# Ryan Sullivan

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Australian speedway rider

For other people named Ryan Sullivan, see [Ryan Sullivan (disambiguation)](/source/Ryan_Sullivan_(disambiguation)).

Ryan Sullivan Born (1975-01-20) 20 January 1975 (age 51) Fitzroy, Victoria Nationality Australian Career history Great Britain 1994–1997, 1999–2003, 2006, 2008, 2012 Peterborough Panthers 1998, 2004–2005 Poole Pirates Poland 1996–1998, 2000, 2007–2013 Toruń 1999 Bydgoszcz 2001–2006 Częstochowa Sweden 1997–1998, 2003–2004 Kaparna 1999–2002, 2010 Rospiggarna 2005–2008 Piraterna 2011 Indianerna Denmark 2007 Brovst 2010 Slangerup Individual honours 1997 Intercontinental Champion 1995 Overseas Champion 2004 Australian Champion 1995, 1996, 1997 South Australian Champion 1993, 1996 Australian Under-21 Champion 1991 Australian Under-16 Champion 1997, 2003 Golden Helmet of Pardubice 2000 Elite League Riders' Champion Team honours 1999 World Team Cup 2001, 2002 World Cup 1997 Elite League Fours Winner 1997 Swedish Allsvenskan 1999, 2001, 2004 Elite League Champion 1999, 2004 Elite League KO Cup Winner 1999 Craven Shield Winner 2001, 2002, 2003 Swedish Elitserien 2003 Polish Extraleague

**Ryan Geoffrey Sullivan** (born 20 January 1975, in [Fitzroy](/source/Fitzroy%2C_Victoria), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia))) is a former Australian international [motorcycle speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) rider who has won the [Australian Solo Championship](/source/Australian_Solo_Championship),[1] [Australian Under-21 Speedway Championship](/source/Australian_Under-21_Speedway_Championship), and Under-16 championships during his career.[2] Sullivan achieved a career best third in the [2002 Speedway Grand Prix](/source/2002_Speedway_Grand_Prix), winning two of the ten Grand Prix run during the year.[3][4]

## Career

### Australia

Sullivan's family moved from [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) to [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide) in the late 1970s, and as a child Sullivan played [Australian Rules Football](/source/Australian_Rules_Football), but became interested in speedway when it became obvious that he was not of the ideal build to be a league footballer.

His parents bought him a junior speedway bike and he had his first ride at the [Olympic Park Speedway](/source/Olympic_Park_Speedway_(Mildura)) in [Mildura](/source/Mildura) in 1985, although his home track was the [Sidewinders Speedway](/source/Sidewinders_Speedway) in the Adelaide suburb of [Wingfield](/source/Wingfield%2C_South_Australia), a 112m long track run by the Sidewinders Junior Speedway Club solely aimed at junior [Motorcycle speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) development. Within a few seasons Sullivan was seen as one of the best junior riders in South Australia, winning the South Australian Under-16 Individual title in 1990 and 1991 while winning the Pairs Championships in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Sullivan finished in second place at the 1990 Australian Under-16 Championship in [Perth](/source/Perth) behind [Jason Crump](/source/Jason_Crump). He would go one better on 12 January [1991](/source/1991_Australian_Under-16_Individual_Speedway_Championship) winning his first individual Australian title at his home track in Adelaide. Sullivan won three Australian Under-16 Pairs Championships, first in 1989 with Brett Tomkins, and backing that up in 1990 teaming with fellow Adelaide rider Troy Norvil. He won his third and last junior pairs title on 13 January 1991 paired with [Brett Woodifield](/source/Brett_Woodifield).

Sullivan's first senior speedway championship came on 14 April 1991 when he won the track championship at the Westline Speedway in South Australia's [Whyalla](/source/Whyalla). Sullivan was unbeaten in the heats to finish on 12 points before going on to win the final from Paul Schevienen and Troy Norvill. 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 three [South Australian Championships](/source/South_Australian_Individual_Speedway_Championship) in succession in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the [Australian Under-21 Championship](/source/Australian_Under-21_Speedway_Championship) in 1993 and 1996 (the championship was not held in 1994 or 1995). Other than his 1993 Under-21 title which was won at the [Olympic Park Speedway](/source/Olympic_Park_Speedway_(Mildura)) in [Mildura](/source/Mildura), his 1996 U/21 title and his state title wins came at his home track, the [North Arm Speedway](/source/North_Arm_Speedway). Sullivan's also won round 4 of the 1996 [Australian Speedway Masters Series 500](/source/Australian_Speedway_Masters_Series) at the 510 metres (560 yd) [Wayville Showground](/source/Adelaide_Showgrounds).

Sullivan scored his first podium finish in the [Australian Championship](/source/Australian_Individual_Speedway_Championship) in 1997 at the [Brisbane Exhibition Ground](/source/Brisbane_Exhibition_Ground) when he finished equal second on points with Jason Crump, but lost a run-off to Crump and was credited with third place. He again finished in third place in 2002 at the Wayville Showground.

In 2004, Sullivan became the first South Australian rider to win the Australian Championship since [John Boulger](/source/John_Boulger) in 1973. Sullivan was undefeated over the three rounds held at the [Gold Coast](/source/Gold_Coast_Speedway), [Gosford](/source/Gosford_Speedway) and Olympic Park speedways. He defeated defending champion [Leigh Adams](/source/Leigh_Adams) who finished 2nd in all three rounds. This would prove to be Sullivan's only Australian Championship win and the final time he stood on the podium of the event.

### England

Sullivan spent most of his British career with the [Peterborough Panthers](/source/Peterborough_Panthers), starting in 1994.[5] He won the [Elite League Riders' Championship](/source/Elite_League_Riders'_Championship), held at the [Brandon Stadium](/source/Brandon_Stadium) on 21 October 2000.[6]

Although he had not ridden in Britain since 2006, in August 2008 he returned to ride for Peterborough until the end of that season. He has also ridden for the [Poole Pirates](/source/Poole_Pirates) but returned to the Panthers on a full transfer in 2006. He went on to ride in Sweden ([Rospiggarna](/source/Rospiggarna)), Poland ([Unibax Torun](/source/KS_Toru%C5%84)) and Russia (Togliatti). He returned to Peterborough in 2012 to replace the injured [Kenneth Bjerre](/source/Kenneth_Bjerre), but suffered a hand injury which ended his season and led to announcing his retirement from the sport in March 2013.[7]

### International

Sullivan qualified for the [1995](/source/1995_Individual_Speedway_Junior_World_Championship) and [1996](/source/1996_Individual_Speedway_Junior_World_Championship) [Under-21 World Championships](/source/Individual_Speedway_Junior_World_Championship). He finished third in 1995 at the Kaanaa Speedway Stadium in [Tampere](/source/Tampere), Finland, finishing in a 4-way tie on 12 points before winning the runoff for third place. In his final shot at winning the title before turning 22, he improved to second in 1996 behind Poland's [Piotr Protasiewicz](/source/Piotr_Protasiewicz), at the Speedwaybahn in [Olching](/source/Olching), Germany.

Sullivan's first major international career win came when he defeated [Leigh Adams](/source/Leigh_Adams) in a runoff to win the [1995 Overseas Final](/source/1995_Overseas_Final) in [Coventry](/source/Coventry), England. Sullivan became the first Australian winner of the [Overseas Final](/source/Overseas_Final) which had been in place since [1981](/source/1981_Overseas_Final). In [1997](/source/1997_Intercontinental_Final), Sullivan became the first Australian to win the [Intercontinental Final](/source/Intercontinental_Final) when he led home an Aussie 1-2-3 (with Jason Crump and [Craig Boyce](/source/Craig_Boyce)) in [Västervik](/source/V%C3%A4stervik), Sweden.

In both 1997 and 2003, Sullivan won the prestigious [Golden Helmet of Pardubice](/source/Golden_Helmet_of_Pardubice) at the [Svítkov Stadion](/source/Sv%C3%ADtkov_Stadion) in the Czech Republic, his 1997 title being the first for any Australian rider.

In [1999](/source/1999_Speedway_World_Team_Cup), Sullivan was part of the [Australian team](/source/Australia_national_speedway_team) that took out the [Speedway World Team Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup), Australia's first WTC win since [1976](/source/1976_Speedway_World_Team_Cup). He was also a member of the team when Australia won the [Speedway World Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Cup) in [2001](/source/2001_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) and [2002](/source/2002_Speedway_World_Cup_Final). He finished second in the SWC in [2003](/source/2003_Speedway_World_Cup_Final), third in [2007](/source/2007_Speedway_World_Cup) and fourth in both [2006](/source/2006_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) and [2008](/source/2008_Speedway_World_Cup_Final).

Sullivan's last major win came in 2009 at the [Alfred Smoczyk Memorial](/source/Alfred_Smoczyk_Stadium) in [Leszno](/source/Leszno), Poland.

### Speedway Grand Prix

Sullivan was a [Speedway Grand Prix](/source/Speedway_Grand_Prix) rider from 1998 until 2006 and won four Grand Prix meetings. In the [2002 Speedway Grand Prix](/source/2002_Speedway_Grand_Prix) series he won the [British Grand Prix](/source/Speedway_Grand_Prix_of_Great_Britain) in [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff)[8] and the [Slovenian Grand Prix](/source/Speedway_Grand_Prix_of_Slovenia) in [Krško](/source/Kr%C5%A1ko).[9] In the [2003 Speedway Grand Prix](/source/2003_Speedway_Grand_Prix) series he won the [Swedish Grand Prix](/source/Speedway_Grand_Prix_of_Sweden) in [Avesta](/source/Avesta) and the [Scandinavian Grand Prix](/source/Speedway_Grand_Prix_of_Scandinavia) in [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), Sweden.

In September 2008, he made it through to the Grand Prix Challenge – the final of the [2009 Grand Prix qualification](/source/2009_Speedway_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 Speedway Grand Prix](/source/2009_Speedway_Grand_Prix).

## World Final Appearances

### World Team Cup

- [1999](/source/1999_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Pardubice](/source/Pardubice), [Svítkov Stadion](/source/Sv%C3%ADtkov_Stadion) (with [Jason Crump](/source/Jason_Crump) / [Jason Lyons](/source/Jason_Lyons) / [Leigh Adams](/source/Leigh_Adams) / [Todd Wiltshire](/source/Todd_Wiltshire)) - **Winner** - 40pts (12)

- [2000](/source/2000_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Coventry](/source/Coventry), [Brandon Stadium](/source/Brandon_Stadium) (with Jason Crump / [Todd Wiltshire](/source/Todd_Wiltshire) / Leigh Adams / [Craig Boyce](/source/Craig_Boyce)) - 4th - 29pts (2)

### World Cup

- [2001](/source/2001_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - [Wrocław](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Wroc%C5%82aw)) (with Jason Crump / Todd Wiltshire / Craig Boyce / Leigh Adams) - **Winner** - 68pts (13)

- [2002](/source/2002_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - [Peterborough](/source/Peterborough), [East of England Showground](/source/East_of_England_Showground) (with Todd Wiltshire / Jason Lyons / Leigh Adams / Jason Crump) - **Winner** - 64pts (17)

- [2003](/source/2003_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - [Vojens](/source/Vojens), [Speedway Center](/source/Vojens_Speedway_Center) (with Jason Crump / Todd Wiltshire / Jason Lyons / Leigh Adams) - **2nd** - 57pts (10)

- [2006](/source/2006_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - [Reading](/source/Reading%2C_Berkshire), [Smallmead Stadium](/source/Smallmead_Stadium) (with Travis McGowan / Todd Wiltshire / Leigh Adams / Jason Crump) - 4th - 35pts (4)

- [2007](/source/2007_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - [Leszno](/source/Leszno), [Alfred Smoczyk Stadium](/source/Alfred_Smoczyk_Stadium) (with Jason Crump / [Chris Holder](/source/Chris_Holder) / Leigh Adams / [Davey Watt](/source/Davey_Watt) / [Rory Schlein](/source/Rory_Schlein)) - **3rd** - 29pts (7)

- [2008](/source/2008_Speedway_World_Cup_Final) - Vojens, Speedway Center (with Leigh Adams / Chris Holder / Jason Crump / Davey Watt) - 4th - 21pts (5)

### Individual Under-21 World Championship

- [1995](/source/1995_Individual_Speedway_Junior_World_Championship) - [Tampere](/source/Tampere), [Kaanaa Speedway Stadium](/source/Tampere#Sport) - **3rd** - 12+3pts

- [1996](/source/1996_Individual_Speedway_Junior_World_Championship) - [Olching](/source/Olching), [Olching Speedwaybahn](/source/Olching_Speedwaybahn) - **2nd** - 11+3pts

## Speedway Grand Prix results

Year Position Points Best finish Notes 1998 7th 68 2nd Second in Polish Grand Prix 1999 10th 55 3rd Third in Poland II Grand Prix 2000 9th 62 2nd Second in British Grand Prix 2001 4th 80 3rd Third in Swedish Grand Prix 2002 3rd 158 Winner Won British and Slovenian Grand Prix 2003 9th 94 Winner Won Swedish and Scandinavian Grand Prix 2004 13th 65 4th 2005 14th 45 6th 2006 18th 10 4th

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Individual Australian Championship"](http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php). *Historia Sportu Zuzlowego*. Retrieved 21 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Oakes, P.(2004). *British Speedway Who's Who*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948882-81-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948882-81-6)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Montague, Trevor (2004). *The A-Z of Sport*. Little, Brown. p. 530. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-316-72645-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-316-72645-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ryan Geoffrey Sullivan Australia"](https://speedway.com.pl/riders/ryan-sullivan/). *Polish Speedway Database*. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Panthers pounce"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19940209/038/0038). *Cambridge Daily News*. 9 February 1994. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)"](http://www.speedwaygbarchive.co.uk/history/leaguetables2000.php). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 8 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "[Aussie Star Sullivan Retires](http://www.speedway365.com/index.php/world-speedway-news/3591-aussie-star-sullivan-retires) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130406031033/http://www.speedway365.com/index.php/world-speedway-news/3591-aussie-star-sullivan-retires) 6 April 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)", speedway365.com, 18 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["British Grand Prix: Sullivan wins maiden GP"](https://www.crash.net/speedway/news/97788/1/british-grand-prix-sullivan-wins-maiden-gp). *Crash.net*. Retrieved 12 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Speedway: Cheetahs ace Adams up to fourth in GP"](https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6592521.speedway-cheetahs-ace-adams-fourth-gp/). *Oxford Mail*. Retrieved 12 July 2024.

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National Czech Republic

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ryan Sullivan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Sullivan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Sullivan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.