1978 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1978 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 33rd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Ole Olsen won his third world crown. The final was sponsored by the Sunday Mirror and was attended by 86,500. Gordon Kennett took silver on the day of his 25th birthday and American Scott Autrey won the bronze medal run-off defeating Dave Jessup and Jerzy Rembas.[7]
British Qualification[]
The British qualifying rounds for the World Championship doubled up as qualifying rounds for the Volkswagen/Daily Mirror Grand Prix. Therefore, many non-British riders such as Ivan Mauger and Phil Crump rode in these meetings scoring points towards the Volkswagen/Daily Mirror Grand Prix qualification - but their scores didn't count towards World Championship qualification.
British Final[]
- August 16, 1978
- Coventry, Brandon Stadium
- First 4 to World Final
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(7) Michael Lee | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
(5) Dave Jessup | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
(16) Malcolm Simmons | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | (9) Gordon Kennett | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
5 | (1) Steve Bastable | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
6 | (12) Chris Morton | 10 | E | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
7 | (13) Tony Davey | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | (15) John Davis | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
9 | (10) Les Collins | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
10 | (6) Peter Collins | 6 | 1 | 3 | E | E | 2 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
11 | (8) Reg Wilson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
12 | (2) Doug Wyer | 4 | 1 | 2 | X | 1 | E | 4 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
13 | (14) Alan Grahame | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
14 | (4) Jim McMillan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | T | 0 | 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
15 | (11) John Louis | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
16 | (3) Dave Morton | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
R1 | (R1) Phil Collins | 0 | 0 | R1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R2 | (R2) Trevor Geer | 0 | 0 | R2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R3 | (R3) Mick Bell | 1 | 1 | 1 | R3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
Swedish Qualification[]
Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-Finals | |||||
5 May | Avesta | Anders Michanek | Christer Sjösten | ||
7 May | Malilla | Tommy Nilsson | Sören Karlsson | ||
7 May | Visby | Jan Andersson | Conny Samuelsson | Sören Sjösten | |
Final | |||||
30 May | Kumla | Anders Michanek | Jan Andersson | Bernt Persson |
Swedish Final[]
- May 30, 1978
- Kumla
- First 7 to Nordic Final + 1 reserve
Pos. | Rider | Total |
---|---|---|
1 | Anders Michanek | 14 |
2 | Jan Andersson | 14 |
3 | Bernt Persson | 11 |
4 | Tommy Nilsson | 11 |
5 | Lars Ericsson | 10 |
6 | Sören Karlsson | 10 |
7 | Christer Sjösten | 10 |
8 | Bo Wirebrand | 8 |
9 | Bengt Jansson | 6 |
10 | 6 | |
11 | Hasse Holmqvist | 5 |
12 | Conny Samuelsson | 5 |
13 | 4 | |
14 | 3 | |
15 | Tommy Pettersson | 1 |
16 | Sören Sjösten | 1 |
17 | Lars-Åke Andersson | 1 |
New Zealand Final[]
- February 11, 1978
- Wellington
- Marked in green, to Austral-Asian Final
Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Larry Ross | 3,3,3,3,3 | 15 |
2 | Barry Briggs | 2,3,3,2,2 | 12 |
3 | 1,3,2,3,3 | 12 | |
4 | Mitch Shirra | 3,2,E,3,3 | 11 |
5 | 2,3,3,1,2 | 11 | |
6 | 3,2,2,2,2 | 11 | |
7 | 1,1,3,2,3 | 10 | |
8 | 3,1,0,0,2 | 6 | |
9 | 0,0,2,3,1 | 6 | |
10 | 1,2,2,0,0 | 5 | |
11 | 2,2,0,1,F | 5 | |
12 | F,0,1,2,1 | 4 | |
13 | 2,1,1,0,0 | 4 | |
14 | 0,0,1,1,1 | 3 | |
15 | 1,E,1,1,0 | 3 | |
16 | 0,1,0,0,1 | 2 | |
R1 |
Intercontinental Round[]
Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Final | |||||
29 December 1977 | Santa Ana | ? | ? | ? | |
Australasian Final | |||||
18 February | Mitch Shirra | Mick McKeon | John Titman | ||
Danish Final | |||||
15 May | Fjelsted | Kristian Præstbro | Hans Nielsen | ||
Nordic Final | |||||
8 June | Norrköping | Ole Olsen | Bernt Persson | Finn Thomsen | |
Intercontinental Final | |||||
2 July | Fredericia | Ole Olsen | Ivan Mauger | Scott Autrey |
Australasian Final[]
- February 12, 1978
- Auckland
- First 4 to Intercontinental Final
Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mitch Shirra | 2,2,3,3,3 | 13 |
2 | Mick McKeon | 3,3,2.5,2,1 | 11.5 |
3 | John Titman | 2,3,T,3,3 | 11 |
4 | Mike Farrell | 3,1,1,3,3 | 11 |
5 | 1,3,3,1,2 | 10 | |
6 | Phil Herne | 1,2,2,3,2 | 10 |
7 | John Boulger | 3,3,2,T,1 | 9 |
8 | Billy Sanders | 3,T,3,F,3 | 9 |
9 | 0,2,2,2,2 | 8 | |
10 | 1,1,2.5,1,1 | 6.5 | |
11 | 1,1,1,2,1 | 6 | |
12 | Larry Ross | 2,E,E,2,2 | 6 |
13 | 2,1,1,1,0 | 5 | |
14 | 0,2,1,0,0 | 3 | |
15 | 0,0,0,0,0 | 0 | |
16 | F,-,-,-,- | 0 | |
R1 | 0,0,1,T | 1 | |
R2 | 0,0,0 | 0 |
Danish Final[]
- May 15, 1978
- Fjelsted
- First 2 to Nordic Final
Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 13+3 | ||
2 | Kristian Præstbro | 13+2 | |
3 | Hans Nielsen | 12+3 | |
4 | Mike Lohmann | 12+2 | |
5 | Alf Busk | 12+1 | |
6 | Bo Petersen | 10 | |
7 | Finn Rune Jensen | 9 | |
8 | 8 | ||
9 | 6 | ||
10 | Kurt Bøgh | 4 | |
11 | Steen Mastrup | 4 | |
12 | 4 | ||
13 | 3 | ||
14 | 3 | ||
15 | Bent Nørregaard-Jensen | 3 | |
16 | 2 |
Nordic Final[]
- June 8, 1978
- Norrköping
- First 9 to Intercontnental Final
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(2) Ole Olsen | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
(7) Bernt Persson | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
(9) Finn Thomsen | 11 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
4 | (15) Kai Niemi | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
5 | (4) Ila Teromaa | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
6 | (8) Tommy Nilsson | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | (13) Kristian Præstbro | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | (16) Anders Michanek | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
9 | (3) Jan Andersson | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
10 | (6) Tom Godal | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
11 | (11) Sören Karlsson | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
12 | (14) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
13 | (10) Christer Sjösten | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
14 | (1) Lars Ericsson | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
15 | (5) Audun Ove Olsen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
16 | (12) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
R1 | (R1) Bo Wirebrand | 0 | 0 | R1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R2 | (R2) | 0 | 0 | R2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
Intercontinental Final[]
- July 2, 1978
- Fredericia
- First 7 to World Final + 1 reserve
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(3) Ole Olsen | 13 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
(11) Ivan Mauger | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) Scott Autrey | 11 | 3 | X | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
4 | (16) Ila Teromaa | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
5 | (13) Jan Andersson | 11 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
6 | (9) Anders Michanek | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | (5) John Titman | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | (6) Bernt Persson | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
9 | (2) Kai Niemi | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
10 | (12) | 7 | X | 1 | 3 | 3 | X | 7 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
11 | (4) Finn Thomsen | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | E | 1 | 5 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
12 | (15) Mike Farrell | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
13 | (10) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
14 | (8) Kristian Præstbro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
15 | (7) Mitch Shirra | 1 | 1 | F | - | - | - | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
16 | (14) Tommy Nilsson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
R1 | (R1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | R1 | |||||||||||||||||||
R2 | (R2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | R2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
Continental Round[]
Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary Round | |||||
22 April | Slany | Boleslaw Proch | |||
23 April | Maribor | Jan Hadek | |||
Quarter-Finals | |||||
7 May | Varese | Egon Muller | Grigory Khlinovsky | Jerzy Rembas | |
7 May | Miskolc | Mikhail Starostin | Andrzej Huszcza | Václav Verner | |
7 May | Krumbach | Georg Hack | Ales Dryml, Sr | ||
7 May | Częstochowa | Marek Cieślak | Jiří Štancl | Zdeněk Kudrna | |
Semi-Finals | |||||
28 May | Norden | Alois Wiesböck | Egon Muller | Ryszard Fabiszewski | |
28 May | Pocking | Hans Wassermann | Jiří Štancl | Marek Cieślak | |
Final | |||||
2 July | Prague | Hans Wassermann | Jiří Štancl | Marek Cieślak |
Continental Final[]
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(5) Hans Wassermann | 14 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
(9) Jiří Štancl | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
(11) Marek Cieślak | 11 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | (16) Petr Ondrašík | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
5 | (1) Jan Verner | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
6 | (7) Jerzy Rembas | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | (8) Zdeněk Kudrna | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | (2) Boleslaw Proch | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
9 | (14) Alois Wiesböck | 6 | 2 | 3 | F | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
10 | (4) | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
11 | (10) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
12 | (13) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
13 | (6) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
14 | (3) Ryszard Fabiszewski | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
15 | (12) Egon Muller | 2 | 2 | 0 | E | E | - | 2 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
16 | (15) | 2 | X | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
R1 | (R1) Bogusław Nowak | 0 | 0 | R1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R2 | (R2) Georg Hack | 0 | 0 | R2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
World Final[]
- 2 September 1978
- London, Wembley Stadium[8]
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(15) Ole Olsen | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
(13) Gordon Kennett | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
(2) Scott Autrey | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
4 | (12) Dave Jessup | 11 | E | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
5 | (9) Jerzy Rembas | 11 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
6 | (1) Malcolm Simmons | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | (6) Michael Lee | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | (14) Ivan Mauger | 8 | F | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
9 | (16) John Titman | 7 | 1 | 2 | F | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
10 | (3) Anders Michanek | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
11 | (4) Ila Teromaa | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | F | 2 | 6 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
12 | (11) Jan Verner | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
13 | (8) Marek Cieślak | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
14 | (10) Jan Andersson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
15 | (7) Jiří Štancl | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
16 | (5) Petr Ondrašík | 0 | F | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
R1 | (R1) Steve Bastable | 0 | 0 | R1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R2 | (R2) Bernt Persson | 0 | 0 | R2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
R3 | (R3) Zdeněk Kudrna | 0 | 0 | R3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
References[]
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "World Championship 1936-1994". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "WORLD FINALS 1936-1994" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX". British Speedway. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Ole - He's champ". Sunday Mirror. 3 September 1978. Retrieved 10 July 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- Individual Speedway World Championship
- 1978 in speedway
- 1978 sports events in London
- 1978 in British motorsport
- Speedway competitions in the United Kingdom