Kevin Hawkins (speedway rider)

Kevin Hawkins

Born	21 July 1954 (1954-07-21) (age 68) Buckingham, England
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
1976–1978, 1985–1988	Peterborough Panthers
1979	Nottingham Outlaws
1979–1985	Coventry Bees
Team honours
1979	British League Champion
1977, 1988	National League Four-Team Championship winner
1981, 1985	League Cup winner
1979, 1981, 1982	Midland Cup winner
1980	Midland League champion

Kevin Roy Hawkins (born 21 July 1954) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Career

Hawkins started his British leagues career during the 1976 National League season, where he rode for Peterborough Panthers. ^{[4] [5]} The following season he improved his average and helped Peterborough win the Fours Championship during the 1977 season. ^[6]

After another season with Peterborough in 1978, he signed for Nottingham Outlaws and doubled up in the highest division with Coventry Bees in the 1979 British League season. He continued to ride for Coventry for seven years and was with them when Coventry won the 1981 League Cup and 1985 League Cup ^[4]

He returned to Peterborough in 1985 and was their leading rider for two seasons. After finishing runner-up in the 1987 league pairs he rode for one more season in 1988. His career ended on a high when he helped the Peterborough win another Fours Championship during the 1988 National League season. ^[7]

After retiring he managed the Peterborough team and was in charge when they won the treble in 1992. ^[8]

Family

His son Ritchie Hawkins is a former professional speedway rider and team manager. ^[8]

References

1. Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook, rider bio Kevin Hawkins. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN   978-0904584509.
2. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook, rider bio Kevin Hawkins. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
3. Oakes, Peter (2004). British Speedway Who's Who, Profile Kevin Hawkins. Peter Oakes, Peterborough. ISBN   0-948882-81-6.
4. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Kevin Hawkins" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
5. "Kevin Hawkins". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
6. "Speedway" . Lincolnshire Free Press. 9 August 1977. Retrieved 19 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Speedway" . Cambridge Daily News. 8 August 1988. Retrieved 19 May 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "Ipswich Witches boss hopes to emulate his dad - with help from Jason Crump!". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 19 May 2023.