Robert Blackadder (born 7 December 1955) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He earned four international caps for the

Australia national speedway team Australia is one of the major teams in international motorcycle speedway with the country regarded as the birthplace of the sport in the 1920s. The current team is managed by former rider Mark Lemon, and captained by 2012 World Champion Chris ...

Biography

Blackadder, born in Cessnock, New South Wales, began his British leagues career riding for

Newcastle Diamonds Newcastle Diamonds were a motorcycle speedway team that raced in the SGB Championship, every Sunday night during the season (March–October) from their home at the Newcastle Stadium on the Fossway, Byker. The Stadium, previously known as Broug ...

during the

1975 New National League season The 1975 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom when British League Division Two was renamed. It was subsequently named the National League. Summary The league increased by one team for the fou ...

season. Newcastle had been re-formed by Ian Thomas and the club signed a new team ready for 1975, which included the Owen brothers (

Joe Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

and Tom Owen), in addition to the two Australian riders, Blackadder (aged 19) and

Ron Henderson Ronald Henderson was St. Louis' 31st Chief of Police. He was an officer for 29 years and Chief for 6½ years in the Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis The Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis (also known a ...

(aged 17). Blackadder made an immediate impact, supporting the Owen brothers and helping the Diamonds to the runner-up position behind

Birmingham Brummies Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team founded in 1928. They were inaugural members of the Southern League in 1929. The team have twice finished runner-up in the highest tier of British speedway, during the 1952 Speedway National Le ...

. The following season in 1976, the Newcastle team dominated and won the league and cup double and the fours. Blackadder improved his average to 8.61 and was later called up to represent the Australian speedway team. The 1978 season resulted in further improvement with Blackadder peaking at a season average of 9.10. He became the captain of Newcastle and continued to ride for Newcastle until the early part of the 1982 season, which came to a premature end for him following a compound fracture of his left wrist after a crash in March 1982. After the Speedway Control Board introduced new points restrictions to the team building for 1983 season, Blackadder was released by Newcastle and he returned home to Australia. He also rode a few matches for other clubs in division 1 such as

Hull Vikings The Hull Vikings were a speedway team from Hull, England, who operated primarily from The Boulevard (stadium) and Craven Park from 1971 to 2005. History The team originated as the Hull Angels and were based at Hedon Stadium in Hedon on the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackadder, Robbie 1955 births Living people Australian speedway riders Newcastle Diamonds riders