Peter Karlsson (speedway rider)

Last updated
Peter Karlsson
Peter Karlsson.jpg
Born (1969-12-18) 18 December 1969 (age 54)
Gullspång, Sweden
NicknamePK
NationalitySwedish
Career history
Sweden
1983-1999, 2011-2016 Örnarna
1999-2003 Kaparna
2004, 2008-2010 Dackarna
2012 Vargarna
2013–2015 Smederna
2016 Lejonen
Great Britain
1990, 1992-1997, 1999, 2002-2005,
2006-2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016
Wolverhampton Wolves
2000, 2005 Peterborough Panthers
2001 King's Lynn Stars
2001, 2010 Belle Vue Aces
2012-2014 Lakeside Hammers
Poland
1991 Bydgoszcz
1996-1997, 2001 Piła
1998, 2002 Rybni
1999-2000 Toruń
2003 Tarnów
2004 TŻ Lublin
2005-2007 Ostrów
2008 Gorzów
Individual honours
1989, 1991 Swedish Champion
2000 GP Challenge
1989Nordic Under-21 Champion
Team honours
2000, 2003, 2004 Speedway World Cup
1996 Premier League
2002, 2009, 2016 Elite League
1996 Premier League KO Cup winner
1992, 1997Premiership Winner
1992Gold Cup Winner
1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2007 Swedish Elitserien Champion
1992, 1996Swedish Pairs Champion

Peter Gunnar Karlsson (born 18 December 1969) [1] is a Swedish former motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice Swedish champion and a three times World Cup winner. [2] [3] He earned 40 caps for the Sweden national speedway team. [4]

Contents

Career

Karlsson first rode for Wolverhampton Wolves in Britain during the 1990 season. [5]

He won the Swedish Pairs Championship twice with brother Mikael Max, in 1992 and 1996 and was the Swedish Individual Champion in 1989 and 1991.

In October 2000, during the Speedway Grand Prix Qualification he won the GP Challenge, which ensured that he claimed a permanent slot for the 2001 Grand Prix. [6]

He is regarded as a legend at parent club Wolverhampton [7] where he helped them win the 2009 Elite League title despite suffering with a broken collarbone two weeks prior to the play off final. Due to the average points limit, PK had to move on in 2010 and joined Belle Vue Aces on loan. For the 2012 season he signed for Lakeside Hammers, where he spent three seasons. [8]

In 2016, PK wasn't originally in Wolverhampton's plans but after Mikel Beck pulled out of the team leaving the door open for PK to join back. He accepted and joined for the remainder of the season. He would later play a huge role as the 2016 team beat Belle Vue over 2 legs in the Elite League final. After the Belle Vue meeting he announced his retirement from British Speedway. [9]

Family

His two younger brothers, Mikael Max and Magnus Karlsson were both motorcycle speedway riders. All three brothers represented Sweden in the 2007 Speedway World Cup, with Magnus riding at reserve.

Career Achievements

World Final Appearances

Speedway Grand Prix results

YearPositionPointsBest FinishNotes
1996 6th622nd2nd in German Grand Prix
1997 12th376th
1998 17th273rd3rd in Swedish Grand Prix
1999 13th456th
2000 15th359th
2001 15th395thMissed British Grand Prix through injury
2002 23rd219thRode in four Grand Prix out of ten
2003 21st2813thMissed Swedish Grand Prix through injury
2004 28th7One meeting as Swedish Grand Prix Wildcard

See also

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References

  1. Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN   0-9552376-1-0
  2. Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 522. ISBN   0-316-72645-1.
  3. "Peter Gunnar Karlsson Szwecja". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  4. "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  5. "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  6. "HISTORICAL LIST OF RESULTS 1995-2013 Speedway Grand Prix - Qualifications". Speedway History. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. "Wolves Legend Peter Karlsson on future at Monmore Green: "There's something special about that place"". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  8. "Speedway: Lakeside Hammers land Peter Karlsson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  9. "Peter Karlsson: Wolves speedway legend brings curtain down on career". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 7 September 2024.