Meet the SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE Tigers 2015

New team photo
photograph by Geoff Ridsdale
Jack Lee (team manager) Josh Bates Andre Compton, Simon Stead Ty Proctor (hidden) Ashley Birks, Arthur Sissis, David Bellego
(not in photo) Robin Aspegren Paco Castagna Jason Garrity Nikolai Klindt

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Robin Aspegren
Robin Aspegren Born: Vetlanda Sweden 1st February 1996
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
6.39 5.84 5.22 5.44 5.24 5.03

Robin joins Sheffield for the play-offs having been released by Rye House who wanted to sign Robert Lambert. Robin has plenty of British experience having won the Premier League with Newport in 2011 and also ridden for Berwick and Rye House, and also Swindon in the Elite League. Back home he has experience with Njudingarna, Lejonen and Elit Vetlanda, and also this year with Dackarna.

With his Premier League average dropping to 5.03 he will be spending September riding at reserve with Paco Castagna which could be interesting.

Official meetings Sheffield average in 2015 = 2.00

photograph by: Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: tba
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 62.0  May 15
Highest scores: Home tba Away 2 v Scunthorpe (PL)
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Josh Bates
Josh Bates Born: Barnsley South Yorkshire 1st February 1996
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
3.53 3.82 3.87 4.23 4.80 5.15

Local lad Josh made rapid progress when he got his first 125cc speedway bike in 2010. Progressing quickly onto a 250cc he rode in the 250cc world championship in Sweden. In January 2012 Josh got his first 500cc, joined National League Mildenhall and finished the season with a 5.30 average.

After joining Scunthorpe to replace the retired Garry Irving at the start of 2013, he became the scapegoat of an under performing team and lost his place to Lewis Blackbird before he'd done sufficient meetings to get an official average. His National League form was much better as he added over 2 points to his average helping the Fen Tigers to a NL Grand Slam and was named "Rookie of the Year".

He joined Elite league Swindon for 2014 but persuaded Alun Rossiter to release him after his uncle joined the new promotion at Owlerton. He went on to become British U21 champion at Wolverhampton and made steady progress with the Tigers in the Premier League.

Josh gained a wealth of experience over the winter in Australia and continues to make goood progress riding for both the Tigers in 2015 and Wolverhampton in the Elite League. He also had a brief spell with National League Birmingham in July, all great experience for the youngster.

Official meetings average in 2015 = 5.42

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 60.8  July 30 & 6, 27 Aug
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 62.0  May 15
Highest scores: Home 16 v Rye House (PL) Away 11+2 v Glasgow (LC s/f)
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David Bellego
David Bellego Born: Marmande France 15 May 1993
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
6.06 6.58 6.58 6.54 5.85 6.06
David was a member of the League championship winning Glasgow team in 2011 before joining Berwick for the last three seasons during which time he helped them to victory in the Four Team Championship in 2012.

In his two visits to Owlerton last season David scored 30 points plus one bonus from 12 rides (including one retirement) for an average of 10.33, and he reached the semi-final of Ricky's Big Day ahead of riders such as Scott Nichols, Kenneth Bjerre, Kenneth Hansen and Peter Karlsson.

David thrilled the crowd with last to second moves passing Steve Worrall and Ludvig Lindgren in both heats 13 and again in 15 in the League Cup win against Newcastle. He was caught up in the horror crash in heat 15 at Rye House when his skipper took a tumble right in front of him resulting in a fractured hip.

Thankfully David returned to track action in June and continued in the same exciting style.

Current average from official fixtures in 2015 = 6.10

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 59.9  August 27
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 61.2  August 28
Highest scores: Home 12+2 v Redcar (PL) Away 10+1 v Scunthorpe (PL)
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Ashley Birks
Ashley Birks Born: Sheffield South Yorkshire 19th October 1990
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
5.68 6.18 6.05 5.55 5.57 5.57
Ashley rode for the Tigers on-loan from parent club Scunthorpe in 2011. He returned to help the Lincolnshire club to championship success and also won the National League riders championship in 2012. Ashley doubled up with Swindon in 2013 and suffered a broken wrist at a vital time as Scunthorpe contested the play-offs in 2014.

 

After struggling with machinery Ashley was picking up some form when he became a victim of the track conditions at Glasgow in the League Cup semi-final. A crash left him with a badly broken shoulder which means his season is over.

Official meetings average in 2015 = 5.47

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 61.1  May 21
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 62.5  May 15
Highest scores: Home 12 v Edinburgh (KO) Away 9 v Scunthorpe (LC) & Plymouth (PL)
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Michele Paco Castagna
Paco Castagna Born: ArzignanoItaly4th March1994
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
n/a n/a n/a 5.00 5.00 3.33  

Just thirty years (almost to the day) after Sheffield attempted to sign his father, Paco Castagna joins the Tigers to replace injury victim Ashley Birks.

Paco finished second in the Lonigo round of the Italian Championship last year ahead of Erik Riss and Nico Covatti, and he's probably best known for his appearance as Italian reserve in the Speedway World Cup round at King's Lynn.

Paco has been keen to find himself a British team and we hope he manages more than the three meetings his father managed in his first season for King's Lynn. He scored a healthy 12 points in the challenge against Cradley and is scheduled to make his Premier League debut against Rye House.

Average from official fixtures = 3.33

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015:62.1 July 23
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: n/a
Highest scores: Home 4+1 v Scunthorpe (PL) Away 5+3 v Scunthorpe (PL)
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André Compton
André Compton Born: Dewsbury Yorkshire 15th May 1977
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
5.59 6.05 6.44 6.97 6.70 6.70

Having helped steer the Tigers to their 1999 Championship win André moved up to the Elite League with Peterborough in 2000, but became a victim of his teams poor initial form. Joining Newcastle he skippered the Diamonds to Championship success in 2001, and invariably performed well against the Tigers. When the Diamonds changed their race day to Sunday for 2003 André went looking for another team and jumped at the chance of rejoining the Tigers, signing a full contract a few weeks into the season.

He doubled up with Poole in 2004 and won the controversial Premier League Rider's Championship crashing with the unbeaten Simon Stead in the final, but was unable to defend his title in 2005 after failing to make the semi-final.

André assumed the captaincy in 2006 a role which he reprised in 2007 scoring no fewer than 14 maximums and leading the Tigers to the play-off finals in both years before announcing his retirement prior to the Young Shield defeat by the Isle of Wight which concluded the 2008 season.

André returned to the saddle with a brief spell on loan at Glasgow in July 2013 before rejoining the Tigers to replace the injured Richard Hall. He started the 2014 season in the reserve berth but soon moved up into the team. Just as he reached peak form he crashed on the last bend in the televised match against Somerset and was hit on the head by a following riders bike. Thankfully he escaped serious injury but missed the rest of the season while recuperating.

When Taylor Poole's visa application was rejected Andre became the obvious choice to complete the team. He started the season in fine style and was steadily building his average before sustaining a wrist injury at Edinburgh.

Current average from official fixtures in 2015 = 6.45         Maximums:     (Paid) 1

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 61.2  May 21
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 60.5  July 24
Highest scores: Home 12+1 v Newcastle (PL) Away 11 v Glasgow (PL)
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Jason Garrity
Jason Garrity Born: Droylsden Greater Manchester 9th November 1993
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
6.75 6.75 7.18 7.76 8.12 8.21

Jason was British U15 Champion in 2008 before joining the Buxton Hitmen in 2009. He was British U19 Champion and National League Riders Champion in 2011 while riding for the Belle Vue Colts and the Leicester Lions. For the last three years he has ridden for the Rye House Rockets and represented them at the PLRC in 2014 scoring 6 points.

Unable to find a Premier League berth in 2015 Jason was concentrating on his Elite League commitments for Coventry until being invited to cover for the injured David Bellego.

By the time David Bellego had recovered Ty Proctor had been deported for non-compliance with work permit regulations and Jason was able to take over his place in the team.

Jason appears to be enjoying his time with Sheffield almost as much as the fans are.

Current average from official fixtures in 2015 = 8.46            Maximums (Full) 1, (Paid) 1

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 60.5   July 30
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: n/a  
Highest scores: Home 14+1 v Scunthorpe (PL) Away 12+1 v Plymouth (PL)
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Nikolai Klindt
Nikolai Klindt Born: OutrupDenmark29th December1988
Opening CMA May CMAJune CMAJuly CMAAug CMASep CMAOct CMA
n/a n/a n/a n/a 6.68 6.00  

Nikolai was the Danish U21 Champion back in 2006. He rode for Wroclaw in the Polish League as a 17 year-old. Since then he's ridden for Wolverhampton, Smederna, Swindon, Peterbrough and Birmingham. In 2014 he represented Leicester and Scunthorpe and this year he's a member of Elit Ventlanda in the Swedish Elitserien.

He joins the Tigers to replace injury victim Andre Compton and help the Tigers in their quest for the play-offs.

Average from official fixtures = 5.60

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015:61.1  Aug 6
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 62.1  12th June
Highest scores: Home 10+2 v Edinburgh (PL) Away 6 v Workington (PL)
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Tyron Proctor
Ty Proctor Born: Longwarry Victoria, Australia 27th February 1987
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
6.07 6.44 6.68 n/a n/a n/a

Ty first rode in Britain for the Redcar Bears in 2008 where his fiery style soon took him to the top of their averages. He doubled up with Wolverhampton in the Elite League in 2009, before going full time in 2010. Despite a poor season in 2011 he returned in 2012 and doubled up with Plymouth. He had a fall at Armadale in May 2013 but continued riding until he felt something 'go' in his neck at Birmingham. A slipped disc was the prognosis which required major surgery and forced him to miss the rest of the season. Ty was all set to lead the Somerset Rebels in 2014 until he was dropped less than 24 hours before their press and practice.

Ty has a good record around Owlerton including finishing 3rd in the 2009 P.L.R.C. behind the winner Ricky Ashworth and runner-up Darcy Ward.

Ty's form was patchy in the Elite league with Wolverhampton in 2014 and he joined the Tigers with the hope of regaining some confidence, but he initially struggled to get to grips with the pacy Owlerton circuit. A maximum against the Rye House Rockets showed he'd turned the corner and he was already in double figures when he crashed in heat 15 of the Newcastle match sustaining soft tissue damage and a troublesome haematoma in his left thigh.

With a temporary visa issued Ty had to prove he was of the required standard for the Premier League in 2015. Having achieved an 8.26 average (7.39 excluding bonus points) it turns out he has to include his 2014 meetings in the calculations and joins Taylor Poole on the list of unemployable Australians.

Official meetings average from 2015 = 7.41

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 62.4  April 16
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 61.6  March 31
Highest scores: Home 9+1 v Redcar (LC) Away 10+1 v Rye House (PL)
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Arthur Sissis
Arthur Sissis Born: Adelaide Australia 15th June 1995
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sept CMA Oct CMA
5.00 (ass) 3.56 3.75 3.47 3.60 3.71

Arthur rode junior moto cross before taking up speedway at the age of 9. He was Australian U16 champion in 2008 and 2009 and finished second to Brady Kurtz in 2010 before electing to take up road racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Three victories in 2011 at Jerez, Mugello and Assen saw him finish 2nd in the championship and gained him a ride in the Malaysian Grand Prix where he finished 20th. 2012 saw him join the Red Bull KTM Ajo team with whom he claimed a podium finish at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island in October.

After some disappointing recent results Arthur has decided it is time to try his luck back in speedway racing and a long time association with Neil Machin resulted in him joining the Tigers for 2015.

After a steady if unspectacular start to the season Arthur showed his mettle in the challenge match against Cradley when he raced to his first ever maximum. In his best performance of the season Arthur raced to paid 14 at Berwick and set up a last heat decider. Tommy Johanssen fell in front of Arthur who had nowhere else to go and he collected a separated collar bone which threatens to end his season.

Official meetings average from 2015 = 3.71

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 60.4

 July 30

Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: n/a  
Highest scores: Home 7+1 v Rye House (PL) Away 13+1 Berwick (PL)
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Simon Stead
Simon Stead Born: Sheffield South Yorkshire 25th April 1982
Opening CMA May CMA June CMA July CMA Aug CMA Sep CMA Oct CMA
9.96 10.41 10.41 10.41 10.41 10.41
Simon cut his teeth on the old Sheffield Training track before signing for Peterborough Thundercats shortly after his birthday in 1997. Moving up to the Premier League he helped Peterborough to championship success in 1998, but joined the Tigers when Peterborough went up to the Elite League in 1999. Simon made it back-to-back championship wins as he helped his home town team to the title. In 2001 he became British U21 champion with a 15 point maximum at Monmore Green and he defended his title the following year while helping the Tigers to more championship success.

 

Simon joined Workington for the 2003 season doubling up with Wolverhampton in the Elite. He won the Premier Pairs title with Carl Stonehewer and made it a hat-trick of British U21 wins. He made the step up to the Elite League joining Belle Vue in 2005, won the Elite Pairs with Jason Crump in 2006 and was given a wildcard at the British Grand Prix. By 2007 he had progressed to heat-leader but was loaned to Coventry for 2008. In 2009 he transferred to Swindon where he enjoyed a testimonial meeting in 2012 and helped the Robins to their first ever Championship win beating the Poole Pirates in the play-off final.

Simon returned to his home town club in 2013 but a badly broken leg in a crash while practicing at his Elite club King's Lynn made him miss half of the season.

Good form in 2014 with both Sheffield and Leicester in the Elite league led to him being called up to represent his country in the Speedway World Cup. A magnificent 10 points at King's Lynn helped Britain qualify directly to the final for the first time in years.

Simon, now a full Sheffield asset and doubling up with Belle Vue in 2015, started the season in fantastic form and led the Tigers to wins in all six opening fixtures including a rare away win at Rye House. Unfortunately in the last heat of that meeting at Hoddesden he clipped the fence while leading heat 15, somersalted back into the path of him team mate and suffered a broken femur and upper arm.

Official meetings average in 2015 = 10.48     Maximums: (Paid) 2,  (Full) 2.

photograph by: Geoff Ridsdale Fastest time at Owlerton in 2015: 61.4  April 16
Fastest time at Owlerton in 2014: 60.0  July 24
Highest scores: Home 15 v Redcar (LC) & Plymouth (PL) Away 11+1 v Rye House (PL)
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