Brian Leonard (speedway rider)

Brian John Leonard (born 19 February 1946) is a British former motorcycle speedway rider.

Brian Leonard
BrianLeonard
Born (1946-02-19) 19 February 1946
Newbury, England
NationalityBritish
Current club information
Career statusRetired
Career history
1962-1965Poole Pirates
1962, 1972-1974, 1976Swindon Robins
1965-1969West Ham Hammers
1969Hackney Hawks
1970Newport Wasps
1970-1971Wembley Lions
1975, 1976Leicester Lions
1976-1978Oxford Cheetahs
Team honours
1965British League Winner
1965British League Knockout Cup KO Cup Winner
1965, 1966, 1967London Cup Winner

Born in Newbury, Leonard followed his father Maurice into speedway.[1] He started his career with second half rides at Oxford in 1962, and made his league debut later that year, riding for Poole Pirates and Swindon Robins.[2] His first two years in speedway were marred by injury, suffering two collarbone breaks, and he missed four and a half months in 1963 with two broken bones in his left leg.[1] In 1965 he signed for West Ham Hammers, where he steadily improved, averaging over seven points per match in the 1967 season.[2] After a spell with Hackney Hawks in 1969, he moved on to Wembley Lions in 1970, also riding for Newport Wasps for a period.[2] He moved to Swindon Robins in 1972, but by 1974 his average had dropped below four points.[2] He was signed by Leicester Lions in 1975 but released after a poor run of results, due in part to a back injury, which led to his retirement from the sport.[3] He returned in 1976 and fared better after dropping down to the National League with Oxford Cheetahs,[4] averaging over seven points. The following year he scored less well, and after two matches in 1978 he retired.[5]

References
  1. Oakes, Peter (1963) "A Peter Oakes Speedtale on Brian Leonard (Poole)", Speedway Star, 28 September 1963, p. 23
  2. Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 76
  3. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 171
  4. Lawson, K (2018) “The Cheetahs – The Resurrection”. ISBN 978-0-244-69934-5
  5. Bamford, R & Shailes, G (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". ISBN 978-0-7524-4161-0


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