Leigh Scott Adams

World Speedway Grand Prix winner/ 10x Australian Champion

Now 45 years old, speedway rider Leigh Scott Adams’ story is one of great achievement, determination – and courage.

Born in the speedway ‘nursery’ town of Mildura and taken under the wing of Phil Crump, himself a top rider and engineer as well as father of triple world champion Jason, Adams quickly started winning championships.

Building on an Australian Under 16 championship and four Under 21 Australian titles, he became the second of now five Australian Under 21 world champions.

He won a record ten Australian senior titles and swags of state titles, as well as the Speedway World teams championship and two world cups as part of the Australian 4-rider team.

Despite winning eight world championship speedway rounds, his best in that championship was second in 2007. After 20 years of international speedway, Adams retired in 2010. This gave him time to tackle one of Australia’s toughest events, the Finke Desert Race out of Alice Springs.

Practising for the 2011 event with a bunch of riders, he crashed in rocky terrain, suffering a wide range of injuries including to his spine. Despite now being wheel chair bound, Adams is marvellously positive.

He uses parallel bars in his shed, to help him get around while working on bikes and still guides juniors in their careers.

31 years after his own Australian Under 16 title, his son Declyn was third in the same title chase.