Robert Lightfoot (speedway rider)

Born in Coventry, Lightfoot is the son of Jim Lightfoot, who also had a career in speedway, riding for Coventry Bees and Long Eaton Archers.[1] He initially excelled as a junior grasstrack rider, winning several tournaments including the Welsh Open Championship (1979, 1980), the Sportac Spectacular (1978), and the Worcester and Cotswold Club Championship (1979).[1] He began his speedway career in 1979, making his debut for Stoke Potters later that year.[1] In 1980 he signed for Leicester Lions, riding in two inter-league cup matches, and was loaned back to Stoke, for whom he rode in twenty National League matches that year, averaging 3.39.[1][2] He also rode in Leicester's junior team in the Anglia Junior League, and won the Anglia Junior League Riders' Championship in 1980.[2] In 1981 he won the British Junior Championship at Canterburythe 1981 ‘Pride of the Potteries’ and averaged over 6.5 for Stoke on the National League.[2]

His career was interrupted in 1982 by a crash in which he broke his neck.[2] On his return in 1983 he rode in second-half races at Leicester, and made a handful of senior appearances for the Lions, but a string of crashes took their toll and he retired at the end of the 1983 season.[2]