Antonio Lindback

Antonio Lindback is a real example of a rag to riches story.
Abandoned on the streets of São Paulo , Brazil as a child with a cardboard name-tag saying “My name is Antonio”, it is quite hard to believe the journey that this talented rider has been on.
After four years in an orphanage in Rio de Janiero, he was adopted by a Swedish couple and grew up two hours outside Stockholm. Unsure of his date of birth, he chose 5 th May 1985.
Antonio’s first love was for downhill skiing and he became a promising junior competitior on the slopes. But once his Swedish parents introduced him to speedway at the age of 12, he was hooked and he decided to swap the snow for the shale.
Since then, Antonio has become one of the most promising talents in speedway and is considered to be a future world beater.
Nicknamed the ‘Rio Rocket’ for his exotic and sensational displays, Antonio emerged on the British tracks in 2003 at Poole.
He went on to sign for the Pirates and spent two seasons there, making a massive impact on his debut year when he helped the Dorset club win the treble.
His international debut came in 2004 with a wild card ride in the Speedway Grand Prix, although he made a bigger impression in the World Cup for Sweden.
He made his full GP debut in 2005, becoming the first black rider to compete at that level. He landed a bronze medal in in the Danish round and finished 10 th overall – the same finishing place a year later despite a second place in the Latvian round and a third place in the Czech Republic.
But his affair with British speedway became sour and he parted company with Poole late last season after missing meetings through tiredness and injury, prompting much criticism.
He was later dropped by the Pirates during their team building for 2007 to make room for former Belle Vue Ace Jason Crump as a new partner for Bjarne Pedersen, leaving no room for Antonio.
With that, the Swede opted out of riding on British shale and instead concentrated on riding for Masarna in his home land and Czestochowa in Poland.
But just a couple of months into the new season and rumours of Antonio’s return to British speedway was rife. He was linked to to Oxford and Belle Vue and after many discussions with Chris Morton, David Gordon and with the help of Swedish Team Manager Mats Olsson, he opted for a move to Manchester in June.
It is easy to see his immense talent, potential and his loveable character and many are guilty of forgetting that he is still 22 and the youngest competitor on the World Stage. Such is his status and notable capabilities that the Belle Vue management are considering making him a full time Aces asset and buying his contract from Poole.
He has great ambition to become a future World Champion and follow in the footsteps of another Swedish great…Tony Rickardsson.