Gordon Kennett

[Ray Stadia]

It gives me no pleasure to be the first to post that Gordon Kennett has passed away. What a great rider and ambassador for the sport. RIP Gordon

[Halifaxtiger]

Saddened to hear this news. One of first meetings watching Wimbledon in the early 1980's was against Eastbourne and Gordon became one of my favourite riders after that. By all accounts a true professional, he was by the same accounts quiet, modest and extremely likeable. 

Sincere condolences to his family. 

[Sidney the robin]

A terrific rider and a extremely modest guy RIP Gordon.

[Technik]

I can't believe it.

Only a few short weeks ago I was talking to him at Oxford as he was like a small child hanging over the third turn fence watching the racing along with his brother. The Kennetts are true fans of speedway & Gordon will be greatly missed.

Don't ride faster than the angels can fly.. 

Best wishes to his family & friends at this sad time RIP

[OveFundinFan]

Sad news to read.

[steve roberts]

This is awful news....one of my first heroes at Cowley. Can't believe that Gordon is no longer with us. Despite suffering with diabetes he prided himself on his fitness.

RIP Gordon...a true legend!

[M.D]

Shocked by the news, a true legend of Eastbourne speedway and the sport in general.

I know he was very keen to help with the guys trying to get Eastbourne back racing, RIP GK

[mikebv]

A top level rider, in an era of greats...

Saw him and PC have some cracking battles at Hyde Rd, with Gordon adopting a long track style of racing down the straights...

RIP....

[fatface]

That’s sad news. Always gave full value wherever and whenever he rode. 

[Garry1603]

Such sad news. 

By all accounts a top guy as well as a top rider. One of speedway's 'royalty'.

RIP Gordon

Edited September 12, 2023 by Garry1603

[steve roberts]

41 minutes ago, mikebv said:

A top level rider, in an era of greats...

Saw him and PC have some cracking battles at Hyde Rd, with Gordon adopting a long track style of racing down the straights...

RIP....

One particular race involving the two was at Hackney when PC was deputising for Dave Morton. Shoulder to shoulder for the entire four laps giving each other enough room to race and ended as a dead heat. Gordon has left me with so many memories. A great rider!

[M.D]

Born:

02.09.1953, Bromley, England

British Clubs:

Eastbourne (1970-1972, 1979-1982, 1985-1991)
Wimbledon (1970, 1984)
Leicester (1971)
Cradley (1971, 1988)
Hackney (1971)
Kings Lynn (1971, 1983, 1988)
Oxford (1972-1975)
White City (1976-1978)
Swindon (1985, 1986, 1988)
Wolverhampton (1986, 1992-1994)
Ipswich (1988)
Belle Vue (1988)
Milton Keynes (1991)
Exeter (1993) 

Year..Clubs..Meetings..Rides..Points..Bonus..Average..Maxima

1970..Eastbourne..29..116..166..31..6.79..2P
1970..Wimbledon..5..12..5..2..2.33
1971..Eastbourne..35..148..294..28..8.70..3F..3P
1971..Leicester..1..5..6..1..5.60
1971..Cradley..1..3..2..0..2.67
1971..Hackney..3..10..6..3..3.60
1971..King's Lynn..1..4..1..0..1.00
1972..Eastbourne..38..164..324..32..8.68..6P
1972..Oxford..5..15..11..3..3.73
1973..Oxford..35..139..184..39..6.42..1P
1974..Oxford..27..106..176..18..7.32..1F..1P
1975..Oxford..38..175..340..28..8.41..1F..2P
1976..White City..39..168..399..8..9.69..10F..1P
1977..White City..42..207..524..15..10.41..10F..3P
1978..White City..38..166..392..3..9.52..9F
1979..Eastbourne..34..172..416..10..9.91..9F
1980..Eastbourne..24..116..281.5..0..9.71..4F
1981..Eastbourne..42..203..483..8..9.67..8F
1982..Eastbourne..48..212..493..22..9.72..7F..3P
1983..King's Lynn..45..193..383..22..8.39
1984..Wimbledon..50..190..252..35..6.04..1P
1985..Eastbourne..44..186..480..7..10.47..10F..1P
1985..Swindon..12..45..56..15..6.31
1986..Swindon..1..3..0..0..0.00
1986..Eastbourne..46..210..487..31..9.87..4F..7P
1986..Wolves..3..11..16..1..6.18
1987..Eastbourne..38..166..368..22..9.40..6F..3P
1988..Eastbourne..34..178..424.5..19..9.97..5F..1P
1988..Cradley..1..4..5..1..6.00
1988..King's Lynn..6..24..32..4..6.00
1988..Belle Vue..1..3..3..0..4.00
1988..Ipswich..1..4..4..2..6.00
1988..Swindon..1..4..4..2..6.00
1989..Eastbourne..38..207..473..24..9.60..1F..3P
1990..Eastbourne..27..140..303..10..8.94..1F..1P
1991..Milton K..4..20..42..0..8.40
1991..Eastbourne..18..82..83..19..4.98
1992..Wolves..7..24..20..5..4.17
1993..Exeter..33..183..293..24..6.93
1993..Wolves..7..39..40..5..4.62
1994..Wolves..14..69..73..18..5.28

Honours:  

World Finalist (1978)
British Finalist (1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984)
World Pairs Champion (1978)
 

[topaz325]

Sad news .

[HGould]

Terrible news to wake up to. 

Last time I saw him was on his Harley leading the parade with about 50 Harley at Shield Final at Eastbourne v Leicester just before Covid break season. 

Stopped and had a chat after the meeting and looked like he'd never stopped racing. 

Don't think he ever got due credit for runner up in 78 World Final as everyone sympathised with Jessup. GK had beaten Olsen on the night from memory. 

His best League again didn't get due credit was White City 77,he bore brunt of RR rides all season and showed he could ride big tracks as well as small. 

Always scored big at the old PB remember him and Niemi scoring all the points between them almost in one Eastbourne win at PB when we just couldn't seem to get a race winner. 

Above all that though its clear he was a top man, humble and widely respected. 

 

[fatface]

A further thought...when he dropped into the National League in 1985, that coincided with the NL actually becoming a more entertaining league than the BL. Much more teams, less predictable, it's own stars and their own big occasions like the NLRC, Fours and Pairs packing them in. Gordon Kennett was probably the biggest NL star of that era.

[M.D]

22 minutes ago, fatface said:

A further thought...when he dropped into the National League in 1985, that coincided with the NL actually becoming a more entertaining league than the BL. Much more teams, less predictable, it's own stars and their own big occasions like the NLRC, Fours and Pairs packing them in. Gordon Kennett was probably the biggest NL star of that era.

Bob Dugard took Eastbourne down a league that season, Martin was due to be 16 mid season.

GK came down with us and it transformed the club again, we won the KOC in 1985,86 and 87 also won the league in 86 & 87.

GK came in and averaged 10.41, Martin averaged 5.69 in half a season then 9.69 in his first full season.

Happy days..

[M.D]

https://saveeastbournespeedway.co.uk/gordon-kennett-1953-2023/

[fatface]

42 minutes ago, M.D said:

Bob Dugard took Eastbourne down a league that season, Martin was due to be 16 mid season.

GK came down with us and it transformed the club again, we won the KOC in 1985,86 and 87 also won the league in 86 & 87.

GK came in and averaged 10.41, Martin averaged 5.69 in half a season then 9.69 in his first full season.

Happy days..

Yep, definitely the late 80s were a great era for the National League and Gordon Kennett at the absolute forefront of that. Not just Eastbourne, but clubs like Mildenhall, Middlesbrough, Hackney, Wimbledon, Poole all in the mix too. A great mix of gnarly vets like Kennett, Les Collins, Simmo, Jessup, Wyer and rising stars like Dugard, Silver, Havelock, Loram. Scottish tours, Southern tours, lots of local derbies. It would be easy to say that Gordon Kennett was easing down in his career, but couldn't be further from the truth. He was always fully committed on any track on any given day. Also one of the great inside line riders.. 

[GeneralMelchett]

10 hours ago, Ray Stadia said:

It gives me no pleasure to be the first to post that Gordon Kennett has passed away. What a great rider and ambassador for the sport. RIP Gordon

So sad - he was a top rider at NL level and regularly scored far too many points for Eastbourne at Arena! Thanks Gordon for the entertainment all those years ago 

[847084]

Sad news. A rarity in sport, a competitor that did not divide opinion. He was respected and admired by all. 
I was lucky to see him throughout his long and illustrious career.

One of the great guys.