Andy Smith (speedway rider)

Andrew Smith (born 25 May 1966) is a retired motorcycle speedway rider from England.^[1][2] He earned 29 international caps for the England national speedway team.^[3]

Andy Smith

Andy Smith in 2007
Born	(1966-05-25) 25 May 1966 (age 59) York, England
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
Great Britain
1982–1988, 1998–2001, 2005	Belle Vue Aces
1989–1990	Bradford Dukes
1991, 1998, 2004	Swindon Robins
1992–1995, 1997	Coventry Bees
2003, 2007	Oxford Cheetahs
2006–2007	Reading Racers
Sweden
1991, 1993–1994	Smederna
1992	Skepparna
1999	Örnarna
Poland
1992–1995, 1998, 2004	Bydgoszcz
1996	Rzeszów
1997	Tarnów
1999–2000	Piła
2001	Leszno
2002-2003	Warszawa
2005	Toruń
2006–2007	Gdańsk
Individual honours
1993, 1994, 1995	British Champion
1985	Peter Craven Memorial Winner
Team honours
1982, 1992	British League Champion
2005	Knockout Cup
1997	Craven Shield Winner
1990	Gold Cup Winner
1983	British League Cup Winner

Career

Andy Smith (centre), 1992

Smith spent the first seven years of his career riding for the Belle Vue Aces from 1982 to 1988.^[4] He then joined Bradford Dukes for two British League seasons and began to build a reputation as one of Britain's leading riders. Smith also rode in Australia, including the 1990/91 Australian season when he based himself at Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia. Despite Claremont being almost twice the length of most British tracks, on 18 January 1991 Smith defeated home town hero, and twice Australian Champion Glenn Doyle in the King of Claremont Classic. Smith also finished 2nd to Sweden's Dennis Löfqvist at the 1990 Boxing Day International at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

After joining the Coventry Bees in 1992^[5] he went on to win the British Speedway Championship three times in a row in 1993, 1994, and 1995, giving him the distinction of being one of only three riders ever to achieve this feat.^[6] He rode for Coventry for four seasons but did return for the 1997 season.^[7]

From 1998 until 2001 Smith rode a second stint at Belle Vue and recorded a 8.27 average during the 1999 Elite League speedway season. He did not ride in the United Kingdom for the 2002 season, spending his time in Poland.

Smith riding for Oxford

In 2003, he returned to the UK and signed for Oxford (known as the Silver Machine at the time) for the 2003 Elite League speedway season. He then rode for Swindon Robins in 2004 before returning to his first club Belle Vue for the 2005 Elite League speedway season, where he helped the club win the Elite League Knockout Cup.^[8]

He would spend 16 seasons racing in the Polish leagues after making his Polish league debut in 1992.^[1] He also continued to ride for various clubs in England until the end of the 2007 seasons.

During his career Smith reached two World finals and rode in the Speedway Grand Prix for eight years. He represented Great Britain and his appearances included a Speedway World Cup, which was the 1999 Speedway World Team Cup.

Family

His son Jack Smith is a speedway rider.^[3]

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1989 - Munich, Olympic Stadium - 7th - 10pts
• 1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 5th - 10pts

World Team Cup

• 1999 - Pardubice, Svítkova Stadion (with Chris Louis / Carl Stonehewer / Joe Screen / Mark Loram) - 4th - 29pts (0)

Speedway Grand Prix results

Year	Position	Points	Best Finish	Notes
1995	19th	34	6th
1996	17th	19	8th
1997	14th	22	9th
1998	14th	43	6th
1999	20th	22	13th
2000	25th	10	19th
2001	22nd	12	17th
2002	20th	29	13th

See also

• List of Speedway Grand Prix riders

World Longtrack Championship

Finals

• 1991 – Mariánské Lázně 10pts (8th)
• 1992 – Pfarrkirchen 5pts (12th)