AMA names Team USA Speedway Manager.

Richard Child of Highland, California, has been appointed by the American Motorcyclist Association as Team USA Speedway Manager, effective immediately.

In his new role on behalf of AMA Sports, Child will manage the five-rider squad that will be named by the AMA to represent the United States in July's World Cup Speedway competition.

He will assist American riders Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock, both former world champions, throughout the 2001 Speedway Grand Prix Series, which opens May 5 at Berlin's Ludwig Jahn Stadium. And he will also assist upcoming American stars Billy Janniro and Ryan Fisher as they pursue the 2001 Under 21 World Speedway Championship.

Child, 44, has been a Speedway racing enthusiast most of his life, and he replaces Englishman James Easter as Team USA Manager. Easter retired from his post following the 2000 racing season.

"We want to thank James Easter for his devoted service to American Speedway riders based overseas," said AMA Vice President Bill Amick. "He was a behind-the-scenes force in the United States' most recent World Team Speedway Championship in 1998, and was also a staunch supporter of Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock when they won back-to-back Speedway Grand Prix Championships in 1996 and 1997.

"James carries a British passport, but we couldn't have asked him for more loyalty than he displayed for Team USA," Amick said. "I'm sure we'll continue to draw on his expertise in the future, and we wish him all the best. At the same time, we're delighted to have as our new Team USA manager a man with the wealth of experience and enthusiasm that Richard Child brings to the task."

Child became involved in Speedway motorcycle racing in 1976, and has not missed a Speedway World Championship in two decades. He has worked with American Sam Ermolenko, the 1993 World Champion, since 1985. And in 1999, he managed the career of Sweden's Stefan Danno, who ranked 11th in the world that season.

Child's business interests take him to Europe on a regular basis, and he is volunteering his time and effort to the cause of American Speedway racing and the six American riders competing full-time in European Speedway in 2001: Ermolenko, Hamill, Hancock, Janniro, Brent Werner and long-time veteran John Cook. Other riders looking to launch international careers in coming seasons include Californians Ryan Fisher and Eric Carillo.

"I'm honoured to accept this appointment," said Child, "and I can't wait to work with all of our riders to further the growth of Speedway in the USA and the success of our riders on an international level."

Speedway racing is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle sport, and its world championship dates back to 1936. The United States has produced five World Speedway Champions over the years, including Ermolenko, Hamill, Hancock and Motorcycle Hall of Fame members Bruce Penhall and the late Jack Milne - America's first world champion in motorcycle racing.

International competition takes place on dirt ovals ranging from 260 to 425 metres in length, with riders aboard brakeless 500cc alcohol-burning machines.

Typical American Speedway tracks are tighter than their European counterparts and generate fierce competition that has produced generations of world-class riders.