Roger Wright (speedway rider)

Roger Wright (born 8 January 1945) is a former Motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand.[1][2]

Roger Wright
Born8 January 1945 (1945-01-08) (age 78)
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Career history
1969Rayleigh Rockets
1972Hackney Hawks
1972-1975Teesside Tigers
1975-1977Workington Comets
1978-1981, 1983Berwick Bandits
Team honours
1980National League KO Cup Winner

Career

Wright began riding in 1963 at the age of 19 at the Templeton track in Christchurch.[3] His first success was winning the South Island Championship during the 1966-1967 season.[4] In 1969 he went to the UK to ride for the Rayleigh Rockets in the British League Division Two. He had a good debut season but returned home and stayed in Christchurch for the next two years. In 1972 after winning the South Island Championship again and finishing second in the New Zealand Speedway Championship he was offered a place in the Hackney Hawks division one team.[5] He lost his place in this team early in the season but was loaned out to the second division side the Teesside Tigers where he established himself as one of the team's top scorers.[6]

For the next decade he was based in the north of England and had spells with Teesside, Workington and Berwick in the second division. He continued to return home to New Zealand during the UK off season, and rode in 15 New Zealand Championships. The last was in 1985 where, at the age of 40, he finished third.[7] He represented New Zealand in team competitions on eight occasions.[8]

References
  1. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. "Impressive record of Roger Wright". The Press. Christchurch. 21 August 1985. p. 46.
  4. "Spectacular crash at speedway". The Press. Christchurch. 4 April 1967. p. 18.
  5. "South Island speedway title won by Wright". The Press. Christchurch. 13 March 1972. p. 16.
  6. "Impressive record of Roger Wright". The Press. Christchurch. 21 August 1985. p. 46.
  7. Holmes, Tracy. "Riders to remember … Roger Wright". SpeedwayPlus. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. "Internationals - New Zealand". International Speedway. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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