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 STEAD, Simon Trevor
DATE OF BIRTH: 25 April 1982, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
BRITISH CAREER: (1997) Peterborough II; (1998) Peterborough, Buxton; (1999-2001) Sheffield; (2002) Sheffield, Peterborough; (2003-04) Workington, Wolverhampton; (2005-07) Belle Vue; (2008) Coventry; (2009-10) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Youth Development League Riders' Champion: 1998; British Under-21 Champion: 2001, 2002, 2003.
CLUB HONOURS: League Championship winner: 1997 [Peterborough II], 1998 [Peterborough], 1999 [Sheffield], 2002 [Sheffield]; Four-Team Championship winner: 1999 [Sheffield], 2000 [Sheffield], 2004 [Workington]; Young Shield winner: 1999, 2002 [both Sheffield]; Premier Trophy winner: 2001 [Sheffield]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2002 [Sheffield], 2005 [Belle Vue]; Pairs Championship winner: 2003 [Workington], 2006 [Belle Vue]; Craven Shield winner: 2008 [Coventry].
RIDER LINKS: Son of Trevor Stead (born: 24 May 1956, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). Nephew of Ian Stead (born: 25 April 1964, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). Cousin of Adam Allott (see separate entry).
2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 6.79 (EL).
ADDITIONAL INFO: Having spent the 2008 campaign on loan at Coventry, Stead became a full Swindon asset in 2009, when he figured in a swap deal that saw Charlie Gjedde cement his move to Belle Vue.
The Sheffield-born rider - who has accumulated a host of club honours during his British career - was the Robins' highest profile acquisition of the winter, being a flamboyant racer who had always previously excelled on the fast-paced Blunsdon raceway.
During a career that had begun a dozen years previously with Peterborough in the then Amateur League, ‘Steady' has represented Great Britain at international level and appeared as both a wildcard and reserve in the Grand Prix series, making four appearances between 2003 and 2006. He was also a non-riding reserve for the British GP at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in both 2008 and again in 2009.
And his liking for the Abbey Stadium raceway was fully emphasized on 4 June 2006, when he combined with Jason Crump to win the Elite League Pairs Championship in the colours of Belle Vue. In the final, the duo came up against the home pairing of Leigh Adams and Sebastian Ulamek, and whilst Adams sprinted clear, Stead battled past Ulamek on the back straight to slot into the crucial spot behind his partner and win the coveted title.
He was to become something of a fans' favourite during his first year in Swindon's colours, acquiring a tally of 301 points as he remained ever-present throughout the side's forty official matches for a real-time average of 7.38.
Highlights included a couple of paid maximums at the Abbey; the first being against Belle Vue on 30 April, when he notched 13+2 points. The other occurred on 18 June, when he carded 14+1 points versus Peterborough.
On 29 December, the club confirmed that Stead would remain with them for 2010, his place in the line-up being announced at the same time as that of Morten Risager. At the time, Robins' co-owner Gary Patchett said: "Morten and Simon performed well for Swindon during the 2009 season and we're pleased to welcome them both back in 2010. They were very keen to return to Blunsdon and are both targeting increases on their starting averages.
"Morten and Simon are now fully familiar with the Swindon set-up, have built up a rapport with the Swindon supporters and have good Blunsdon track knowledge. We are therefore confident that both riders will start the season strongly and continue to develop over the course of the season"
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