Fred Wilkinson (speedway rider)

Fred Wilkinson (8 June 1906 – September 1978) was a motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the early years of the sport, including riding for England against Australia in 1931.

Biography[]

Wilkinson was born in Coalville, Leicestershire in 1906, his father a miner at a local colliery.^[1] The family moved to Binley and then Seend in Wiltshire, with Wilkinson starting his racing career in grasstrack races.^[1] His early speedway experience was at the in Swindon, and at Bristol.^[1] In 1929 he signed for the Leicester Super team, also riding for Coventry, settling in Syston, where he ran a garage.^[1] He captained the Super team in 1930, and stayed with the team until it closed in 1931.^[1]

Wilkinson rode for England in the second Test match of 1931 against Australia, staged at Leicester Super Speedway, scoring three points.^[2] He was selected at reserve for the fourth test at Belle Vue but did not score from his one ride.^[1]

Wilkinson moved on to ride for Belle Vue in 1932.^[1]

He was commemorated by an event in the 1980s that bore his name; The Fred Wilkinson Trophy match was staged at Leicester Stadium between 1980 and 1983, with a further staging at Peterborough in 1985.^[1]

References[]