William Lawson (speedway rider)

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| image =

| name = William Lawson

| nationality = British (Scottish)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|02|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Perth, Scotland

| years1 = 2002–2003

| career1 = Newcastle Gems

| years2 = 2003–2004

| career2 = Newcastle Diamonds

| years3 = 2005–2008, 2010, 2018–2022

| career3 = Edinburgh Monarchs

| years4 = 2006–2007

| career4 = Wolverhampton Wolves

| years5 = 2009

| career5 = Berwick Bandits

| years6 = 2009

| career6 = Glasgow Tigers

| years7 = 2010

| career7 = Belle Vue Aces

| indivyear1 = 2007, 2008, 2009

| indivhonour1 = British Finalist

| indivyear2 = 2008

| indivhonour2 = World Under 21 Finalist

}}

William Lawson (born 27 February 1987) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Scotland.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Rider_Index_2008.pdf |title=2008 Rider index |website=British Speedway |access-date=21 March 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=26 June 2023}}

Career

Lawson at the age of 15, began racing in the 2002 Speedway Conference League for Newcastle Gems but broke his leg, which ended his plans to sign for Edinburgh Monarchs the following season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005278/20021222/505/0048 |title=Injury rules out Monarchs prospect |website=Scotland on Sunday |date=22 December 2002 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 September 2024}} However, Lawson did sign for Newcastle Diamonds, where he spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12529165.portrait-name-william-lawson-cv-apprentice-plumber-and-speedway-rider/ |title=William Lawson CV: Apprentice plumber and speedway rider |website=The Herald |access-date=6 September 2024 }} In 2005, Lawson signed for Edinburgh Monarchs for the 2005 Premier League speedway season. He would stay with the club for four years, while also riding for Wolverhampton Wolves in 2006 and 2007.

After spells with Glasgow and Berwick in 2009 he rode with the Belle Vue Aces in the British Elite League during 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/speedway-racer-william-lawson-back-in-the-saddle-for-edinburgh-monarchs-1710182 |title=Speedway: Racer William Lawson back in the saddle for Edinburgh Monarchs |website=The Scotsman |access-date=6 September 2024 }} He announced his retirement before the 2011 season.{{cite web | title = Finalista IMŚJ zakończył karierę z powodu nowych tłumików | language = Polish | publisher = SportoweFakty.pl | date = 26 Mar 2011 | url = http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2011/03/26/finalista-imsj-zakonczyl-kariere-z-powodu-nowych-tlumikow/ | accessdate = 26 Mar 2011 }}

In 2018, he made a surprise comeback for one of his former clubs the Edinburgh Monarchs. He spent four more seasons with them from 2018 until 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/news-centre/article/2018-08-13/william-lawson-returns |title=WILLIAM LAWSON RETURNS |website=Edinburgh Speedway |access-date=14 January 2023}}