12 Facts About Gary Havelock

Robert Gary Havelock was born on 4 November 1968 and is a British former speedway rider who was World Champion in 1992.

Gary Havelock first competed in grasstrack racing, winning the British Junior Championship, before following his father into speedway.

Gary Havelock started his league career with local club Middlesbrough Tigers in 1985, moving from reserve to the main body of the team by May He helped Middlesbrough win the Fours Championship during the 1985 National League season.

Gary Havelock moved to the Bradford Dukes in 1987, the same year that he won the 1987 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship.

Gary Havelock won the Premier League Riders Championship at Odsal Stadium on 14 October 1995 but missed most of the 1996 season after seriously injuring his back whilst representing England in a test match against Australia at Poole in July.

Gary Havelock had ridden in the first two of the Speedway Grand Prix meetings that season.

Gary Havelock has represented Great Britain in the Speedway World Team Cup finals six times, finishing runner-up in 1990 and in the Speedway World Cup four times, finishing runner-up in 2004.

Gary Havelock was banned for the entire 1989 season after he tested positive for cannabis at the British League Riders' Championship meeting in 1988.

At the 2007 BSPA Annual General Meeting, Great Britain team manager Neil Middleditch announced that he would be "happy to continue" in the position but recommended that Gary Havelock should be his successor once he has retired from racing, stating "he would take to it like a duck to water".

Middleditch mentioned he would be happy for Gary Havelock to act as his assistant.

Gary Havelock appeared in the Sky TV football show Premier League All Stars in 2007, representing eventual winners Middlesbrough FC.

Gary Havelock is a patron of the charity National Association for Bikers with a Disability.