Gary Peterson (speedway rider)

Gary Richard Peterson (9 June 1946 – 17 October 1975) was a New Zealand international motorcycle speedway rider.^[1][2] He earned 21 caps for the New Zealand national speedway team.^[3]

Gary Peterson

Born	9 June 1946 (1946-06-09) New Zealand
Died	17 October 1975(1975-10-17) (aged 29) Wolverhampton, England
Nationality	New Zealander
Career history
1968–1970	Nelson Admirals
1968–1969	Newcastle Diamonds
1970–1971, 1973, 1975	Wolverhampton Wolves
1970	Bradford Northern
Individual honours
1973	New Zealand Champion
Team honours
1973	Midland Cup

Speedway career

Peterson became the champion of New Zealand after winning the 1973 New Zealand Championship.^[4]

He rode in the top two tiers of British Speedway from 1968 to 1975,^[5] riding for Nelson Admirals,^[6] Newcastle Diamonds, Wolverhampton Wolves and Bradford Northern.

In 1970, he topped the league averages during the 1970 British League Division Two season.^{[1][7] [8]} Peterson missed the 1974 season for Wolves due to having to return home to New Zealand because of his mother's illness.^[9]

In 1975, Peterson died in a crash at Monmore Green Stadium during the Midland Cup final match. Riding for Wolves he lost control of his bike and hit a track lighting pylon.^[2][10]

See also

• Rider deaths in motorcycle speedway