Great Britain national speedway team

The Great Britain national speedway team (also known as GB speedway team) is one of the major teams in international motorcycle speedway. The team is managed by former Great Britain riders Oliver Allen and Simon Stead, and captained by the Tai Woffinden.

Great Britain
Team captainTai Woffinden
Nation colourBlue
SWC Wins10 (inc SON) (1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1989, 2021)
Squad
  • Tai Woffinden
  • Robert Lambert
  • Daniel Bewley
  • Tom Brennan
  • Jordan Palin

History

The national speedway team held test matches against the Australia as early as 1928, although the first official test match is listed as 30 June 1930 at Wimbledon Stadium.[1]

The team won the Speedway World Team Cup on five occasions as England and four times as Great Britain from 1968 to 1989. They were a major force in the 1970s, winning five consecutive tournaments, two as England and three as Great Britain.[2] Key riding members of the title wins include Peter Collins (five wins), Malcolm Simmons (four wins), New Zealand born Ivan Mauger and Ray Wilson (all three wins).[3] Prior to 1974, the Great Britain team often consisted of riders from other Commonwealth Nations including Australia and New Zealand.[4]

The cup eluded the team after 1989, although they came close in 2000, missing out when Mark Loram fell in a race-off and 2004 where a team of Mark Loram, Lee Richardson, Gary Havelock, David Norris and Scott Nicholls missed out by one point. Both the 2000 and 2004 narrow defeats were at the hands of Sweden and both in somewhat controversial fashion.

In June 2018, Great Britain competed as one of 15 nations in the inaugural Speedway of Nations tournament and in August 2018, Great Britain hosted a top-level international test match for the first time in over 15 years when they took on Australia at Glasgow's Peugeot Ashfield Stadium.

At the 2021 Speedway of Nations in Manchester, Team GB ended a 32 years drought. After finishing third in qualifying, they beat Denmark 6–3 in the Grand Final qualifier and then beat Poland in the Grand Final 5–4. The winning team included Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden.[5]

Major tournament wins

World Team Championships

Year Venue Standings (Pts) Riders Pts
1968 England
London
Wembley
1. United Kingdom Great Britain (40)
2. Sweden Sweden (30)
3. Poland Poland (19)
4. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (7)
Ivan Mauger (NZ)12
Nigel Boocock10
Martin Ashby8
Barry Briggs (NZ)7
Norman Hunter3
1971 Poland
Wrocław
Stadion Olimpijski
1. United Kingdom Great Britain (37)
2. Soviet Union Soviet Union (22)
3. Poland Poland (19)
4. Sweden Sweden (18)
Ray Wilson12
Ivan Mauger (NZ)10
Jim Airey (AUS)9
Barry Briggs (NZ)6
Ronnie Moore (NZ)dnr
1972 West Germany
Olching
Olching Speedwaybahn
1. United Kingdom Great Britain (36)
2. Soviet Union Soviet Union (21)
3. Poland Poland (21)
4. Sweden Sweden (18)
Ivan Mauger (NZ)11
John Louis9
Terry Betts9
Ray Wilson8
Ronnie Moore (NZ)dnr
1973 England
London
Wembley
1. United Kingdom Great Britain (37)
2. Sweden Sweden (31)
3. Soviet Union Soviet Union (20)
4. Poland Poland (8)
Peter Collins12
Terry Betts9
Malcolm Simmons8
Ray Wilson8
Dave Jessupdnr
1974 Poland
Chorzów
Stadion Śląski
1. England England (42)
2. Sweden Sweden (31)
3. Poland Poland (13)
4. Soviet Union Soviet Union (10)
Peter Collins12
John Louis12
Dave Jessup10
Malcolm Simmons8
Ray Wilsondnr
1975 Germany
Norden
Motodrom Halbemond
1. England England (41)
2. Soviet Union Soviet Union (29)
3. Sweden Sweden (17)
4. Poland Poland (9)
Peter Collins12
Malcolm Simmons11
Martin Ashby10
John Louis8
Dave Jessupdnr
1977 Poland
Wrocław
Stadion Olimpijski
1. England England (37)
2. Poland Poland (25)
3. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (23)
4. Sweden Sweden (11)
Peter Collins10
Michael Lee9
Dave Jessup9
John Davis6
Malcolm Simmons3
1980 Poland
Wrocław
Stadion Olimpijski
1. England England (40)
2. United States United States (29)
3. Poland Poland (15)
4. Czech Republic Czechoslovakia (12)
Michael Lee11
Chris Morton11
Peter Collins10
Dave Jessup8
John Davisdnr
1989 England
Bradford
Odsal Stadium
1. England England (48)
2. Denmark Denmark (34)
3. Sweden Sweden (30)
4. United States United States (8)
Jeremy Doncaster13
Paul Thorp12
Kelvin Tatum12
Simon Wigg11
Simon Cross0
2021 England
Manchester
National Speedway Stadium
1. United Kingdom Great Britain (64+6+5)
2. Poland Poland (74+4)
3. Denmark Denmark (68+3)
4. Australia Australia (49)
5. France France (47)
6. Latvia Latvia (42)
7. Sweden Sweden (30)
Robert Lambert32+4+3
Dan Bewley11+2+2
Tai Woffinden14
Tom Brennan7

Titles

World Pairs Championship

Year Venue Standings (Pts) Riders Pts
1972 Sweden
Borås
Saxarna Speedway
1. England England (24)
2. New Zealand New Zealand (24)
3. Sweden Sweden B (22)
4. Sweden Sweden A (22)
5. Poland Poland (15)
6. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (12)
7. Hungary Hungary (6)
Ray Wilson15+3
Terry Betts9
1976 Sweden
Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna Motorstadion
1. England England (27)
2. Denmark Denmark (24)
3. Sweden Sweden (22)
4. Australia Australia (16)
5. New Zealand New Zealand (15)
6. Scotland Scotland (12)
7. Poland Poland (10)
John Louis17
Malcolm Simmons10
1977 England
Manchester
Hyde Road
1. England England (28)
2. Sweden Sweden (18)
3. West Germany West Germany (18)
4. Czech Republic Czechoslovakia (17)
5. New Zealand New Zealand (17)
6. Finland Finland (14)
7. Australia Australia (12)
Peter Collins15
Malcolm Simmons13
1978 Poland
Chorzówr
Stadion Śląski
1. England England (24)
2. New Zealand New Zealand (24)
3. Denmark Denmark (21)
4. Czech Republic Czechoslovakia (18)
5. Poland Poland (15)
6. West Germany West Germany (13)
7. Sweden Sweden (11)
Malcolm Simmons15+3
Gordon Kennett9
1980 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Krsko
Matija Gubec Stadium
1. England England (29)
2. Poland Poland (22)
3. Denmark Denmark (21)
4. Sweden Sweden (18)
5. New Zealand New Zealand (16)
6. Finland Finland (14)
7. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (6)
Dave Jessup15
Peter Collins14
1983 Sweden
Göteborg
Ullevi
1. England England (25)
2. Australia Australia (24)
3. Denmark Denmark (19)
4. United States United States (18)
5. Sweden Sweden (16)
6. West Germany West Germany (12)
7. New Zealand New Zealand (11)
Kenny Carter15
Peter Collins10
1984 Italy
Lonigo
Pista Speedway
1. England England (27)
2. Denmark Denmark (25)
3. New Zealand New Zealand (25)
4. United States United States (19)
5. Australia Australia (14)
6. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (10)
7. Italy Italy (6)
Chris Morton14
Peter Collins13

International caps (as of 2022)

Since the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix era, international caps earned by riders is largely restricted to international competitions, whereas previously test matches between two teams were a regular occurrence. This means that the number of caps earned by a rider has decreased in the modern era.[6]

Rider Caps for England Caps for Great Britain Total
Abbott, Joe30-30
Airey, Jim Australia-1717
Allen, Oliver-22
Andrew, Bill New Zealand-77
Andrews, Bob211233
Ashby, Martin492170
Ashworth, Ricky-11
Atkinson, Arthur30-30
Auffret, Frank6-6
Bales, Billy12113
Barker, Ben-55
Barker, Dean14418
Bastable, Steve18-18
Beaton, Bobby Scotland-11
Betts, Terry551974
Bird, Danny-11
Blackbird, Carl8-8
Boocock, Eric533790
Boocock, Nigel9064154
Boothroyd, Eric213
Boss, Chris Wales5-5
Boulger, John Australia-55
Bounds, Reg2-2
Bradley, Dick24-24
Brett, Brian347
Bridger, Lewis-55
Briggs, Barry New Zealand-5757
Brine, Cyril12-12
Broadbank, Mike28836
Broadbelt, Eric171431
Brown, Ivor1-1
Burton, Squib7-7
Bush, Arthur5-5
Byers, Gordon3-3
Byford, Howdy6-6
Carr, Peter12-12
Carter, Kenny51-51
Cartwright, Ian6-6
Clarke, Tony11213
Clarke, Phil5-5
Clarke, Ron9-9
Clark, Pat2-2
Clibbett, Bill1-1
Close, Derick2-2
Cole, Howard Wales10111
Coles, Bob1-1
Coles, Michael2-2
Collins, Les31-31
Collins, Neil19-19
Collins, Peter1189127
Collins, Phil55156
Cottrell, Col1-1
Courtney, Mark5-5
Cox, Marvyn25-25
Craven, Gil1-1
Craven, Malcolm11-11
Craven, Peter481260
Cresp, Ray Australia-66
Cribb, Bruce New Zealand-33
Croombs, Tommy30-30
Cross, Simon33-33
Crutcher, Brian23-23
Cunningham, Glenn2-2
Davey, Tony11-11
Davis, John64-64
Dent. Russ1-1
Doncaster, Jeremy52-52
Drury, Graham1-1
Dugard, Martin41-41
Edwards, Bert7-7
Elliott, Bryan6-6
Erskine, Jon123
Etheridge, Laurie1-1
Evans, Norman1-1
Evitts, Neil27-27
Farndon, Tom21-21
Featherby, Clive-11
Fisher, Dick145
Forrest, Arthur26-26
France, Rick145
Francis, Joe6-6
French, Eric8-8
Frogley, Roger3-3
Galvin, Andy1-1
Gamble, Tommy1-1
Genz, Ronnie718
Gifford, Dave New Zealand-22
Gilbert, Bill6-6
Glover, Carl1-1
Gofffe, Lloyd1-1
Golden, Alby-11
Gooch, Jimmy10313
Gooddy, Colin1-1
Goulden, Frank1-1
Grahame, Alan42-42
Grahame, Andy16-16
Gray, Dennis1-1
Greatrex, Stan5-5
Green, Richard1-1
Green, Wally6-6
Greenwood, George2-2
Greer, Richard4-4
Gregory, Eric2-2
Gregory, Les1-1
Grifiths, Syd1-1
Hagon, Alf4-4
Haigh, Dusty15-15
Haley, Arnie33639
Harkins, Bert Scotland7411
Harris, Chris-2222
Harris, Dick5-5
Harrison, Bob10-10
Hart, Oliver16-16
Havelock, Gary541266
Hedge, Trevor161733
Hemus, Dave-11
Herbert, Hal1-1
Hill, Roger1-1
Holden, Kevin5712
How, Ron441256
Howe, Ben8-8
Howe, David-44
Hull, Wally2-2
Hunt, Alan26-26
Hunt, Tim1-1
Hunter, George Scotland171633
Hunter, Norman91322
Hurry, Paul12517
Hussey, Gerry2-2
Jackson, Syd8-8
Jay, Alan1-1
Jervis, Arthur2-2
Jessup, Dave97-97
Johns, Roger2-2
Jolly, Kevin6-6
Jones, Graham3-3
Kelly, Peter1-1
Kempster, Jim4-4
Kennett, Edward-1010
Kennett, Gordon53-53
Kentwell, Greg Australia-11
Key, Nobby11-11
Kilby, Bob|37542
King, Danny-66
Kitchen, Bill41-41
Kitchen, Jack-22
Knight, Richard20-20
Kuhn, Gus4-4
Landels, Bill Scotland189
Langton, Eric44-44
Langton, Oliver1-1
Lawson, Louis7-7
Leadbitter, Tom2-2
Lee, Michael72-72
Lees, Ginger22-22
Levai, Sandor Hungary112
Lightfoot, Jim134
Lloyd, Jeff5-5
Lloyd, Wally8-8
Lomas, Tony12-12
Loram, Mark361046
Louis, Chris41344
Louis, John54458
Luckhurst, Reg4711
McAuliffe, Leo Wales-11
McGillivray, Les2-2
McGregor, Gordon Scotland19120
McKinlay, Ken Scotland9223115
McMillan, Jim Scotland283159
Maidment, Cyril61622
Mardon, Geoff New Zealand-11
Mauger, Ivan New Zealand-4747
Mear, Robert-22
Middleditch, Ken5-5
Middleditch, Neil7-7
Miller, Tommy Scotland5-5
Milner, Keith1-1
Molyneux, Alan1-1
Monk, Charlie Australia-1515
Moore, Peter Australia-33
Moore, Ronnie New Zealand-2121
Morton, Chris1157122
Morton, Dave18-18
Morton, Ray1-1
Mountford, Ron25429
Mudge, Geoff Australia-11
Mullett, Dave3-3
Neath, Chris-11
Newton, George12-12
Nicholls, Nick5-5
Nicholls, Scott82735
Norris, David20828
Oakley, Bob1-1
Oliver, Dent19-19
Ormston, Jack14-14
Owen, Joe3-3
Owen, Les213
Owen, Tom1-1
Parker, Dennis5-5
Parker, Jack89-89
Parker, Norman36-36
Parkinson, Cliff17724
Paulson, Bob3-3
Pawson, Fred5-5
Phillips, Wal27-27
Pitcher, Bill7-7
Plant, Graham516
Pratt, Colin14721
Price, Arthur3-3
Price, Tommy23-23
Pusey, Chris51-51
Pymar, Geoff12-12
Richardson, Colin1-1
Richardson, Lee12526
Rigg, Eddie14-14
Roger, Bert11-11
Roger, Cyril25-25
Rogers, Fred1-1
Roper, Tommy4-4
Rossiter, Alun8-8
Roynon, Adam-11
Rye, Claude4-4
Schofield, Steve12-12
Scott, Jack Australia-11
Screen, Joe37744
Sharpe, Les Australia-22
Sharples, Ken8-8
Silver, Andrew22-22
Simmons, Malcolm73578
Small, Terry1-1
Smith, Andy29-29
Smith, Kevin3-3
Smith, Pete729
Squibb, Jimmy448
Standing, Dean4-4
Statham, Alec22-22
Stead, Simon-1111
Stevenson, Tiger27-27
Stobbart, Rol2-2
Stonehewer, Carl7512
Street, Neil Australia-11
Sweetman, Tommy6-6
Tatum, Kelvin65-65
Taylor, Chum Australia-11
Thomas, Barry26-26
Thorp, Paul31-31
Trigg, Roy31536
Trott, Reg1-1
Tyrer, Paul1-1
Unstead, Jack2-2
Varey, Frank21-21
Warwick, Arthur7-7
Waterman, Split32-32
Watkin, Mike112
Watson, Colin9-9
White, George19-19
White, Keith7-7
Whitfield, Harry1-1
Wigg, Simon57-57
Wilkinson, Alan12-12
Wilkinson, Fred2-2
Wilks, George9-9
Williams, Eric Wales23-23
Williams, Freddie Wales28-28
Williams, Ian Wales8-8
Wilson, Ray7236108
Wilson, Reg71623
Wilson, Sean23225
Woffinden, Tai-1111
Woods, Paul2-2
Wotton, Les13-13
Wright, Arthur7-7
Wyer, Doug461460
Young, Jack-11
Younghusband, Dave8311

References

  1. "United Kingdom international matches". International Speedway. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 134. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  3. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
  4. Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
  5. "Speedway: Great Britain claim first world title since 1989 with win over Poland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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