Joe Thompson (speedway rider)

Joe Thompson

Born	22 April 2004 (2004-04-22) (age 21) Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
2019–2024	Leicester
2022	Wolverhampton
2023	Ipswich
2023	Poole
2024–2025	Plymouth
Team honours
2025	Premiership KO Cup (tier 1)
2019, 2022	tier 3 league champions
2019, 2022	tier 3 KO Cup winners
2022	tier 3 pairs winners

Joseph Thompson (born 22 April 2004) is a motorcycle speedway rider from England. ^{[1] [2]}

Speedway career

Thompson began his speedway career riding for the Leicester Lion Cubs during the 2019 National Development League speedway season. ^[1] In 2021, he broke into the Leicester Lions senior team for the SGB Championship 2021. ^[3]

In 2022, he continued to represent Leicester but made his debut for Wolverhampton Wolves (in the highest league in Britain) during the SGB Premiership 2022 season. ^{[2] [1] [4]} He helped Leicester dominate the season by winning the league, successfully defending their National League Knockout Cup title (from 2019) and winning the Pairs Championship, partnered by his brother Dan. ^{[5] [6]}

In 2023, he signed for Scunthorpe Scorpions for the SGB Championship 2023 following Leicester's move to the Premiership ^[7] and re-signed for Leicester Lion Cubs for the 2023 National Development League speedway season. ^[8] Following the injury sustained by Jack Thomas, Thompson was brought into the Ipswich Premiership team as their rising star ^[9] but he was released by Scunthorpe following problems over the team averages before being drafted into the Poole Pirates team. ^[10]

In 2024, he signed for Leicester again (this time in the Premiership and NDL) for the 2024 season ^[11] and joined the Plymouth Gladiators for the 2024 Championship season. ^[12] Thompson lost his place to Sam Hagon as the rising star for Leicester in the Premiership ^[13] but regained it later in the 2025 season and helped Leicester defeat King's Lynn to win the Knockout Cup. ^[14]

Family

His twin brother Dan Thompson also rides for Leicester Lion Cubs. ^[15]

References

1. "Thompson, Joe". British Speedway. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
2. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
3. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
4. "Joe Thompson takes back-up role for Wolves in 2022". Express and Star. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
5. "LIONS CUBS WIN KO CUP". Leicester Speedway. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
6. "Lion Cubs crowned champions". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
7. "Scorpions move for Thompson". British Speedway. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
8. "Lion Cubs complete". British Speedway. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
9. "Witches bring in Thompson". British Speedway. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
10. "Adam Roynon replaced at Poole Pirates by Joe Thompson". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
11. "Lions Name Reserve Duo". British Speedway. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
12. "Covatti in to complete Gladiators". British Speedway. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
13. "Lions move for Hagon". British Speedway. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
14. "Lions are KO Cup Winners". Leicester Speedway. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
15. "An all but ordinary life for Dan and Joe Thompson who spilt their time between school and Speedway". Leicestershire Press. Retrieved 29 September 2022.