DATE OF BIRTH: 18 March 1986, Humbug Scrub, Adelaide, South Australia.

BRITISH CAREER: (2007) Redcar, Berwick; (2008-09) Redcar; (2010) Sheffield

2010 STARTING AVERAGE: 3.00 (PL).

ADDITIONAL INFO: ‘Budgie' had been riding for a few years Down Under, when he ventured to the UK to link with Redcar in 2007.

His first opportunity in the side came towards the end of May, when he stood in for the injured Daniel Giffard. His run lasted for ten matches, before Giffard was fit to resume and the Aussie subsequently joined Berwick in mid-September, riding in their last four matches of the campaign.

Reverting back to Redcar, Bugeja was a starter in the side from the off in 2008 and, despite it being tough going for much of the term, he plugged away manfully to register a real-time average of a little under 4 points per match.

Unfortunately, the injury bug didn't escape him and he sustained a broken right wrist in the Ashley Jones Memorial meeting at King's Lynn on 18 June, although he was only out of action for three weeks.

Still with the Cleveland club in 2009, he proved a match-winner for the Bears in their televised home league match versus Edinburgh on 24 August, when he netted 9+1 points.

The Aussie is on the move in 2010 after being left out of Redcar's plans. The Sheffield bosses were impressed by his desire to improve his racing equipment and subsequently quickly agreed a deal to ride for the Yorkshire side.

He will start the campaign on a 3.00 average and could prove to be a trump card at reserve in the early weeks of the new season.