John Davis (speedway rider)

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,

John Davis
Born (1954-11-10) 10 November 1954
Oxford, England
Nationality England
Current club information
Career statusRetired
German leagueDiedenbergen
Polish leagueGdansk
Swedish leagueMalilla
Career history
1971-1973Peterborough Panthers
1971, 1981-1983Poole Pirates
1971West Ham Hammers
1971-1974Oxford Cheetahs/Rebels
1972Exeter Falcons
1975-1981, 1985-1987Reading Racers
1983Sheffield Tigers
1984Wimbledon Dons
1988-1989Kings Lynn Stars
1989-1991Swindon Robins
1989-1990Dackarna (SWE)
1991Wimbledon/Eastbourne
Individual honours
1980
1984
1978

1978, 1981
1978

1975, 1978		Daily Express Spring Classic
Golden Helmet of Pardubice
Master of Speedway GP Winner
Argentine Champion
WJ Cearns
The Laurels
Manpower Winner
German Open Winner.
Geoff Curtis Memorial Trophy
Team honours
1977
1977
1980		World Team Cup Winner
Spring Gold Cup winner
British League Champion
4 x German Champion Diedenbergen
Polish Champion Gdansk.

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

World Team Cup

European Grasstrack Championship

Final

  • 1983 - Nandlastadt 11pts (8th)

References
  1. Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
  2. Oakes, P & Rising, P (1986). 1986 Speedway Yearbook. ISBN 0-948882-00-X
  3. Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0

External Reference


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