy, Victoria
Fitzroy is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. Its borders are Alexandra Parade , Victoria Parade , Smith Street and Nicholson Street. Fitzroy is Melbourne's...
(a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
) is an Australian international 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.
Early years
Sullivan's family moved from Melbourne to AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in the late 1970s and as a child, Sullivan played Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
but became interested in speedway when it became obvious that he was not of the ideal build to be a professional footballer.
His parents bought him a junior speedway bike and he had his first ride at the Olympic Park Speedway in Mildura in 1985 although his home track was the Sidewinders Speedway in the semi-industrial Adelaide suburb of Wingfield
Wingfield, South Australia
Wingfield is a suburb situated north of Adelaide and is located on Grand Junction Road. The suburb borders Gepps Cross and Dry Creek.- Government :The suburb of Wingfield is in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield local government area....
, a 112m long track run by the Sidewinders Junior Speedway Club solely aimed at junior Motorcycle 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...
development. Within a couple of seasons Sullivan was seen as one of the best junior riders in South Australia, winning the South Australian Under-16 Individual and Pairs Championships in 1989 and 1990.
Sullivan finished in second place at the 1990 Australian Under-16 Championship behind future Australian
Australia national speedway team
Australia are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by former rider, three time Australian Champion and 1994 World #3 Craig Boyce and captained by three time Speedway World Champion Jason Crump...
team mate and three time World Champion
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
Jason Crump
Jason Crump
Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:...
. He would go one better on January 12, 1991 winning his first individual Australian title at his home track in Adelaide.
Ryan Sullivan won three Australian Under-16 Pairs Championships, first in 1989 with that years National Individual Champion Brett Tomkins, backing that up in 1990 teaming with fellow Adelaide rider Troy Norvil. He won his third and last junior pairs title on January 13, 1991 paired with Brett Woodifield, a week before his 16th birthday at which time he would graduate into the senior ranks.
After having gained his motor mechanic qualifications at age 19, Sullivan was regarded one of the best young riders in Australia, going on to win the South Australian Championship
South Australian Individual Speedway Championship
The South Australian Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held annually in South Australia to determine the South Australian champion. The event is organised by the Speedway Riders' Association of South Australia Inc...
in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and the Australian Under-21 Championship in 1993 and 1996 (the championship was not held in 1994 or 1995).
Sullivan scored his first podium finish in the Australian Championship in 1997 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
when he finished equal second on points with Jason Crump but lost a run-off and was credited with third place. He again finished in third place in 2002 at the ⅓ Mile Wayville Showground at home in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
before going on to win his first and so far only Australian senior championship in 2004, the first year the championship was run as a series (held over 3 rounds) rather than the single meeting format that had been in place since the first running of the title in 1926. Sullivan was undefeated over the three rounds finishing ahead of defending champion Leigh Adams
Leigh Adams
Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion...
who finished 2nd in all three with Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire is a retired Australian motorcycle speedway rider who competed at the highest level of the sport, finishing a career best third in the 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England.-Australia:Todd Wiltshire started racing in 1979 at the Lake...
finishing in third with 2 fourth and 1 third placings.
Career
Sullivan has spent most of his British career with the Peterborough PanthersPeterborough 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...
and, although he had not ridden in Britain since 2006, in August 2008 he returned to ride for Peterborough until the end of the that season. He has also ridden for the Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
but returned to the Panthers on a full transfer in 2006. He is currently riding in Sweden (Rospiggarna
Rospiggarna
- History :The club was founded in 1930 and were named Orion, although it did not compete in the Swedish speedway leagues until 1966. The club joined the Swedish Division Three in 1966 and the team name was changed to Stjärnorna . In 1978 the name was changed again to Rospiggarna which is a...
), Poland (Unibax Torun
KS Torun
KS Toruń is a Polish speedway team from Toruń, Poland. Formerly known as Apator Toruń .- Team Information :* Full name: Klub Sportowy Toruń Unibax SA* Address: 87-100 Toruń, ul. Pera Jonssona 7...
) and Russia (Togliatti).
Speedway Grand Prix
Sullivan was a Grand PrixSpeedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. As of 2008, all of the events take place in Europe.- Event format :...
rider from 1998 until 2006 and won four Grand Prix meetings. In the 2002 Speedway Grand Prix
2002 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2002 Speedway Grand Prix season is the eighth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes...
series he won the British and Slovenian meetings and in the 2003 Speedway Grand Prix
2003 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2003 Speedway Grand Prix season is the ninth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes...
series he won the Swedish and Scandinavian meetings.
In September 2008, he made it through to the Grand Prix Challenge – the final of the 2009 Grand Prix qualification
2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification
The 2009 Individual Speedway World Championship Grand Prix Qualification Meetings are a series of speedway meetings used to determine the three riders and one reserve who qualify for the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix...
rounds. Despite winning his first three heats, he only scored one point in his following two rides and failed to qualify for the 2009 Grand Prix.
Speedway Grand Prix results
| 1998 1998 Speedway Grand Prix The 1998 Speedway Grand Prix season was the fourth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system used was a new one for the 4th SGP season with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
7yh | 68 | 2nd | 2nd in Poland 1998 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland The 1998 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden was the fifth race of the 1998 Speedway Grand Prix season. It was take place on 18 September in the Polonia Stadium in Bydgoszcz, Poland It was fourth Polish SGP, but first in Bydgoszcz. Grand Prix was won by Pole Tomasz Gollob, who ridding for Polonia... |
| 1999 1999 Speedway Grand Prix The 1999 Speedway Grand Prix season was the fifth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
10th | 55 | 3rd | 3rd in Poland II 1999 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland II The 1998 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland was the fifth race of the 1999 Speedway Grand Prix season. It was take place on 28 September in the Polonia Stadium in Bydgoszcz, Poland- Starting positions draw :... |
| 2000 2000 Speedway Grand Prix The 2000 Speedway Grand Prix season was the sixth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
9th | 62 | 2nd | 2nd in Great Britain 2000 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain The 2000 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain was the fourth race of the 2000 Speedway Grand Prix season. It was take place on 29 July in the Brandon Stadium in Coventry, England- Starting positions draw :... |
| 2001 2001 Speedway Grand Prix The 2001 Speedway Grand Prix season was the seventh season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
4th | 80 | 3rd | 3rd in Sweden Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden The Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:*List of sporting events in Sweden... |
| 2002 2002 Speedway Grand Prix The 2002 Speedway Grand Prix season is the eighth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
3rd | 158 | Winner (twice) | Won in Great Britain Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain The Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:... and Slovenia Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia The Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia was a speedway event that was a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series between 2002 and 2008.-Winners:... |
| 2003 2003 Speedway Grand Prix The 2003 Speedway Grand Prix season is the ninth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
9th | 94 | Winner (twice) | Won in Sweden Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden The Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:*List of sporting events in Sweden... and Scandinavia Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia The Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:*List of sporting events in Sweden... |
| 2004 2004 Speedway Grand Prix The 2004 Speedway Grand Prix season is the tenth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.-Event format:The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
13th | 65 | 4th | |
| 2005 2005 Speedway Grand Prix The 2005 Speedway Grand Prix season is the 11th season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :... |
14th | 45 | 6th | |
| 2006 2006 Speedway Grand Prix The 2006 Speedway Grand Prix season is the twelfth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :... |
18th | 10 | 4th |