 | |
| Born | (1951-06-01)1 June 1951[1] Stockholm, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Career history | |
| Sweden | |
| 1972 | Stjärnorna |
| 1973–1982 | Getingarna |
| Great Britain | |
| 1973, 1976–1985 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1975 | Oxford Rebels |
| 1976 | White City Rebels |
| 1986–1988 | Swindon Robins |
| 1989–1990, 1992–1995 | Long Eaton Invaders |
| 1991 | Peterborough Panthers |
| 1991 | Hackney Hawks |
| 1992 | Milton Keynes Knights |
| Individual honours | |
| 1973 | Swedish Junior Championship silver |
| Team honours | |
| 1974,1978,1979,1980,1981 | Allsvenskan Champion |
| 1982 | Elitserien Champion |
| 1975 | Midland Cup winner |
| 1977 | British League KO Cup Winner |
| 1980 | Gauntlet Gold Cup |
John Rickard Hellsén, also known asRichard Hellsen during his speedway career, is a Swedish former speedway rider. He earned 22 caps for theSweden national speedway team.[2]
Hellsen began his career withStjärnorna during the1972 Swedish speedway season.[3] The following year he made his British leagues debut riding with theKing's Lynn Stars in the1973 British League season, although he only rode 4 times that season.[4] During the 1973 season he won the silver medal at theSwedish Junior Speedway Championship.[5]
He was a three-time gold medalist in the Swedish Pairs Championship (1979, 1981, 1982) and a five-time gold medalist in theSwedish Speedway Team Championship, in 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982 (all whilst riding withGetingarna).
Meanwhile in Britain, it was withOxford Rebels that he was part of the Midland Cup winning team in 1975.[6] The team transferred to White City underDanny Dunton andBob Dugard in 1976[7] after fears that the stadium at Cowley was to be sold for development.[8] He then became a regular heat leader with King's Lynn, for ten years from 1976 to 1985.
He was a finalist of the1980 Speedway World Pairs Championship, in Krško and finished just outside the medals in fourth place.[9] He was also a multiple representative of Sweden in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup team.
He retired in 1996 and since retiring has been restoring Volkswagen Beetles, building hot rods and Volkrods.
Lives in Beccles, Suffolk, and has two grandsons: Jack aged 4 and Ezra who is just 1 year old.(2016)[Source:Interview with Karl Fiala of Speedway Friends]
Krško,Matija Gubec Stadium (withJan Andersson) - 4th - 18pts (9)