Fredericia Speedway

Last updated

Fredericia Speedway
Club information
Track addressVarious
CountryDenmark
Founded1945
Closed2005
League Danish Super League
Major team honours
Team champions 1968, 1974, 1975, 1987, 1989, 1993, 2005

Fredericia Speedway was a motorcycle speedway club from Fredericia in Denmark, which competed in the Danish Speedway League until the end of their league winning 2005 season. [1] They are seven times champions of Denmark, having won the title in 1968, 1974, 1975, 1987, 1989, 1993 and 2005. [2] [3]

Contents

History

1945 to 1971

Hans Andersen helped the club win their last title in 2005 Hans Andersen (9273416509).jpg
Hans Andersen helped the club win their last title in 2005

Fredericia Speedway's origins started wth the founding of the Fredericia Motor Klubb in 1945 [1] and with a speedway track being built in 1958. The home venue of the club was the Vejlby Speedway Center, which is still located on the northern outskirts of Fredericia. [4] In 1967, a new organised tournament was formed with seven teams being registered, one of which was the team called Faestningsdrengene (the Fortress Boys) and they won the league in 1968. [5] The track at Vejlby was used until 1971 and three years later (1974) it was rebuilt exclusively as a smaller track for machines of the 50cc and 80cc.

1972 to 1985

The need for a larger track resulted in the speedway team using the 370 metre Fredericia Speedway Stadium (the old Fredericia Stadion), owned by the Fredericia Municipality but events being organised by the Fredericia Motor Klub. After five second places in the Danish Speedway League they finally won division 1 again in 1974, to become the Danish champions for the second time. [1] The club ran other teams in the lower divisions called Skansedrengene, Volddrengene and Brodrenene.

Further success was experienced in 1975, before the introduction of the professional Danish Speedway League (which was established in 1986). [2]

1986 to 1996

The team had issues with the Municipality over the limited access to the stadium. It could not be used more than once a week due to it being in a residential area. Therefeore the decision was made to lease the Frederikslyst Motorbane for the new professional league. The team finished 2nd in the inaugural Super League in 1986. [6] They then won their fourth title in 1987. [7] [8]

The team continued their success by winning the 1989 Superliga. [2] The team included riders such as Jan O. Pedersen, Gert Handberg, Brian Karger and Frede Schött. [9] [10] [11] Continuing to challenge at the highest level they signed riders like Tommy Knudsen and Brian Andersen and won another league title in 1993. [2] Unfortunately, after the 1995 season the club ran into financial difficulties and were unable to field a team during 1997. [4]

2004 to 2005

After seven years dormant, the team returned for the 2004 Danish speedway season and won their seventh Championship during the 2005 Danish speedway season. [2] [12] However, 2005 turned out to be the last season for the team as they once again folded and remain closed today. The reason for closing were quoted as a result of not having their own track and the financial issues caused by renting the Fjelsted Speedway Stadium. [13]

Notable riders

Related Research Articles

Jan Osvald Pedersen is a former Speedway rider who became Speedway World Champion in 1991 after finishing runner-up in 1986 and in third place in 1988 behind fellow Danes Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen. He also won the Speedway World Pairs Championship in 1990 and 1991, both times partnered by Hans Nielsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Knudsen</span> Danish speedway rider

Tommy Knudsen is a former Motorcycle speedway rider who won eight Speedway World Team Cups, and two World Pairs. He is not to be confused with Tom P. Knudsen, another rider from the period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gert Handberg</span> Danish speedway rider

Gert Handberg is a Danish former international motorcycle speedway rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denmark national under-21 speedway team</span>

The Denmark national under-21 speedway team is the national under-21 motorcycle speedway team of Denmark and is controlled by the Danish Motor Union. The team started in Under-21 World Cup in all editions and won five medals: one gold (2010), two silver and two bronze. Denmark has produced three Under-21 World Champions: Gert Handberg (1989), Brian Andersen (1991) and Jesper B. Jensen (1997). In 1977 and 1978 two Danish riders, Alf Busk and Finn Rune Jensen, was won Individual U-21 European Championship. Tommy Knudsen was won 1980 Individual U-21 European Championship open for riders from all continents.

John Jørgensen is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from Denmark. He is not to be confused with Johnny Jørgensen, the 1989 Danish Junior speedway champion.

Slangerup Speedway Klub is a motorcycle speedway club from Slangerup in the Frederikssund Municipality of Denmark, who compete in the Danish Speedway League. The team have won the Danish Speedway League title five times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holsted Speedway Klub</span> Speedway club in Holsted, Denmark

Holsted Speedway Klub or Holsted Tigers is a motorcycle speedway club from Holsted in the Vejen Municipality of Denmark, who compete in the Danish Speedway League. The team have won the Danish Speedway League title a record 15 times.

Fjelsted Speedway Klub or Team Fjelsted is a motorcycle speedway club from the town of Fjelsted near Harndrup in Denmark, who compete in the Danish Speedway League. The team have won the Danish Speedway League title on six occasions.

Region Varde Elitesport and Outrup Speedway Club is a motorcycle speedway club southwest of Outrup in the Varde Municipality of Denmark, who compete in the Danish Speedway League. The team have won the Danish Speedway League title five times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Danish speedway season</span> Season of speedway in Denmark

The 2004 Danish speedway season was the 2004 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Danish speedway season</span> Season of speedway in Denmark

The 2002 Danish speedway season was the 2002 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Danish speedway season</span> Season of speedway in Denmark

The 2001 Danish speedway season was the 2001 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

The 2000 Danish speedway season was the 2000 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

The 1993 Danish speedway season was the 1993 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Danish speedway season</span> Season of speedway in Denmark

The 1992 Danish speedway season was the 1992 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

Brovst Speedway Club also known as Nordjysk Elite Speedway is a motorcycle speedway club from Brovst in Denmark, who competed in the Danish Speedway League until 2010, and then again in 2021. They are three times champions of Denmark, having won the title in 1990, 1998 and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Danish speedway season</span> Season of speedway in Denmark

The 1989 Danish speedway season was the 1989 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

The 1988 Danish speedway season was the 1988 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark.

The 1986 Danish speedway season was the 1986 season of motorcycle speedway in Denmark. The season was hugely significant because a new professional league was introduced called the Danish Superliga. Previously the league consisted of multiple amateur teams and Danish speedway suffered from the fact that many of their top professional riders chose not to race in Denmark.

Holstebro Speedway Klub is a motorcycle speedway club from Holstebro in Denmark. They were champions of Denmark, having won the title in 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Official home page". Fredericia Motor Klub. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Danish Team Championships". Speedway History. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. "Danish Superliga". Dansk Speedway. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 "FREDERICIA VEJLBY". Speedway Life. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. "1. div. 500 cc. 1956 – 1985". Speedway Life. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  6. "Speedway Danish champions for teams". Danish Motor Union. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. "Danish Superliga". Dansk Speedway. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. "Danish Team Championships". Speedway History. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. "Super League". Speedway Life. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. "Danish Superliga". Dansk Speedway. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  11. "Danish Team Championships". Speedway History. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  12. "Fredericia won the DM for team". DR Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. "The Danish speedway champions are closing shop". B.T. Retrieved 7 April 2023.