Riders Who Never Quite Fulfilled Their Full Potential

[steve roberts]

In my opinion, you could add Kai Niemi to the list. A rider with enough talent to get to the top echelons of the sport, but was arguably more motivated by financial gain than World Championship success.

Saw Kai when he first rode in Britain as I used to go to Wood Lane every week. I would agree. He had huge potential and had some sensational meetings for 'The Rebels'...remember one race when he took both Michael Lee and Terry Betts from the back on the last lap. He was often a match winner (as was Trevor Geer) at reserve during the successful championship year of 1977.

 

I recall John Berry questioning Kai's commitment to Britain and felt that he often saved his best for meetings abroad.

[BOBBATH]

Tommy Miller was my choice for the same reason as Iris123 mentioned-particularly when you compare Tommy to his contemporary Ken McKinlay!! I also still maintain David Crane never went as far as he seemed likely to do when he first started. Not to take away anything from any of these riders though!!

[norbold]

Nobody has mentioned Bjorn Knutsson yet. He broke into the world top ten rankings at 22 years old and was never ranked lower. Than fourth for the rest of his career. One of the "Big 5" along with Moore, Briggo, Fundin and Craven, so he had some tough competition in that era.

He was under 30 years old when he retired so had a lot of potential left. He was a few years younger than the rest of the big 5 and coukd we'll have stayed at the top when they started to decline. Bjorn was also only about a year younger then Ivan Mauger and if he had continued into the 1970's he was, in my opinion the only rider who could have consistently challenged Ivan and, again in my opinion might well have taken some of the world titles eventually won by Mauger , Olsen, Michanek , and Szczakiel. We shall n ever know but he was certainly a class act and Speedwáy was the loser when he retired at such a relatively young age.

 

Good shout, Daytripper. Couldn' t agree more.

[Sidney the robin]

I would help you if I could Sidney the robin but cannot. So far as Eric Langton is concerned the only seasons that he rode in when I followed speedway was 1946 and 1947. But in that era I was only a 13-year-old follower of New Cross while Langton was a towering personality in the Belle Vue side and the only time I saw him was when he appeared at "the frying pan" (as the 262-yard New Cross track was known).

Ernie Roccio, the American became involved with nearby Wimbledon in the same period of the 1950s that I was doing RAF National Service at Preston, Lancs, then tragically died in a 1953 accident at West Ham just after my National Service ended.

When I did start involvement writing bits and pieces about speedway circa 1953 onwards, Jack Young was a dominant figure in the West Ham side, whereas I was living in South London and mainly centred my attentions on Wimbledon after New Cross closed midway through 1953. My writings for various speedway publications (before becoming involved at 'Speedway Star') from 1954 onwards were mainly on the six tracks then in the Southern Area League.

By the time I did participate full-time in speedway writing, Jack Young had moved to Coventry while the main London concentration for me (apart from domestic office duties at the 'Star') was Wimbledon, in which Barry Briggs was the rider I mainly dealt with.

So it's regrets in regard to your request Sidney the robin, but I wish you well in your research. It could well be that I might be able to help you in regard to any queries you may have in regard to Langton, Roccio and Young, but so far as first-hand contact comments about them are concerned I regret I cannot help you.

Thanks "Gustix".no worries. Edited May 8, 2016 by Sidney the robin

[Gresham]

The story according to Len Silver ( if my memory can more or less bring up the facts) is that at the peak of Andrews career he started to have some sort of bike proble. I can't remember the details but it was something like exhaust gasses escaping through a hairline crack that didn't show when the engine cooled down and he was losing power. Because there was no obvious fault he began to think it was in his mind and lost confidence. Speedwáy is such a confidence sport that even when the problem was sorted (after several months) the confidence never came back. My memory is a bit vague but that's roughly Lens version I think.

 

His return to Rye House was curtailed by a head injury that left him concussed and ar age 42 it was a bit later to make another comeback when he recovered 18 months later

Andrew Silver is my second all time favourite racer.

 

I find this quote above, making so much sense if it is the case. I often watched him race and thought it was his engine or set up and not him, that was preventing him being the best.

 

He was one of the most talented, exciting riders to watch...so entertaining...couldn't gate for toffee, but that's what made it even more entertaining as you knew he had to battle to often get past riders.

 

He may not be considered a World beater, but in my eyes he's one of the best Speedway riders ever...so talented.

[sommelier]

Alf Busk, Finn Jensen, Mel Taylor, Kevin Jolly

[Paulco]

Mr Maximum at Glasgow , Charlie Monk . How he was never a World Finalist is one of speedway's great mysteries

[Guest]

Ray Moore at New Cross in the late 1940s early 1950s. He later switched to big circuit sports car racing and was sadly fatally injured in a track crash in the early 1960s. His loss of speedway form coincided with the serious injury in 1949 that ended the first class career of his friend and mentor Ron Johnson.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Guest

[Vincent Vega]

Andy Galvin never recovered from the broken thigh injury at Rye House in 1990.

 

Martin Dugard could have achieved more but was not strict enough with his diet.

[steve roberts]

Andy Galvin never recovered from the broken thigh injury at Rye House in 1990.

 

Martin Dugard could have achieved more but was not strict enough with his diet.

I remember reading an article in 'Backtrack' when Gordon Kennett commented that Martin should have taken himself off to Australia in the close season to further his experience. The experience certainly did bring some riders on...including Gordon.

[Terry]

I always felt that Hans Andersen could've achieved more.

When he was 'public enemy number 1' just after the 2004 world cup, he was always finishing on the gp rostrum and it only seemed a matter of time until he overtook Nicki as top Dane.

 

Then he changed and became 'Mr nice guy' and started to slip down the rankings.

Perhaps he should've stayed more ruthless like Nicki!

[salty]

Paul Whitaker springs to mind. Used to see him blast around before he reached his 16th birthday and thought he was going to be a massive star, but never really fulfilled that promise even before he got some rotten luck with injuries.

[Terry]

Paul Whitaker springs to mind. Used to see him blast around before he reached his 16th birthday and thought he was going to be a massive star, but never really fulfilled that promise even before he got some rotten luck with injuries.

 

Even though he didn't really fulfill his early promise he was definitely about to break through in 91. Emerging from the shadows of Andy Galvin and Steve Schofield, and having more responsibility did him the world of good.

 

He was averaging over 10, and was on the verge of an England call up when he badly broke his arm, and that was basically that.

He was still only 23 at the time so he could've still made it.

[Sidney the robin]

As a international star Toni Kasper was a bit of a disappointment to me,he had a very good career world finals(ect).See him ride at Swindon a few times and at Hackney and he looked a proper rider maybe problems with the Czech authorities didn't help a number of Czech riders over there career who knows.

[steve roberts]

Per Sorensen. He rode for a number of years at Swindon and moved to Oxford in 1986...which turned Oxford's season round really. He looked as if he was making some real progress but politics and a good job meant that he didn't return to Britain in 1987. Could have gone on to achieve more in my opinion.

[Gresham]

Two riders I thought had potential more than they achieved were Peter Nahlin and Jimmy Nilsen.

[steve roberts]

Two riders I thought had potential more than they achieved were Peter Nahlin and Jimmy Nilsen.

I would agree re:Jimmy Nilsen in particular. His international form was quite impressive but he seemed to lack that little extra when it came to his British League achievements although he did achieve some respectable, if not spectacular, averages.

Andrew Silver is my second all time favourite racer.

 

I find this quote above, making so much sense if it is the case. I often watched him race and thought it was his engine or set up and not him, that was preventing him being the best.

 

He was one of the most talented, exciting riders to watch...so entertaining...couldn't gate for toffee, but that's what made it even more entertaining as you knew he had to battle to often get past riders.

 

He may not be considered a World beater, but in my eyes he's one of the best Speedway riders ever...so talented.

I recall that Ivan Mauger once commented on his riding style in that he needed to tidy it up somewhat...but then I suppose Andrew would have lost that something extra if he had and would have been less exciting to watch subsequently? Did make the habit of looking behind him too frequently rather than riding his own race however.

[lucifer sam]

Per Sorensen. He rode for a number of years at Swindon and moved to Oxford in 1986...which turned Oxford's season round really. He looked as if he was making some real progress but politics and a good job meant that he didn't return to Britain in 1987. Could have gone on to achieve more in my opinion.

 

Steve, while it was a shame that Per didn't return in 1987, I didn't mind, because it meant Rambo Razzer returned for another season instead and he was something of a favourite of mine.

 

My list:

 

Arne Pander - injury and politics stopped Oxford's first World Class rider from reaching a single World Final.

Martin Dugard - after Oxford, he should have moved to a big track, rather than go back at Eastbourne. The 2000 British Grand Prix showed what he was capable of.

Andrew Silver - for exactly the reasons already stated. Wasted his very considerable talent.

Dalle Anderson - brilliant at Oxford in 1995. Robbed of the World Under-21 that year in the run-off. And then... nothing really. It just didn't happen for him at Cradley/Stoke in 1996.

Nigel De'Ath - massive talent who had the confidence knocked out of him by a series of falls in 1987, following by a scary crash over the top of the Oxford safety fence on 1988's opening night.

Alastair Stevens - even bigger talent. The fall through the roof in 1986, while doing a building job, was a set-back, and later on, he just didn't prepare his machinery properly.

Carl Blackbird - seemed destined for big things when he - almost unbelievably - passed Hans Nielsen from the back three times on the same night at Oxford in 1986. But it didn't happen.

Brian Andersen - he surely would have been World Champion, but for the ill-advised decision to plate his broken collarbone, shortly after winning the 1997 British Grand Prix. So classy on the bike.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited May 9, 2016 by lucifer sam

[customhouseregular]

I have to include the great Igor Plechanov. Had he been allowed to ride full time in the BL he surely would have improved on his 2 world final second places.

[steve roberts]

 

Steve, while it was a shame that Per didn't return in 1987, I didn't mind, because it meant Rambo Razzer returned for another season instead and he was something of a favourite of mine.

 

My list:

 

Arne Pander - injury and politics stopped Oxford's first World Class rider from reaching a single World Final.

Martin Dugard - after Oxford, he should have moved to a big track, rather than go back at Eastbourne. The 2000 British Grand Prix showed what he was capable of.

Andrew Silver - for exactly the reasons already stated. Wasted his very considerable talent.

Dalle Anderson - brilliant at Oxford in 1995. Robbed of the World Under-21 that year in the run-off. And then... nothing really. It just didn't happen for him at Cradley/Stoke in 1996.

Nigel De'Ath - massive talent who had the confidence knocked out of him by a series of falls in 1987, following by a scary crash over the top of the Oxford safety fence on 1988's opening night.

Alastair Stevens - even bigger talent. The fall through the roof in 1986, while doing a building job, was a set-back, and later on, he just didn't prepare his machinery properly.

Carl Blackbird - seemed destined for big things when he - almost unbelievably - passed Hans Nielsen from the back three times on the same night at Oxford in 1986. But it didn't happen.

Brian Andersen - he surely would have been World Champion, but for the ill-advised decision to plate his broken collarbone, shortly after winning the 1997 British Grand Prix. So classy on the bike.

 

All the best

Rob

Jens Rasmussen - another rider who had massive potential but injuries seemed to be his downfall...and again politics within the sport had an unsettling influence in that he was often a victim of the points limit.