![]() Per Jonsson in February 2013 | |
Born | Stockholm, Sweden | 21 March 1966
---|---|
Nationality | Swedish |
Career history | |
Sweden | |
1982–1987, 1989–1993 | Getingarna/Stockholm United |
1988 | Bysarna |
1994 | Rospiggarna |
Great Britain | |
1984–1988, 1990, 1992–1994 | Reading Racers |
Poland | |
1991–1994 | Toruń |
Individual honours | |
1990 | World Champion |
1985 | European Under 21 Champion |
1986, 1987, 1988, 1993 | Swedish Champion |
1988 | Golden Helmet of Pardubice |
1993 | British League Riders Champion |
1988 | Golden Gala (Italy) |
1988 | Golden Bar (Denmark) |
Team honours | |
1993 | World Pairs Champion |
1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 | Swedish League Champion |
1990, 1992 | British League Champion |
1990 | British League KO Cup Winner |
1991, 1993 | Premiership Winner |
1992 | BSPA Cup Winner |
1993 | British League Fours Champion |
1994 | Allsvenskan Winner |
Per Christer Jonsson (born 21 March 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a former speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1990, and finished runner-up in 1992. [1] [2] He earned 65 international caps for the Sweden national speedway team and also represented Sweden in the World Team Cup on seven occasions between 1985 and 1993. [3]
Jonsson came to prominence after helping his first club Getingarna win the Swedish Speedway Team Championship in 1982. [4] He signed for his first British club the Reading Racers in 1984 and began racing for them during the 1984 British League season. [5]
His career took off after he won the 1985 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship at Abensberg, West Germany. [6] He would also represent Sweden in the Speedway World Pairs Championship and the Speedway World Team Cup for the first time, [3] in addition to winning a second league title with Getingarna. [7]
He became the Swedish Champion for the first time in 1986 and the following season won it again before making his first appearance in a World Final, in the 1987 Individual Speedway World Championship, held at Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium. The final was held over two days and the 22-year-old finished 5th on both days and was classed as 5th overall. He was now considered one of the leading riders in the world. [8]
In 1988, he had a remarkable season, moving to Bysarna from Getingarna during the 1988 Swedish speedway season, where he won a third consecutive individual Swedish title and won the league with the club. Additiony, in Europe he won the Golden Helmet of Pardubice, the Golden Bar and Golden Gala events. He qualified for the 1988 World Final at Vojens, Denmark and equalled his 1987 result by finishing in 5th place and won a bronze medal at the 1988 Speedway World Team Cup.
Following the end of the 1988 season he returned to Getingarna, now known as Stockholm United and won a fifth Swedish league championship. Jonsson missed the 1989 British League season, preferring instead to enjoy the joys of fatherhood. On th einternational front he finished second with Jimmy Nilsen in 1989 Speedway World Pairs Championship in Leszno, Poland and won a second consecutive bronze medal at the 1989 Speedway World Team Cup.
He achieved the ultimate aim of all riders by winning the 1990 World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England, becoming Sweden's first Speedway World Champion since Anders Michanek. He made his third World Final by qualifying finishing 2nd in both the Scandinavian and Intercontinental Finals. He also returned to Reading Racers, winning both the 1990 British League Championship and the British League Knockout Cup. Following this, Jonsson captained the Swedish team on a short tour of Australia in January 1991, the first time since 1971/72 that a Swedish speedway team had toured down under. Sweden, whose lineup was Jonsson, Henrik Gustafsson, Jimmy Nilsen, Tony Rickardsson, Conny Ivarsson, Erik Stenlund and Peter Nahlin defeated the Phil Crump captained Australia (who fielded 14 riders over the series) 3–2 in the five match series with Jonsson topping the averages for both teams with 16.4 per test. The Swede's proved a popular draw card in Australia. [9]
In 1991, he was second again, with Nilsen and Henrik Gustafsson in the 1991 Speedway World Pairs Championship in Poznań, Poland and won the silver medal at the 1991 Speedway World Team Cup. Jonsson failed to place in the 1991 World Final at the Ullevi Stadium in Göteborg, finishing in 9th place.
The elusive World Cup victory continued in 1992, when he won silver again at the 1992 Speedway World Team Cup. His 1992 Individual Speedway World Championship got off to a bad start in Wrocław, Poland, when he failed to score in his first ride. He then came back to win three of his last four rides to finish in a clear 2nd place behind England's Gary Havelock. In the world pairs, he finished third with Gustafsson and Rickardsson in Lonigo, Italy.
He finally won the World Pairs Championship (which was the last to be run) with Rickardsson and Gustafsson in 1993 in Vojens and won another bronze medal at the 1993 Speedway World Team Cup. In Britain, he won the British League Riders' Championship. [10]
His career was cut short when a crash during a league meeting in Poland in 1994 left him using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In recognition of his contribution to the city of Toruń, in April 2010 one of the streets was named after him.
He son Dennis Jonsson rode for Lakeside Hammers in the 2016 Elite League but retired from speedway following a serious accident when riding for Marsana in Sweden. [11] [12]
Jan Tony Soren Rickardsson is a Swedish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1989 to 2006. Rickardsson is notable for winning six Speedway World Championship titles in 15 attempts. In 2011, Rickardsson was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
Hans Hollen Nielsen is a Danish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1977 to 1999. Nielsen is notable for winning four Speedway World Championship titles. During his career, he won a total of 22 world championships, making him arguably the most successful speedway rider of all time. In 2012, Nielsen was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. He later managed the Danish national team.
Jimmy Nilsen is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden.
Shawn Moran is an American former professional motorcycle speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented the United States in international speedway competitions.
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.
Simon James Cross is a former motorcycle speedway rider who spent most of his career with the Cradley Heathens.
John Tony Olsson is a former international motorcycle speedway rider. He was a member of the Sweden speedway team when they finished third in the 1988 and 1989 World Team Cup finals. He also represented his country at Test level.
Henrik Anders (Henka) Gustafsson is an international Motorcycle speedway rider who won the 1993 World Pairs Championship with Tony Rickardsson and the Speedway World Team Cup with Sweden in 1994 and 2000. Early in his career Gustafsson was known as much for his long, curly blonde hair as he was his riding, though his riding soon outshone his locks.
Rospiggarna is a motorcycle speedway team based in Hallstavik, Sweden. They ride in the Elitserien are five times champions of Sweden.
The 1998 Elite League speedway season was the 64th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the second year known as the Elite League, governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB) in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).
Peter Nahlin is a former Motorcycle speedway rider who became the 1988 World Under-21 Champion.
The 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 45th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.
The 1993 British League season was the 59th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 29th known as the British League.
The 1992 British League season was the 58th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 28th known as the British League.
The 1990 British League season was the 56th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 26th known as the British League.
North Arm Speedway was the first dedicated motorcycle speedway ever built in Adelaide, South Australia and was located in the industrial suburb of Gillman. It was run by the Speedway Riders' Association of South Australia and ran from 1981 until its forced closure in 1997.
The Vojens Speedway Center is a Motorcycle speedway track located in Vojens, Denmark. The track has been part-owned since its opening by Denmark's first three time Speedway World Champion Ole Olsen.
Jan Hakan Andersson is a former speedway rider from Sweden.
The 1989 Swedish speedway season was the 1989 season of motorcycle speedway in Sweden.
The 1997 Swedish speedway season was the 1997 season of motorcycle speedway in Sweden.