British speedway rider Lee Richardson, a former world under-21 champion, has died following a crash in Poland on Sunday.
Richardson, 33, was competing for PGE Marma Rzeszow against Betard Sparta Wroclaw when he went into a safety fence.
The Lakeside Hammers captain was taken to a hospital in Wroclaw but died from his injuries, with the Sky Sports Elite League club releasing a statement to confirm the tragic news.
"All at the club are devastated at the loss of a great captain, man and more than anything else a wonderful father and husband," the statement read.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this most sad of times and we know that all Hammers fans will share our total devastation at this tragic news."
Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook added, "I am numb and just can't take this in.
"Lee's loss to his family is beyond imagination and I can't see further than that at the moment."
Many of Richardson's fellow riders took to Twitter to express their shock and disbelief, world champion Greg Hancock writing, "Unreal news I just heard! It doesn't seem real and another innocent one is gone. Our thoughts are with the whole Richardson Family. RIP Lee."
British international Lewis Bridger said, "RIP Rico. Top, top bloke in the sport; I looked up to you so much man. I'm in tears right now. I really don't want to believe this."
