Riders Who Come On Later In Their Careers.

[lucifer sam]

Haven't read through the whole thread, but the most notable example was Ivan Mauger.

 

A "failure" at 17 and 18 (actually he was a little unlucky regarding the limited league structure at that point - no proper second division in which to home his skills).

 

I guess he wasn't THAT old when he came back over in 1963, but he wasn't World Champion unitl not far from his 29th birthday. Mauger's peak was from the ages of 28 to 39.

 

All the best

Rob

[proud panther]

Think its more about attitude than age. Most riders could get an extra 20% improvement if they spent more time in the gym, & less time in the pub. Another big factor is sponsorship. Woffie is a good example, because he has dedicated his life to speedway, & is reaping the benefits. Pedersen, Hancock etc are prolonging their careers doing the same.

[The White Knight]

George Barclay I believe was a late starter in the 1970's. A late finisher too - he still Rides nowadays and trains young Riders at Lakeside I think.

 

A great servant to the Sport. :approve:

[Little-End]

_{I`d include Nicki Pedersen and Niels Kristian Iversen , both had a slowish start to their Careers imo}

[iris123]

The one that springs to mind is the tiny polish guy who got into the gp's just a couple of years before he retired.Only about 5 years ago.Can't for the life of me think of his name though

 

Jagus

 

If you look at Mauger as an example then hans Nielsen couldn't have been much younger when he won his first title.Seemed to explode on the scene as a teenager,but took ages for that first world crown

Edited September 13, 2013 by iris123

[ch958]

a bit out of touch these days but why is Brian Havelock so reviled by Bears fans ?

 

i believe he can be a prickly character (ask twk) or look at bears-talk where most fans wish to see him and his colleagues sell up and go

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Surprised no-one's mentioned Simmo. Took him 12 years from first riding BL to reach his first World Final and was 30 when he finished runner up (in his second WF).

[stratton]

Was Alan Knapkin a late starter? improved later as a rider was an exciting rider around Odsal didn't he have his own business which made speedway difficult to concentrate on.

[chunky]

Vic Duggan would be a prime candidate too, not peaking until nearing the end of his career.

 

Steve

[SCB]

_{I`d include Nicki Pedersen and Niels Kristian Iversen , both had a slowish start to their Careers imo}

Really? Interesting idea of, "slowish start" :/

[Cj69]

Peter Carr was a decent rider before retirement but one of the best in the PL when he returned for Edin after a couple years out.

[brianbuck]

Jimmy Gooch would definitely come into this category. He pottered around as a reserve for donkey's years then suddenly at the age of 42, he had a purple patch and was good enough to qualify for the World Championship Final.

[Triple.H.]

Peter Carr was a decent rider before retirement but one of the best in the PL when he returned for Edin after a couple years out.

Had a great trick of diving under the opposition i often wonder if young riders ever watch videos/dvds of old riders to learn some new/old tricks.Fairly sure the Monarchs fans would have the motor back in the team in a heartbeat even better if they could get his average reassessed to 3 or 4

[foamfence]

Aub Lawson. He was always a good international class rider but in his late 40s he was at his very best and reached the World Championship rostrum.

[The White Knight]

Jack Parker must come in to the reckoning. :unsure:

[iris123]

Jack Parker must come in to the reckoning. :unsure:

Hardly.He was a top rider pretty much from the start of speedway in the UK

[The White Knight]

Oops - you are right iris123 - I have just reread the Thread Title. :rolleyes:

 

I'm getting on you know. :rolleyes:

[waiheke1]

Peter Carr was a decent rider before retirement but one of the best in the PL when he returned for Edin after a couple years out.

Not sure you can class a rider who was a British Junior Champ, and peaked at the age of 23/24 (86/7 seasons) as a late developer?

 

If you look at Mauger as an example then hans Nielsen couldn't have been much younger when he won his first title.Seemed to explode on the scene as a teenager,but took ages for that first world crown

He was only 26 I believe when he won his first title, so still quite a bit younger than Mauger, and not really old at all.

Interesting case though Nielsen - world team champ at 18, world pairs champ at 19, first world final and equal top of the BL averages at 80 but then...

leap ahead to the 81 world final, where you had a superb crop of young talent. Reigning champ Mike Lee still just 21 and already in his fourth final. New champ Penhall just 23 in his second final. Knudsen third on debut at 19. Carter (20) and gundersen (21) both robbed of a medal on debut by engine failures. Hans however finished well down the field.

Ultimately it was to take him 5 attempts to reach the podium, and 7 to win the title, I wonder if both of those are records of the World Final era? Yet, hardly a late developer, given he rode in every world final from the time he was 20 until he was in his 30s, and arguably he was the best rider in the world for a decade starting from 83 (age 23).

[Guest]

Interesting case though Nielsen - world team champ at 18, world pairs champ at 19, first world final and equal top of the BL averages at 80 but then...

 

Amazing! Even Wal Morton called a halt to speedway when he was 54 - after 32 years in the sport. Serioudly, I do know what you mean...!

[waiheke1]

 

 

Amazing! Even Wal Morton called a halt to speedway when he was 54 - after 32 years in the sport. Serioudly, I do know what you mean...!

obviously was thinking of the year (80) when I meant to type his age (20).