Top riders during each decade

[BL65]

An assessment of the top 10 riders for each decade, based on achievements in match races, individual and team events, and taking into account how well they performed head-to-head against their biggest rivals.  Some of the lower ranked riders who had an exceptional season or two in a decade also had some years where their achievements were modest compared to their rivals.

1930s: 1. Jack Parker 2. Eric Langton 3. Vic Huxley 4. Jack Milne 5. Cordy Milne 6. Tom Farndon 7. Bluey Wilkinson 8. Lionel Van Praag 9. Wilbur Lamoreaux 10. Jack Ormston
1940s: 1. Vic Duggan 2. Jack Parker 3. Tommy Price 4. Norman Parker 5. Ron Johnson 6. Alec Statham 7. Bill Kitchen 8. Eric Chitty 9. Wilbur Lamoreaux 10. Bill Longley
1950s: 1. Jack Young 2. Ove Fundin 3. Ronnie Moore 4. Barry Briggs 5. Peter Craven 6. Brian Crutcher 7. Freddie  Williams 8. Aub Lawson 9. Olle Nygren 10. Split Waterman
1960s: 1. Ove Fundin 2. Barry Briggs 3. Bjorn Knutson 4. Ivan Mauger 5. Ronnie Moore 6. Peter Craven 7. Gote Nordin 8. Igor Plechanov 9. Nigel Boocock 10. Arne Pander
1970s: 1. Ivan Mauger, 2. Ole Olsen, 3. Anders Michanek 4. Peter Collins 5. Phil Crump 6. Barry Briggs 7. Ray Wilson 8. Martin Ashby 9. Malcolm Simmons 10. John Louis
1980s: 1. Hans Nielsen 2. Erik Gundersen 3. Bruce Penhall 4. Kenny Carter 5. Michael Lee 6. Tommy Knudsen 7. Jan Andersson 8. Phil Crump 9. Simon Wigg 10. Billy Sanders
1990s: 1. Tony Rickardsson 2. Hans Nielsen 3. Sam Ermolenko 4. Greg Hancock 5. Billy Hamill 6. Per Jonsson 7. Chris Louis 8. Mark Loram 9. Jimmy Nilsen 10. Henrik Gustafsson
2000s: 1. Jason Crump 2. Tony Rickardsson 3. Nicki Pedersen 4. Leigh Adams 5. Greg Hancock 6. Tomasz Gollob 7. Mark Loram 8. Andreas Jonsson 9. Hans Andersen 10. Ryan Sullivan
2010s: 1. Greg Hancock 2. Tai Woffinden 3. Bartosz Zmarzlik 4. Tomasz Gollob 5. Nicki Pedersen 6. Emil Sayfutdinov 7. Jason Doyle 8. Jaroslaw Hampel 9. Chris Holder 10. Fredrik Lingdgren

[chunky]

Where does Ken McKinlay end up in the 60's?

[chunky]

What is confusing about my question, Mr Hyam?

[BL65]

28 minutes ago, chunky said:

Where does Ken McKinlay end up in the 60's?

11th, although I couldn't really split Pander and McKinlay.  Pander suffered two serious injuries (the first a fractured skull) which set him back, but when he was at his peak he was on a par with the very best and the 'Big 5' could have become the 'Big 6'.  His World Championship ambitions were thwarted by injury and a dispute with the Danish authorities, which led to him riding on a British licence. 

[chunky]

8 minutes ago, BL65 said:

11th, although I couldn't really split Pander and McKinlay.  Pander suffered two serious injuries (the first a fractured skull) which set him back, but when he was at his peak he was on a par with the very best and the 'Big 5' could have become the 'Big 6'.  His World Championship ambitions were thwarted by injury and a dispute with the Danish authorities, which led to him riding on a British licence. 

Ah!!!  I was a little surprised to see Pander in there, particularly knowing that he had those injuries. Of course, Ronnie Moore missed most of the 1960's too, but he still did enough the rest of the time to warrant his place. I know much of McKinlay's success came in domestic events, but his averages clearly show he had the beating of most of his opponents. I just would have expected him in there, Thanks.

[BL65]

Just now, chunky said:

Ah!!!  I was a little surprised to see Pander in there, particularly knowing that he had those injuries. Of course, Ronnie Moore missed most of the 1960's too, but he still did enough the rest of the time to warrant his place. I know much of McKinlay's success came in domestic events, but his averages clearly show he had the beating of most of his opponents. I just would have expected him in there, Thanks.

I can be persuaded to make them 10th=

[chunky]

Just now, BL65 said:

I can be persuaded to make them 10th=

So, you're not easy, but you're cheap??? 

[BL65]

21 minutes ago, chunky said:

So, you're not easy, but you're cheap??? 

Priceless.  I am so glad I saw them both at their very best.

[BOBBATH]

I reckon McKinlay was better than Nordin in the sixties!

[BL65]

1 hour ago, BOBBATH said:

I reckon McKinlay was better than Nordin in the sixties!

Nordin v McKinlay in the 1960s

World Finals (Nordin had a slightly better record)
Nordin: 1961 (3^rd), 1962 (8^th), 1963 (5^th), 1966 (6^th)
McKinlay: 1960 (8^th), 1961 (11^th), 1962 (5^th=), 1964 (9^th=), 1965 (13^th), 1969 (8^th=)

World Team Cup (Nordin averaged 6.67 and was a 4-time winner, McKinlay averaged 6.50, with no wins)
Nordin: 1962 (4 - winners), 1963 (6 – winners), 1964 (10 – winners), 1965 (6 – second), 1966 (3), 1967 (11 – winners)
McKinlay: 1960 (8), 1961 (4), 1964 (7), 1965 (7)

National Championships (Nordin had a win and three second places, McKinlay had a second and a third))
Nordin: Swedish Championship 1962 2^nd, 1963 2^nd, 1965 winner, 1969 2^nd
McKinlay: British Final 1964 2^nd, 1965 3rd

Internationale: Nordin had two wins and a second place, McKinlay had a second place)
Nordin: 1964 (5^th), 1965 (2^nd=), 1966 (winner), 1967 (winner), 1969 (8^th=)
McKinlay: 1962 (8^th), 1963 (12^th), 1964 (2^nd=), 1965 (4^th=), 1966 (5^th=), 1968 (8^th)

UK league averages (excluding 1962, Nordin achieved a higher average in the majority of seasons in which they both competed in the UK)
1960 McKinlay 9.98, Nordin 6.87
1962 Nordin 11.56 (2 meetings) McKinlay 8.63
1964 Nordin 10.64 McKinlay 9.92
1966 Nordin 10.53 McKinlay 9.67
1967 Nordin 10.00 McKinlay 9.53
1969 McKinlay 7.69 Nordin 7.56

International Series between Great Britain and Sweden in which both competed
1967 Nordin scored 51 in 4 tests, McKinlay scored 16 in 3 tests

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by BL65

[nw42]

Makes interesting reading that, thanks for posting it.  I have to ask where Chris Morton came in the order, was surprised not to see him mentioned in 80s until I realised there are 4 individual World Champions in there for starters, still considering Billy Sanders and Kenny Carter were only riding for around half of the decade they each must have amassed enough to make the top ten.  I suppose Mort's achilles heel would be his Individual World Final performances.  

[fatface]

6 hours ago, nw42 said:

Makes interesting reading that, thanks for posting it.  I have to ask where Chris Morton came in the order, was surprised not to see him mentioned in 80s until I realised there are 4 individual World Champions in there for starters, still considering Billy Sanders and Kenny Carter were only riding for around half of the decade they each must have amassed enough to make the top ten.  I suppose Mort's achilles heel would be his Individual World Final performances.  

Ditto. Worth knowing that Mort had more world final appearaces than anyone bar Nielsen and Gundersen in the 80s and won everything else worth winning during the decade... British Final, BLRC, World Pairs, WTC,, Intercontinental Final and in the BL, eight times in the top 10 averages, 5 times averaging over 10. I'd also wager he comfortably scored more test match points than any other England rider during the decade. What's the criteria? I'd be very surprised if some of the other names on the list have a better record than that. 

Edited December 3, 2021 by falcace

[steve roberts]

8 minutes ago, falcace said:

Ditto. Worth knowing that Mort had more world final appearaces than anyone bar Nielsen and Gundersen in the 80s and won everything else worth winning during the decade... British Final, BLRC, World Pairs, WTC,, Intercontinental Final and in the BL, eight times in the top 10 averages, 5 times averaging over 10. What's the criteria? I'd be very surprised if some of the other names on the list have a better record than that. 

Yes I would have Chris Morton warrented a mention? Not sure about Andersson's inclusion over Chris?

Edited December 3, 2021 by steve roberts

[Grachan]

Much as I loved Martin Ashby, I'm surprised to see him put above Simmons and Louis, who both made a World Final rostrum.

[BL65]

Andersson and Morton - a few bits of information

World Championship

1980  Final: Andersson 11 (4^th), Morton 7 (7^th=)  
Andersson 13 (1^st Swedish Final)
Morton 7 (8^th=) British Final, 11 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 12 (1^st Intercontinental Final)

1981 Final: Andersson 9 (6^th), Morton 5 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final,  11 (5^th) Nordic Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 11 (2^nd) Overseas Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1982 Andersson 8 (6^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (6^th) Nordic Final, 7 (8^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 5 (15^th ) Overseas Final

1983 Morton 7 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 11 (4^th=) Nordic Final, Andersson 3 (13^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 12 (1^st) British Final, 9 (6^th=) Overseas Final, Andersson 3 (13^th), Morton 7 (9^th=) Intercontinental Final

1984 Andersson 6 (10^th)
Andersson 1^st Swedish Final (over three rounds), 11 (4^th) Nordic Final, 7 (10^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 5 (12^th) British Final

1985 Andersson 7 (9^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final ,12 (2^nd) Nordic Final, 11 (4^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 9 (5^th=) British Final, 11 (3^rd) Commonwealth Final, 6 (11^th) Overseas Final, 0 (res) Continental Final   

1986 Andersson dnr (res), Morton 8 (8^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (4^th=) Nordic Final, 6 (12^th) in Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Overseas Final, 7 (8^th=) Continental Final

1987 Morton 5 (12^th)
Andersson 43 (1^st) Swedish Final (over three rounds), 8 (9^th) Nordic Final,
Morton 8 (8^th=) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 7 (10^th) Overseas Final, 7 (11^th) Intercontinental Final

1988 Morton 6 (10^th)
Andersson qual. ns Swedish Final,
Morton 11 (3^rd) British Final, 9 (5^th=) Commonwealth Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1989
Andersson 34 (3^rd) Swedish Final (over three rounds), Nordic Final dnr

World Team Cup Finals
1980 Morton 11
1981 Morton 11
1983 Morton 5
1984 Morton 5
1985 Andersson 5
1986 Morton 20 (3 rounds), Andersson 28 (3 rounds)
1988 Morton 4

World Pairs
1980 Andersson 9 (Final), 16 (SF)
1981 Morton 10 (Final), Anderson 10, Morton 12 (SF)
1982 Andersson 13 (SF)
1983 Andersson 11 (Final)|
1984 Morton 14 (Final), Andersson 15, Morton 14 (SF)
1985 Andersson 10 (Final) 14 (SF)
1986 Andersson 17 (Final), 24 (SF)

BLRC
1980 Andersson 10 (4^th=)
1981 Andersson 5 (12^th=), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1982 Andersson 8 (7^th), Morton 6 (10^th=)
1983 Andersson 7 (11^th=), Morton 5 (12^th)
1984 Andersson 6 (9^th=), Morton 13 (1^st)
1985 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (3^rd)
1986 Andersson 11 (4^th=), Morton 11 (4^th=)
1987 Andersson 10 (5^th), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1988 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (4^th=)

Swedish Championship - Andersson
1980 13 (1^st)
1981 15 (1^st)
1982 12 (3^rd)
1983 14 (2^nd)
1984 14 (1^st)
1985 11 (3^rd)
1986 13 (2^nd)
1987 13 (2^nd)
1988 (dnr)
1989 7 (9^th)

Swedish League Average (5 rides) - Andersson
1980 14.75 (1^st - 2^nd tier)
1981 14.25 (1^st) - top division
1982 14.90 (1^st 2^nd tier)
1983 14.06 (1^st) - top division
1984 15.00 (1^st)
1985 14.83 (1^st)
1986 14.55 (1^st)
1987 13.62 (1^st)
1988 13.49 (1^st)
1989 12.85 (3^rd)

British League Averages
1980 Andersson 10.08, Morton 10.09
1981 Andersson 10.02, Morton 9.75
1982 Andersson 9.96, Morton 10.18
1983 Andersson 9.47, Morton 10.30
1984 Andersson 10.05, Morton 10.31
1985 Andersson 9.43, Morton 9.77
1986 Andersson 9.34, Morton 9.34
1987 Andersson 8.99, Morton 8.92
1988 Andersson 8.93, Morton 9.01
1989 Morton 6.75

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by BL65

[iris123]

1 hour ago, BL65 said:

Andersson and Morton - a few bits of information

World Championship

1980  Final: Andersson 11 (4^th), Morton 7 (7^th=)  
Andersson 13 (1^st Swedish Final)
Morton 7 (8^th=) British Final, 11 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 12 (1^st Intercontinental Final)

1981 Final: Andersson 9 (6^th), Morton 5 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final,  11 (5^th) Nordic Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 11 (2^nd) Overseas Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1982 Andersson 8 (6^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (6^th) Nordic Final, 7 (8^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 5 (15^th ) Overseas Final

1983 Morton 7 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 11 (4^th=) Nordic Final, Andersson 3 (13^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 12 (1^st) British Final, 9 (6^th=) Overseas Final, Andersson 3 (13^th), Morton 7 (9^th=) Intercontinental Final

1984 Andersson 6 (10^th)
Andersson 1^st Swedish Final (over three rounds), 11 (4^th) Nordic Final, 7 (10^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 5 (12^th) British Final

1985 Andersson 7 (9^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final ,12 (2^nd) Nordic Final, 11 (4^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 9 (5^th=) British Final, 11 (3^rd) Commonwealth Final, 6 (11^th) Overseas Final, 0 (res) Continental Final   

1986 Andersson dnr (res), Morton 8 (8^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (4^th=) Nordic Final, 6 (12^th) in Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Overseas Final, 7 (8^th=) Continental Final

1987 Morton 5 (12^th)
Andersson 43 (1^st) Swedish Final (over three rounds), 8 (9^th) Nordic Final,
Morton 8 (8^th=) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 7 (10^th) Overseas Final, 7 (11^th) Intercontinental Final

1988 Morton 6 (10^th)
Andersson qual. ns Swedish Final,
Morton 11 (3^rd) British Final, 9 (5^th=) Commonwealth Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1989
Andersson 34 (3^rd) Swedish Final (over three rounds), Nordic Final dnr

World Team Cup Finals
1980 Morton 11
1981 Morton 11
1983 Morton 5
1984 Morton 5
1985 Andersson 5
1986 Morton 20 (3 rounds), Andersson 28 (3 rounds)
1988 Morton 4

World Pairs
1980 Andersson 9 (Final), 16 (SF)
1981 Morton 10 (Final), Anderson 10, Morton 12 (SF)
1982 Andersson 13 (SF)
1983 Andersson 11 (Final)|
1984 Morton 14 (Final), Andersson 15, Morton 14 (SF)
1985 Andersson 10 (Final) 14 (SF)
1986 Andersson 17 (Final), 24 (SF)

BLRC
1980 Andersson 10 (4^th=)
1981 Andersson 5 (12^th=), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1982 Andersson 8 (7^th), Morton 6 (10^th=)
1983 Andersson 7 (11^th=), Morton 5 (12^th)
1984 Andersson 6 (9^th=), Morton 13 (1^st)
1985 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (3^rd)
1986 Andersson 11 (4^th=), Morton 11 (4^th=)
1987 Andersson 10 (5^th), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1988 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (4^th=)

Swedish Championship - Andersson
1980 13 (1^st)
1981 15 (1^st)
1982 12 (3^rd)
1983 14 (2^nd)
1984 14 (1^st)
1985 11 (3^rd)
1986 13 (2^nd)
1987 13 (2^nd)
1988 (dnr)
1989 7 (9^th)

Swedish League Average (5 rides) - Andersson
1980 14.75 (1^st - 2^nd tier)
1981 14.25 (1^st) - top division
1982 14.90 (1^st 2^nd tier)
1983 14.06 (1^st) - top division
1984 15.00 (1^st)
1985 14.83 (1^st)
1986 14.55 (1^st)
1987 13.62 (1^st)
1988 13.49 (1^st)
1989 12.85 (3^rd)

British League Averages
1980 Andersson 10.08, Morton 10.09
1981 Andersson 10.02, Morton 9.75
1982 Andersson 9.96, Morton 10.18
1983 Andersson 9.47, Morton 10.30
1984 Andersson 10.05, Morton 10.31
1985 Andersson 9.43, Morton 9.77
1986 Andersson 9.34, Morton 9.34
1987 Andersson 8.99, Morton 8.92
1988 Andersson 8.93, Morton 9.01
1989 Morton 6.75

 

One of the problems i see there, it sort of sticks out a mile for me, is you have used Swedish and British Final/Championships to judge them. And i would think the Swedish Championship during that decade was far weaker than the British final. Same, as i am not sure what relevance Swedish league averages would have. BL averages more so, and there for instance Morton is generally better. BLRC is at Mortons home track, so he has the advantage there

But tbh it isn't something i am too worried about. All opinions.Even averages can show a false impression if a rider has been injured and came back or moved track and took time to get used to the new home .....

Edited December 3, 2021 by iris123

[BOBBATH]

Some excellent stats here, I enjoyed reading them-once again I have to defer to BL65-I have to agree that Gote Nordin was better in the sixties than Ken McKinlay!! I am trying to think of some other head to heads of the sixties.

[norbold]

On 12/2/2021 at 11:09 PM, BOBBATH said:

I reckon McKinlay was better than Nordin in the sixties!

Even though Hurri-Ken was my team's captain, I really can't agree with that. Towards the end of the period that the "Big Five" were given a 20 yard handicap, it was strongly argued that Nordin had become so good that he too should be put on 20 yards as well. I never heard anyone argue that Ken Mckinlay should have been.

[chunky]

1 hour ago, norbold said:

Even though Hurri-Ken was my team's captain, I really can't agree with that. Towards the end of the period that the "Big Five" were given a 20 yard handicap, it was strongly argued that Nordin had become so good that he too should be put on 20 yards as well. I never heard anyone argue that Ken Mckinlay should have been.

For some reason, Gote was often overlooked when the "top" riders were being discussed. When you look at his record, it was pretty damn impressive!

[fatface]

20 hours ago, BL65 said:

Andersson and Morton - a few bits of information

World Championship

1980  Final: Andersson 11 (4^th), Morton 7 (7^th=)  
Andersson 13 (1^st Swedish Final)
Morton 7 (8^th=) British Final, 11 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 12 (1^st Intercontinental Final)

1981 Final: Andersson 9 (6^th), Morton 5 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final,  11 (5^th) Nordic Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 11 (2^nd) Overseas Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1982 Andersson 8 (6^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (6^th) Nordic Final, 7 (8^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 5 (15^th ) Overseas Final

1983 Morton 7 (10^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 11 (4^th=) Nordic Final, Andersson 3 (13^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 12 (1^st) British Final, 9 (6^th=) Overseas Final, Andersson 3 (13^th), Morton 7 (9^th=) Intercontinental Final

1984 Andersson 6 (10^th)
Andersson 1^st Swedish Final (over three rounds), 11 (4^th) Nordic Final, 7 (10^th=) Intercontinental Final
Morton 5 (12^th) British Final

1985 Andersson 7 (9^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final ,12 (2^nd) Nordic Final, 11 (4^th) Intercontinental Final
Morton 9 (5^th=) British Final, 11 (3^rd) Commonwealth Final, 6 (11^th) Overseas Final, 0 (res) Continental Final   

1986 Andersson dnr (res), Morton 8 (8^th=)
Andersson seeded to Nordic Final, 10 (4^th=) Nordic Final, 6 (12^th) in Intercontinental Final
Morton 10 (5^th) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Overseas Final, 7 (8^th=) Continental Final

1987 Morton 5 (12^th)
Andersson 43 (1^st) Swedish Final (over three rounds), 8 (9^th) Nordic Final,
Morton 8 (8^th=) British Final, 10 (4^th=) Commonwealth Final, 7 (10^th) Overseas Final, 7 (11^th) Intercontinental Final

1988 Morton 6 (10^th)
Andersson qual. ns Swedish Final,
Morton 11 (3^rd) British Final, 9 (5^th=) Commonwealth Final, 8 (7^th=) Intercontinental Final

1989
Andersson 34 (3^rd) Swedish Final (over three rounds), Nordic Final dnr

World Team Cup Finals
1980 Morton 11
1981 Morton 11
1983 Morton 5
1984 Morton 5
1985 Andersson 5
1986 Morton 20 (3 rounds), Andersson 28 (3 rounds)
1988 Morton 4

World Pairs
1980 Andersson 9 (Final), 16 (SF)
1981 Morton 10 (Final), Anderson 10, Morton 12 (SF)
1982 Andersson 13 (SF)
1983 Andersson 11 (Final)|
1984 Morton 14 (Final), Andersson 15, Morton 14 (SF)
1985 Andersson 10 (Final) 14 (SF)
1986 Andersson 17 (Final), 24 (SF)

BLRC
1980 Andersson 10 (4^th=)
1981 Andersson 5 (12^th=), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1982 Andersson 8 (7^th), Morton 6 (10^th=)
1983 Andersson 7 (11^th=), Morton 5 (12^th)
1984 Andersson 6 (9^th=), Morton 13 (1^st)
1985 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (3^rd)
1986 Andersson 11 (4^th=), Morton 11 (4^th=)
1987 Andersson 10 (5^th), Morton 13 (2^nd)
1988 Andersson 5 (10^th=), Morton 12 (4^th=)

Swedish Championship - Andersson
1980 13 (1^st)
1981 15 (1^st)
1982 12 (3^rd)
1983 14 (2^nd)
1984 14 (1^st)
1985 11 (3^rd)
1986 13 (2^nd)
1987 13 (2^nd)
1988 (dnr)
1989 7 (9^th)

Swedish League Average (5 rides) - Andersson
1980 14.75 (1^st - 2^nd tier)
1981 14.25 (1^st) - top division
1982 14.90 (1^st 2^nd tier)
1983 14.06 (1^st) - top division
1984 15.00 (1^st)
1985 14.83 (1^st)
1986 14.55 (1^st)
1987 13.62 (1^st)
1988 13.49 (1^st)
1989 12.85 (3^rd)

British League Averages
1980 Andersson 10.08, Morton 10.09
1981 Andersson 10.02, Morton 9.75
1982 Andersson 9.96, Morton 10.18
1983 Andersson 9.47, Morton 10.30
1984 Andersson 10.05, Morton 10.31
1985 Andersson 9.43, Morton 9.77
1986 Andersson 9.34, Morton 9.34
1987 Andersson 8.99, Morton 8.92
1988 Andersson 8.93, Morton 9.01
1989 Morton 6.75

 

Cheers! It's good work...but I'm still not clear on the criteria? Are British Finals and Swedish Finals given equal "ranking points"? Are Swedish League and British League given equal ranking points? Even to my admittedly biased eyes, this still looks like Mort had a notably better record in the 80s? Also how is Phil Crump no8 in the 80s with just one World Final?

Also, if a rider isn't competing at the top level anymore, can other riders catch them up in the latter part of the decade? On the latter for example, I would say at their absolute best Carter and Lee were a better rider than Morton. But over the course of the decade, there are years were he was better than them and other years (for differing reasons) where they were out of the picture with Mort was still at world class level.

It's all good knockabout stuff of course. But it's also quite arbitrary. We humans like to think of things in decades, be in sport, music, culture...but it can skew the picture. Again, sticking with Mike Lee and add PC in there too...if you were looking at the 10 years from 1975-84, they would both - I suspect - rank higher.