John Davis (speedway rider)
![]() | |
Born | Oxford, England | 10 November 1954
---|---|
Nationality | ![]() |
Current club information | |
Career status | Retired |
German league | Diedenbergen |
Polish league | Gdansk |
Swedish league | Malilla |
Career history | |
1971-1973 | Peterborough Panthers |
1971, 1981-1983 | Poole Pirates |
1971 | West Ham Hammers |
1971-1974 | Oxford Cheetahs/Rebels |
1972 | Exeter Falcons |
1975-1981, 1985-1987 | Reading Racers |
1983 | Sheffield Tigers |
1984 | Wimbledon Dons |
1988-1989 | Kings Lynn Stars |
1989-1991 | Swindon Robins |
1989-1990 | Dackarna (SWE) |
1991 | |
Individual honours | |
1980 1984 1978 1978, 1981 1978, 1978 1975, 1978 1977 | Daily Express Spring Classic Golden Helmet of Pardubice Master of Speedway GP Winner The Laurels Manpower Winner German Open Winner. Bass Yorkshire Open |
Team honours | |
1977 1977 1980 | World Team Cup Winner Spring Gold Cup winner British League Champion 4 x German Champion Diedenbergen Polish Champion Gdansk. |
John Henry Davis (born 10 November 1954 in Oxford, England) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider[1] who represented England when they won the World Team Cup in 1977 1980 Speedway World Team Cup Winner,
He was capped for England 68 times, and was the first Englishman to win the prestigious Czech Golden Helmet in Pardubice. He was also the first Englishman to race in the Polish League for Gdansk. He raced for Diedenbergen in the German League for ten seasons, winning four German titles, where he was consistently the top performer. He qualified for 16 consecutive British Final appearances, his best finish being second to the late Kenny Carter; this was when England ruled The Speedway World.[2]
In 1975, after 3 years at Oxford, he was caught up in the wrangle over whether Ole Olsen would ride for Oxford, and was in the strange position of guesting for himself in a couple of matches at the start of the season.[3] Eventually, the Speedway Control Board ruled that Olsen would stay with Wolverhampton Wolves, Dag Lovaas would ride at Oxford, and John could join Reading Racers.
After the end of his speedway career, Davis started a burger business in 1994 which progressed into Event Catering, supplying venues and events all over the south of the country with their Public Catering requirements. Among the contracts they obtained are The Royal Imperial War Museum at Duxford, Newbury Racecourse, Fontwell Racecourse, Bath Racecourse, Chepstow Racecourse, Wincanton Racecourse, The Ageas Bowl (Hampshire Cricket Ground), The PSP Southampton Boat Show, The Norfolk Spectacular Music Festival, Poole Speedway, Bucks Show, Romsey Show, Glastonbury Festival and quite a few Concerts including T4 on the Beach, The British MX GP, Lydden Hill for the Rally Cross events, and Red Bull Moto Cross Series.
World final appearances[]
Individual World Championship[]
- 1977 -
Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - did not ride
- 1980 -
Gothenburg, Ullevi - 6th - 9pts
- 1988 -
Vojens, Speedway Center - 12th - 3pts
World Team Cup[]
- 1977 -
Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Peter Collins / Malcolm Simmons / Michael Lee / Dave Jessup) - Winner - 37pts (6)
- 1981 -
Olching, (with Dave Jessup / Chris Morton / Kenny Carter / Gordon Kennett) - 2nd - 29pts (5)
- 1985 –
USA Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Jeremy Doncaster / Phil Collins / Kelvin Tatum / Richard Knight) – 3rd – 13pts (0)
European Grasstrack Championship[]
Final
References[]
External Reference[]
- 1954 births
- Living people
- British speedway riders
- English motorcycle racers
- Reading Racers riders
- Wimbledon Dons riders
- Poole Pirates riders
- Sheffield Tigers riders
- Oxford Cheetahs riders
- Peterborough Panthers riders
- Swindon Robins riders
- King's Lynn Stars riders
- Exeter Falcons riders
- English speedway biography stubs