Richards was born in
Adelaide, Australia but, who now lives in
Hinckley,
Leicestershire. He first came to national prominence when competing in the 1998 British Supersport championship finishing 5th overall. Richards moved up to the British Superbike Championship where he rode with the Hawk
Kawasaki team from 2002 to 2005, finishing in the top 10 in the championship every year, with a best 4th-place finish is 2003 despite a lack of a full testing programme. He also contested the World Superbike round at Brands Hatch in 2002, but retired from both races. Richards switched to the Hydrex
Honda team for the 2006 season, finishing in 10th place in the championship. After that Richards dropped down to the Superstock level on an Embassy Phase One Yamaha for 2007, winning the title, leading the standings all season. He then moved up a class back to the Supersport championship for 2008 on a MAP Embassy Triumph. His first win came after a titanic scrap with
Hudson Kennaugh at Oulton Park which was decided at the final corner, and he ultimately beat Kennaugh to the title. At the final round his team produced T-shirts stating that "A Triumph can even blow away a Hurricane", referring to Richards' make of bike and Kennaugh's nickname. Richards was then signed by the HM Plant
Honda team for the 2009 BSB season. His only podium finish was a second place in the opening round, however he was a regular points scorer in the first half of the season. He then suffered a broken left
femur after brake failure caused a crash with
Suzuki's Iain Lowry during qualifying at
Knockhill. ==Career statistics==