THE co-owner of Swindon Robins speedway has paid an emotional tribute to former Blunsdon rider Lee Richardson, who died aged 33 in an horrific on-track crash in Poland on Sunday.

Gary Patchett says he will remember the Great Britain international, who rode for Swindon between 2005 and 2007, as a family man and one of the sport’s good guys.

“He was just a top bloke on and off the track, he gave 100 per cent in everything he did,” said Patchett.

“Nothing was ever too much trouble and he was a great dad with lovely children and a lovely wife.

“They say it’s always the good ones that get taken from us.”

Lee leaves behind his wife Emma and young sons Josh, Jake and Jenson.

Patchett’s fellow co-owner Terry Russell, who brought ‘Rico’ to Blunsdon in 2005, echoed Patchett’s sentiments.

Russell said: “He was always a nice lad to deal with and I’ve got nothing but good to say about him. My thoughts go out to his family.

“When we held the Bob Kilby Memorial meeting, he was there straight away ready to put his name down, so he obviously had Swindon in him even after he had left.

“A lot of people are in shock, the Great Britain manager Neil Middleditch is devastated and all the people at Lakeside (his current team) are devastated.”

Swindon boss Alun Rossiter, in his first spell as manager when Richardson was recruited, said the Hastings-born man was a pleasure to work with. He added that he has fond memories of Richardson riding with Leigh Adams, who himself was seriously injured in an accident in Australia last year.

“Lee was just a very professional guy in whatever he did and he was such a talented racer,” said Rossiter.

“When he was on show he was immaculate. If I ever wanted anything doing I’d ask him to do it.

“When he and Leigh rode together it was like they were on a monorail.

“I’ve got a photo of them after they won the Elite Pairs Championship in 2005, and it just shows how cruel life can be – one is not with us any more and the other is in a wheelchair. Last night I was sat looking at the picture of them and just crying.”

Simon Stead, a Swindon rider who competed for Great Britain alongside Richardson, paid tribute to his ‘fantastic’ friend.

“I think everyone’s in shock – it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Stead.

“He was a fantastic guy, always a gentleman and good with the fans. He was good at his job and I’m proud to have met him and represented my country with him.”