Top 20 British Riders Of The 1980s

[waiheke]

Wondering who people think were the best 20 British riders of the 1980s.

My thoughts..

 

1. Michael Lee

2. Kenny Carter

3. Chris Morton

4. Dave Jessup

5. Simon Wigg

6. Peter Collins

7. Kelvin Tatum

8. Les Collins

9. Jeremy Doncaster

10. Simon Cross

11. Phil Collins

12. Paul Thorp

13. John Davis

14. Neil Evitts

15. Marvyn Cox

16. Andy Grahame

17. Alan Grahame

18. John Louis

19. Andy Smith

20. Joe Owen

 

Other riders that would come close are the likes of Gordon Kennett, Malcolm Simmons, Neil Collins, Richard Knight, Gary Havelock.

[speedway2011]

How we wished we had world class riders like them now

[kaiser]

Ok here goes, my top 20 brits of the 80s.

 

1. Kenny Carter (and i used to boo him!!!). But man he was fast.

2. Chris Morton (great rider, not sure about manager!!!).

3. Mike Lee (never saw him at his peak as i started going end of 82, but having since watched the 80 final, he was awesome.

4. Simon Wigg (the most complete motorcyclist of all time, be it on shale or grass).

5. Peter Collins (not as dominant as in the previous decade, but a world team cup win and three pairs titles puts him up there.

6. Kelvin Tatum (ok he was a start tart!!but for a large part of the decade he was one of the few brits that could mix it with those pesky Danes!!). Also our last world team cup championship winning skipper!!!

7. Jem Doncaster (world number three and world team cup winner, great team man at Ippo and Reading).

8. Marvyn Cox (always thought Marv would have gone further on the world stage, but boy could he go at the old hyde road, plus as a world under 21 champ, he gets my vote).

9. Andy FOXY Smith (ok im a bit biased as he was one of my favs as a kid, remember thinking he was certain to be a multi world champion, still great to watch, very much in the Collins Mort mould.

10. Alan Grahme (sure he was never a superstar, but as team man he was second to non, a Cradley legend, god knows how many 5-1s he got the Heathens with Phil Collins.

11. Les Collins (strange that Les was only a the very top for a few years, otherwise he would be much higher on my list, close to ultimate glory in 82, im also sure he won a BLRC??).

12. Phil Collins (remember him winning an overseas final at hyde road, the track was like a sodding bog!!). Very similar in style and action to his older more illustrious brother PC. Another Cradley stalwart.

13. Simon Cross (very unlucky with injuries as i feel he could have gone even further, great to watch).

14. Andy Grahame (more of a gater than his brother Al, but 82 british champion and close again in 83 gets him on the list).

15. Martin Duggard (not everyones cup of tea, but he really impressed me when he moved to Oxford, and did the business, pretty hard rider as well!!!).

16. Peter B52 Carr (the bomber, he actually improved when he left BV for Sheffield!!man he could fly at Owleton).

17. Dave Jessup (probably should be higher, but by the time i started going DJ was on the wane, his best years were in the 70s, although a world team cup win and no2 to Lee in 80, probably proves im doing him an injustice!!At number 17!!!).

18. Andy Silver (NL Legend, never made the mark at world level, but man he could hang off a bike!!Rubbish at gating but would find lines, other riders couldnt!!).

19. John Davis (never a huge fan, but he was always consistant, made the most of his talent, as i dont think he could be classed as a natural.)

20. Paul Thorp (if Hyde road would have remained Thorpy would have become an aces legend, he was awesome around there in 87, pitty he was so bad at Kirky lane, did a sterling job at Odsal with Bradford).

 

Ok thats it, boy my fingers are hurting, pretty sure ive missed out someone but hey thats life!!!