1973 British League season

Last updated

1973 British League season
League British League
No. of competitors18
Champions Reading Racers
Knockout Cup Belle Vue Aces
Individual Ivan Mauger
London Cup Hackney Hawks
Midland Cup Wolverhampton Wolves
Highest average Anders Michanek
Division/s below British League (Div 2)

The 1973 British League season was the 39th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the ninth season of the British League. [1] [2]

Contents

Summary

Glasgow Tigers relocated to become Coatbridge Tigers. [3]

The Reading Racers won their first title, ending the dominance of Belle Vue Aces who could only finish in sixth place. Swede Anders Michanek was in imperious form, going undefeated at Reading Stadium (which was in its final year as a venue). He finished with an 11.36 average ahead of the four time world champion Ivan Mauger on 11.29. In addition to Michanek the Reading team was boosted by high scoring from Norwegian Dag Lövaas and Australian Geoff Curtis. [4] In a sensational finish to the 1973 Knockout Cup final Reading were beaten by Belle Vue in a run-off for the Cup after an aggregate draw over two legs. [5]

Reading's success had a sour note after the season had finished when Geoff Curtis returned to Australia for the Australian season and was killed in a race at the Sydney Showground in December. [6]

Final table

PosTeamPLWDLPts
1 Reading Racers 34251851
2 Sheffield Tigers 34223947
3 King's Lynn Stars 342031143
4 Leicester Lions 342101342
5 Ipswich Witches 341921241
6 Belle Vue Aces 341911439
7 Wolverhampton Wolves 341811537
8 Exeter Falcons 341631535
9 Halifax Dukes 341621634
10 Newport Wasps 341601832
11 Oxford Rebels 341421830
12 Wimbledon Dons 341411929
13 Swindon Robins 341331829
14 Poole Pirates 341321928
15 Coventry Bees 341302126
16 Hackney Hawks 341141926
17 Coatbridge Tigers 341212125
18 Cradley United 34742318

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Fixtures and results

Home \ AwayBVCOVCHEXGLAHACHALIPSKLLEINWOXPPRRSHESWIWIMWOL
Belle Vue59–1950–2742–3638–3755–2351–2751–2751–2754–2252–2653–2548–3055–2338–4046–3255–2244–34
Coventry42–3532–4646–3252–2641–3758–2036–4242–3643–3540–3850–2841–3630–4840–3841–3742–3637–41
Cradley39–3945–3336–4237–4141–3742–3539–3940–3833–4544–3438–4035–4330–4836–4148–3032–4536–42
Exeter28–5055–2345–3259–1956–2242–3639–3939–3835–4356–2249–2945–3346–3249–2950–2846–3241–37
Glasgow/Coatbridge34–4042–3547–3140–3752–2638–4046–3241–3742–3646–3149–2936–4240–3739–3937–4143–3538–40
Hackney41–3746–3139–3944–3443–3543–3539–3930–4841–3745–3348–3036–4228–5039–3948–3038–4052–26
Halifax44–3442–3644–3440–3847–3149–2946–3239–3943–3540–3846–3236–4241–3737–4045–3343–3540–38
Ipswich45–3348–3048–3046–3249–2940–3753–2551–2742–3648–3051–2747–3144–3442–3447–3155–2344–34
King's Lynn45–3347–3147–3158–2047–3140–3637–4140–3848–3039–3855–2343–3536–4241–3741–3754–2445–33
Leicester46–3247–3152–2552–2650–2849–2949–2942–3636–4244–3349–2951–2746–3245–3342–3645–3343–35
Newport41–3756–2254–2442.5–34.543–3551–2756–2249–2945–3353–2543–3457–2133–4544–3448–3052–2640–38
Oxford40–3840–3859–1945–3350–2843–3548–2937–4139–3944–3451–2642–3630–4838–4044–3447–3052–26
Poole29–4954–2442–3637–4147–3154–2448–3043–3536–4238–4045–3339–3936–4238–4038–4044–3443–35
Reading46–3252–2653–2558–2055–2247–3159–1950–2839–3944–3447–3145–3341–3737–4147–3154–2441–37
Sheffield48–3046–3247–3153–2559–1957–2139–3956–2252–2645–3357–2156–2250–2843–3551–2751–2651–26
Swindon42–3544–3439–3939–3943–3537–4142–3640–3833–4535–4340–3840–3839–3935–4344–3442–3641–37
Wimbledon46–3241–3746–3242–3652–2639–3941–3739–3835–4335–4345–3355–2345–3335–4345–3346–3238–40
Wolverhampton55–2340–3843–3539–3942–3645–3345–3340–3845–3343–3540–3841–3744–3438–4042–3638–4040–37
Source: [7]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top ten riders (league averages)

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Anders Michanek Flag of Sweden.svg Reading11.55
2 Ivan Mauger Flag of New Zealand.svg Exeter11.30
3 Ole Olsen Flag of Denmark.svg Wolverhampton11.10
4 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.52
5 Dag Lövaas Flag of Norway.svg Reading10.37
6 Malcolm Simmons Flag of England.svg King's Lynn10.33
7 John Boulger Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leicester10.25
8 Chris Pusey Flag of England.svg Belle Vue10.24
9 Martin Ashby Flag of England.svg Swindon10.11
10 John Louis Flag of England.svg Ipswich10.07

British League Knockout Cup

The 1973 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 35th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Belle Vue were the winners after Peter Collins of Belle Vue defeated Anders Michanek of Reading in a race-off because the tie had finished 78–78 on aggregate. [8]

First round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
28/04Belle Vue48–30Oxford
28/04Coventry44–34Reading
27/04Hackney43–35Swindon
26/04Oxford41–37Belle Vue

Second round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
25/06Reading56–22Coatbridge
22/06Coatbridge41–37Reading
15/06Wolverhampton43–35Exeter
14/06Sheffield29–49Belle Vue
12/06Leicester36–42Kings Lynn
02/06Belle Vue43–35Sheffield
02/06Halifax49–29Wimbledon
30/05Poole40–38Cradley Heath
26/05Kings Lynn42–36Leicester
18/05Newport45–33Ipswich
17/05Ipswich41–37Newport
17/05Wimbledon37–41Halifax
12/05Cradley Heath37–41Poole
12/05Swindon43–35Hackney
07/05Exeter37–41Wolverhampton
28/07Swindon52–25Hackney
15/06Hackney43–35Swindon

Quarter-finals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
01/09Swindon39–39Wolverhampton
17/08Newport45–33Reading
17/08Wolverhampton43–35Swindon
13/08Halifax41–37Belle Vue
10/08Poole39–39Kings Lynn
30/07Reading55–23Newport
18/07Belle Vue57–21Halifax
23/06Kings Lynn47–31Poole

Semi-finals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
26/09Belle Vue48–30Wolverhampton
14/09Wolverhampton42–36Belle Vue
05/09Kings Lynn40–38Reading
03/09Reading52–26Kings Lynn

Final

First leg

Reading Racers
Anders Michanek 11
Dag Lövaas 11
Geoff Curtis 9
Mick Bell 7
Richard May 4
Bobby McNeil 4
Bernie Leigh 2
47–31 Belle Vue Aces
Peter Collins 12
Paul Tyrer 7
Eric Broadbelt 6
John Louis (guest) 3
Alan Wilkinson 2
Sören Sjösten 1
Chris Morton 0
[9]

Second leg

Belle Vue Aces
Peter Collins 10
Jim McMillan (guest) 8
Alan Wilkinson 8
Sören Sjösten 8
Eric Broadbelt 7
Paul Tyrer 6
Chris Morton 0
47–31 Reading Racers
Anders Michanek 12
Dag Lövaas 8
Mick Bell 6
Mitch Graham 5
Trevor Geer 0
Bernie Leigh 0
Geoff Curtis R/R
[9]

Match finished 78–78 on aggregate. Belle Vue won race-off.

Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time, it was held at Hyde Road on 3 October and was sponsored by Player's No.10. [10]

Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ivan Mauger 3 3 3 3 214
2 Flag of England.svg Ray Wilson 1 3 1 3 311
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Anders Michanek 3 2 EX 3 311
4 Flag of Denmark.svg Ole Olsen 3 3 3 2 EX11
5 Flag of England.svg Arnie Haley 2 1 2 3 311
6 Flag of England.svg Martin Ashby 3 3 3 EX 110
7 Flag of Scotland.svg Jim McMillan 2 2 1 2 310
8 Flag of England.svg John Louis 1 1 2 2 28
9 Flag of Sweden.svg Sören Sjösten 1 2 3 1 F7
10 Flag of England.svg Trevor Hedge 0 2 2 2 EF6
11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Garry Middleton 2 0 0 1 25
12 Flag of England.svg Barry Thomas 2 1 0 0 25
13 Flag of England.svg Malcolm Simmons 1 0 2 1 14
14 Flag of Norway.svg Reidar Eide 0 1 1 0 13
15 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Kid Brodie 0 0 1 1 13
16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bill Andrew (res)0 0 - - -0
17 Flag of England.svg Pete Smith 0 EF - 0 00

Leading final averages

Both Anders Michanek and Ivan Mauger recorded perfect 12 point average scores at home for the season, meaning they were unbeaten by any opposing rider on their own track in League competition.

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Anders Michanek Flag of Sweden.svg Reading11.36
2 Ivan Mauger Flag of New Zealand.svg Exeter11.29
3 Ole Olsen Flag of Denmark.svg Wolverhampton10.82
4 Chris Pusey Flag of England.svg Belle Vue10.55
5 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.32
6 Malcolm Simmons Flag of England.svg King's Lynn10.26
7 John Boulger Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leicester10.24
8 Martin Ashby Flag of England.svg Swindon10.18
9 John Louis Flag of England.svg Ipswich10.06
10 Dag Lövaas Flag of Norway.svg Reading10.06
11 Terry Betts Flag of England.svg King's Lynn9.95
12 Reidar Eide Flag of Norway.svg Newport977
13 Christer Löfqvist Flag of Sweden.svg Poole9.58
14 Ray Wilson Flag of England.svg Leicester9.44
15 Bernt Persson Flag of Sweden.svg Cradley United9.38
16 Bob Valentine Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sheffield9.30
17 Dave Jessup Flag of England.svg Leicester9.24
18 Tommy Jansson Flag of Sweden.svg Wimbledon9.19
19 Howard Cole (a.k.a. Kid Brodie) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cradley United9.12
20 Peter Collins Flag of England.svg Belle Vue9.08

London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup for just the third time but there were now only two teams remaining in London. [11]

Results

TeamScoreTeam
Wimbledon40–37Hackney
Hackney45–33Wimbledon

Midland Cup

Wolverhampton won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams. [12]

First round

Team oneTeam twoScore
SwindonOxford51–27, 38–40
CoventryCradley36–42, 32–46

Semi final round

Team oneTeam twoScore
LeicesterCradley45–33, 56–22
WolverhamptonSwindon43–35

Final

First leg

Wolverhampton
Ole Olsen 14
George Hunter 9
Tony Clarke 8
Gary Peterson 5
Tom Leadbitter 3.5
Ken Eyre 3
Jon Erskine r/r
42.5–35.5Leicester
Ray Wilson 11
John Boulger 9
Dave Jessup 7
Malcolm Shakespeare 6
Norman Storer 1.5
Bruce Forrester 1
Malcolm Brown 0

Second leg

Leicester
John Boulger 11
Ray Wilson 10
Norman Storer 7
Malcolm Brown 5
Malcolm Shakespeare 4
Dave Jessup 2
Bruce Forrester 0
39–39Wolverhampton
Ole Olsen 14
Tony Clarke 8
George Hunter 6
Gary Peterson 6
Ken Eyre 3
Tom Leadbitter 2
Jon Erskine r/r

Wolverhampton won on aggregate 81.5–74.5

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

Coatbridge

Coventry

Cradley Heath

Exeter

Hackney

Halifax

Ipswich

King's Lynn

Leicester

Newport

Oxford

Poole

Reading

Sheffield

Swindon

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton

See also

References

  1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  2. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 129–133. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  3. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 100. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
  4. "HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. "973 – Speedway Ruined My Toffee Apple". British Speedway Plus. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  6. "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  7. "1973 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. "1973 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
  9. 1 2 "Season 1973" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. "Speedway" . The People. 4 November 1973. Retrieved 2 June 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Hackney 1973" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. "Midland Speedway Cup" . Leicester Daily Mercury. 10 October 1973. Retrieved 21 October 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.