Derick Close

Derick Tallentire Close (13 May 1927 – 4 October 2021) was a British motorcycle speedway rider, who reached the final of Speedway World Championship in 1952.^[1]

Derick Close

Born	(1927-05-13)13 May 1927 Bowes, County Durham, England
Died	4 October 2021(2021-10-04) (aged 94)
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
1947–1948	Middlesbrough Bears
1948, 1949–1951	Newcastle Diamonds
1951–1954	Motherwell/Lanarkshire Eagles
1955	Leicester Hunters

Career

Close was born in Bowes, County Durham. He started his career with the Middlesbrough Bears in 1947 followed by a short spell on loan with the Newcastle Diamonds at the start of 1948. He returned to the Bears and established himself in the team.^[2] In 1949, he rejoined Newcastle where he spent the next three seasons^[3] before joining the Lanarkshire Eagles mid season in 1951.^[4]

The 1952 season proved to be the best of his career after receiving a call up to ride for England, despite riding in National League Division Two, having never ridden in the top flight.^[5] He also reached the final of the Speedway World Championship. In 1953, he suffered a fractured skull and although he rode well again in 1954 he suffered a drop in form after joining the Leicester Hunters in 1955 and retired at the end of the season.^[6]

At retirement he had earned 2 international caps for the England national speedway team.^[2]

World final appearances

• 1952 – London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 4pts^[1]