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Qualifying Round at Reading (June 16): Dennis Sigalos 13 (10), Dave Jessup 12 (9), John Davis 12 (8), Bobby Schwartz 12 (7), Gordon Kennett 11 (6), Chris Morton 11 (5), Larry Ross 7 (4), Scott Autrey 7 (3), Zenon Plech 6 (1.5), Martin Ashby 6 (1.5), Tony Briggs 6, Malcolm Simmons 5, Bernie Leigh 4, John Louis 4, Roman Jankowski 3, Ashley Pullen 1. The number in brackets is the bonus points scored to carry forward to the final. Eastbourne (June 27): Dave Jessup 15 (10), Bruce Penhall 13 (9), Phil Crump 11 (8), John Davis 11 (7), Kelly Moran 10 (6), Peter Collins 9 (5), Kai Niemi 7 (4), Scott Autrey 7 (3), Malcolm Simmons 7 (2), Kenny Carter 6 (1), Chris Morton 6, John Titman 5, Bobby Schwartz 4, Steve Bastable 3, Gordon Kennett 3, Edward Jancarz 2. (Res: Reidar Eide 1, Sigvart Pedersen 0). Birmingham (July 7): Bruce Penhall 15 (10), Steve Bastable 11 (9), Kelly Moran 11 (8), Dennis Sigalos 11 (7), Scott Autrey 11 (6), Alan Grahame 9 (5), Gordon Kennett 9 (4), Kenny Carter 9 (3), Andy Grahame 9 (2), Mike Lee 6 (1), Bo Petersen 6, Doug Wyer 4, Finn Jensen 3, Ari Koponen 3, Kai Niemi 2, Larry Ross 0.(res: Mark Warren 1). Sheffield (July 24): Chris Morton 15 (10), Kenny Carter 13 (9), Bruce Penhall 12 (8), Dennis Sigalos 12 (7), Mike Lee 10 (6), Dave Jessup 10 (5), John Davis 9 (4), Phil White 7 (3), Reg Wilson 6 (2), Steve Bastable 6 (1), Eric Broadbelt 5, Bobby Schwartz 4, John Titman 4, Kelly Moran 4, Bo Petersen 2, Phil Crump 1 (Res: Paul Stead 0, Nicky Allott 0). Final at Wimbledon (August 14): Mike Lee 14 (50), Dennis Sigalos 13 (45), Dave Jessup 12 (40), Bobby Schwartz 11 (35), Alan Grahame 9 (30), John Davis 9 (25), Kenny Carter 8 (20), Scott Autrey 8 (15), Chris Morton 6 (10), Malcolm Simmons 5 (2.5), Phil White 5 (2.5), Kai Niemi 5, Steve Bastable 1, Phil Crump 1, Andy Graham 1, Larry Ross 0. (Res: Zenon Plech 6, Colin Richardson 4). Final Overall scores: Dennis Sigalos 69, Dave Jessup 64, Mike Lee 57, John Davis 44, Bobby Schwartz 42, Alan Grahame 35, Kenny Carter 33, Scott Autrey 27, Bruce Penhall 27, Chris Morton 25, Kelly Moran 14, Steve Bastable 10, Gordon Kennett 10, Phil Crump 8, Phil White 5.5, Peter Collins 5, Malcolm Simmons 4.5, Kai Niemi 4, Larry Ross 4, Andy Graham 2, Reg Wilson 2, Zenon Plech 1.5, Martin Ashby 1.5.

Do you mean complete heat by heat results or final scores for each rider in each meeting? I have the latter if that's any good.

I take your point, though I'm not sure it "guarantees" the "best" 15 riders in the world. One of the problems is the riders who come, say 9-13 in the Grand Prix a couple of years running. You have riders like Freddie Lindgren and possibly next year Andreas Jonsson for example who don't get picked because they've "had their chance" and yes, it's almost certainly true they are never going to win, nor maybe even get into the top 8, but, actually they are probably in the top 15 in the world.

In the 50s/60s, the reigning World Champion was seeded direct to the final. In 1959, Barry Briggs, as champion, was seeded to the final without having ridden all season as he had been in dispute with Wimbledon and had remained in New Zealand. He still managed to come third.

I bnelie I believe the FIM are waiting for the green light to give their verdict.

Believe me, phillip, they were all greats of their time. Arthur Forrest came 3rd in the World Championship in 1956 at a time when speedway was dominated by Fundin, Craven, Moore and Briggs. Alan Hunt was the idol of the Birmingham fans, topping their averages every year from 1951 to 1956 and reaching three world finals. After Jack Young’s departure from Edinburgh at the end of 1951, Tommy Miller became the dominant force in second division racing. He was ranked in Stenner’s top 15 three years running and when he did mix with the top division boys showed he had what it took, maintaining a 13.06 average in 16 Test matches for Scotland against full England sides that included Freddie Williams, Split Waterman, Arthur Forrest and Eddie Rigg. Bob Leverenz was instrumental in getting Norwich promoted to Division 1 in 1951. The following year, only he Ronnie Moore and Jack Young finished with a 10 point plus average in the first division. And so on. Oh yes, phillip, they were all great riders of their time.

It doesn't, of course. But the ban he served ruled him out of the GPs and the GP qualifiers. The consequence of which is that he shouldn't be able to qualify for next year's Grand Prix. Perhaps the ban was fixed for that length of time for that reason?

You seem to have gone over to the Darcy side.....I'm sure there's a joke there somewhere. 😉

Interest has never ended.

Do you know anyone who has written for the South London Press by any chance?

Yes, my old friend Mike Kemp was instrumental in getting this done.

Perhaps they could have a team of Mortons....

What about Wal Morton? Who's he riding for this year?

Darcy who? Why don't you find a suitable thread to post that on and not spoil this one!

Yes. Also the 1938 Sunday Amateur Dirt Track League. Because at least they were separate leagues in their own right, not just off-shoots. Would you count the Britannia Shield as a separate league or the old National Association Trophy? Also, what about the London Cup in the late 1960s? That was run on a league basis between three teams, but it was a league nevertheless.

I don't think those mini-leagues really count as separate leagues. It was really the Provinvial League's Southern League.

Ah, yes. Quite right.

Three? National League 1st Div, National League 2nd Div, Provincial League. I think......

On 15 September 1974 Iwade Juniors took on a Mildenhall Fen Tigers junior team. The 15 year old Michael Lee, riding for Mildenhall, took a massive 1.5 seconds off the track record in heat 11 He scored 7 paid 9. The speedway Star felt that Michael Lee could be a "name to watch in the future." While Michael said that his dad would prefer him to concentrate on scrambling. Just thought I'd mention it as it's before 1975....

I did quote a number of the top riders in the old Provincial League some pages ago! Well, you know what you have to do!

Geoff Mardon qualified as reserve. Sorry, that was a reply to Rob's question about which 3rd Division rider qualified for the World Final.

Talking of the old National League have we discussed the 1934 National League Second Division yet? Tommy Price, George Wilks, Wal Morton, Alec Statham, Mike Erskine and Acorn Dobson all rode in that one.

But at least that thread kept to the subject.

Darcy who? And what's he got to do with this thread? Did he ever ride in the NL or the PL?

The second tier was quite strong in 1951 when Jack Young won the World Championship. Just saying......