STEAD STEPS DOWN

Images courtesy of Steve Hone and Taylor Lanning Photography

The inspirational chief has been in charge of the national team with close pal Olly Allen for six years.

It has been a wonderfully successful era and brought an end to the 32-year wait for a team international Gold medal at the 2021 Speedway of Nations in Manchester.

At senior level Stead and Allen have guided GB to two golds in the SoN in 2021 and 2024. They also achieved Silver in 2022 and Silver at the 2023 World Cup in Wroclaw.

Stead admitted: “It’s been the most incredible journey to be part of the Great Britain team.

“To work with my close friend Olly and enjoy so much success has been so rewarding in so many ways.

“There have been so many highs during the past six years. Those are memories I will never forget.

“It’s such a difficult decision to step down. But at this moment it’s important for me to spend more time at home with my wife Amy and sons Chester and Jude.

“I already have a full-time job plus working as Sheffield’s team manager. The Great Britain job is mainly abroad which means so much time away from home.

“It’s the right decision for my family and that’s all that matters. I’ll always be there for GB and Olly.”

Stead admits that he’ll miss the incredible highs and lows of the job.

He added: “Obviously winning the Speedway of Nations in Manchester in 2021 was one of the greatest moments I’ve had in the sport.

“To finally end that drought for the country was a very special feeling.

“It was a very similar moment in 2024 in Manchester. It was such a dramatic final and to get a second Gold medal meant the world to me. To do it again three years later proved how good we were.

“To become the most successful nation since the pandemic was a fantastic achievement.

“There were obviously heartbreaking moments as well. Losing the final in 2022 in Vojens and the final race in the World Cup in 2023 were really hard to take.

“On reflection I have a lot of pride in our progression as a force to be reckoned with during that time and for the future.

“It’s also been massively rewarding to see Robert (Lambert) and Dan (Bewley) continue to mature into world class riders. Tai (Woffinden) has been a constant inspiration to the entire team.

“Then we’ve seen the likes of Tom (Brennan) come through and so many new young talents on the brink of hitting the big time.

“I’d like to thank each and every rider for their commitment to the national team. It’s been a pleasure to work with them all for six years. I also have to thank Rob Painter and Vicky Blackwell for putting their faith in me. They have been a joy to work with as well.

“Equally a big thanks to Neil Vatcher, Jeremy Holt, Chris Neville, Steve Williams, Steve Hone, Sam Dennington and Taylor Lanning. We have been a close knit team.

“I’m sure Olly will carry on with the same success rate and that starts with the World Cup in Landshut on May 1 and hopefully in Warsaw. I will definitely be cheering on the boys from home.”

Allen is sad to see his good friend leave the post but understands his reasons.

He added: “I’m obviously gutted because it’s been one of the best experiences to work for your country with your best mate.

“But Simon wants to put his family first and that’s the right decision, 100 per cent.

“I will still talk to him on a regular basis about the Great Britain team. He’s an amazing confidante and will remain that way always.

“The show goes on for Great Britain. It’s still the same set-up really, it will be a seamless transition before we get to Landshut on May 1.”

Great Britain Managing Director Painter paid tribute to Stead’s success rate at the helm with Allen.

He added: “I think it’s fair to say that eyebrows were raised when we appointed Simon and Olly in late 2019. They were untried at international level.

“But we believed in them from day one and that’s been reinforced over the past six years.

“Simon has done a sensational job and we have been proud the way he has represented Great Britain.

“Both Simon and Olly are ultra professional with forensic attention to detail which is why the on-track results have been so outstanding.

“We totally understand Simon’s reasons for stepping down but he will always be a welcome part of the team. We can only thank him for his service.

“Olly will continue in his role with no change to the team set-up whatsoever. We’ve got a massive season ahead and everything is going to plan so far.”