Steve Johnston

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Steve Johnston
Johnston in 2007
Born (1971-10-12) 12 October 1971 (age 52)
Kalgoorlie, Australia
NicknameJohno
NationalityAustralian
Career history
Great Britain
1992-1993Sheffield Tigers
1993-1996Long Eaton Invaders
1997, 2008Ipswich Witches
1998-2002, 2007Oxford Cheetahs
2003Belle Vue Aces
2004Swindon Robins
2005Wolverhampton Wolves
2006Arena Essex Hammers
2007Coventry Bees
2009Somerset Rebels
2010Birmingham Brummies
Poland
1997Gniezno
1998, 2007Toruń
1999Łódź
2000Ostrów
2001Leszno
Sweden
2001Västervik
2003-2005Vargarna
Individual honours
1993, 1996, 2004WA State Champion
Team honours
2001, 2007Elite League Champion
2007Elite League KO Cup Winner
2007Craven Shield Winner
2010Premier League Fours Champion

Steven Paul Johnston (born 12 October 1971) is former international motorcycle speedway rider from Australia.[1][2][3]

Career[edit]

Born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Johnston signed for the Sheffield Tigers for the 1992 British League Division Two season. He left Sheffield to join the Long Eaton Invaders for the 1993 season.[4] While at Long Eaton, Johnston began to put in notable performances including winning the Western Australian Individual Speedway Championship in 1993 and 1996 at the Claremont Speedway and being the European Grasstrack Champion in 1996.

In 1997, he rode for Ipswich Witches in the 1997 Elite League speedway season and averaged nearly 8.[5]

Steve Johnston riding for Oxford

Oxford Cheetahs recruited him the following season to ride at Oxford Stadium for the 1998 Elite League speedway season and he would spend five consecutive seasons with them including helping them win the 2001 Elite League speedway championship.[6]

Johnston went on to win a third Western Australian Individual Speedway Championship and represented the Australia speedway team in two Speedway World Cup finals in 2004 and 2005.[7]

After the 2002 season with Oxford, Johnston became a journeyman rider by appearing for a different club every year from 2003 to 2010. However, he did have a very successful season in 2007. Initially he was due to ride the whole season on his return to Oxford but after a couple of months Oxford withdrew from the 2007 Elite League speedway season. This forced a move to the Coventry Bees, where he won the league and Knockout Cup double.[8]

Johnston earned a testimonial meeting at Coventry in June 2008, while riding for Ipswich and he had one season at Somerset Rebels in 2009 and a successful season in 2010 for Birmingham Brummies in 2010 before retiring.[9] He was part of the Birmingham four who won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, on 15 August 2010, at the East of England Arena.[10]

Speedway Grand Prix results[edit]

Year Position Points Best finish Notes
2002 27th 7 11th Wildcard in Australian Grand Prix

References[edit]

  1. ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. ^ "Steve Johnston". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Steve Johsnton". Grasstrack GB. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Johnston names Witches skipper". East Anglian Times. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Cheetahs chief says: We fear no team". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. ^ "We can all have a beer afterwards!". Speedway Plus. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  10. ^ "2010 Birmingham results". Birmingham Speedway. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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