Great Britain national speedway team

The Great Britain national speedway team (formerly the England speedway team) is one of the major teams in international motorcycle speedway. The team is managed by former Great Britain riders Oliver Allen and Simon Stead, and captained by the Tai Woffinden.

Great Britain
Team captain	Tai Woffinden
Nation colour	Blue
SWC Wins	10 (inc SON) (1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1989, 2021, 2024)
Squad	Robert Lambert Dan Bewley Tom Brennan Tai Woffinden

The team raced as England from 1928 to 1961 and again from 1974 to 2000. They have raced as Great Britain from 1962 to 1973 and since 2001.

History

The national speedway team held test matches against the Australia as early as 1928, although the first official test match is listed as 30 June 1930 at Wimbledon Stadium.^[1]

The team won the Speedway World Team Cup on five occasions as England and four times as Great Britain from 1968 to 1989. They were a major force in the 1970s, winning five consecutive tournaments, two as England and three as Great Britain.^[2] Key riding members of the title wins include Peter Collins (five wins), Malcolm Simmons (four wins), New Zealand born Ivan Mauger and Ray Wilson (all three wins).^[3] Prior to 1974, the Great Britain team often consisted of riders from other Commonwealth Nations including Australia and New Zealand.^[4]

The cup eluded the team after 1989, although they came close in 2000, missing out when Mark Loram fell in a race-off and 2004 where a team of Mark Loram, Lee Richardson, Gary Havelock, David Norris and Scott Nicholls missed out by one point. Both the 2000 and 2004 narrow defeats were at the hands of Sweden and both in somewhat controversial fashion.

In June 2018, Great Britain competed as one of 15 nations in the inaugural Speedway of Nations tournament and in August 2018, Great Britain hosted a top-level international test match for the first time in over 15 years when they took on Australia at Glasgow's Peugeot Ashfield Stadium.

At the 2021 Speedway of Nations in Manchester, Team GB ended a 32 years drought. After finishing third in qualifying, they beat Denmark 6–3 in the Grand Final qualifier and then beat Poland in the Grand Final 5–4. The winning team included Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden.^[5] The team subsequently won the 2024 Speedway of Nations.^[6]

Major tournament wins

World Team Championships

Year	Venue	Standings (Pts)	Riders	Pts
1968	London Wembley Stadium	1. Great Britain (40) 2. Sweden (30) 3. Poland (19) 4. Czechoslovakia (7)	Ivan Mauger (NZ)	12
			Nigel Boocock	10
			Martin Ashby	8
			Barry Briggs (NZ)	7
			Norman Hunter	3
1971	Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski	1. Great Britain (37) 2. Soviet Union (22) 3. Poland (19) 4. Sweden (18)	Ray Wilson	12
			Ivan Mauger (NZ)	10
			Jim Airey (AUS)	9
			Barry Briggs (NZ)	6
			Ronnie Moore (NZ)	dnr
1972	Olching Olching Speedwaybahn	1. Great Britain (36) 2. Soviet Union (21) 3. Poland (21) 4. Sweden (18)	Ivan Mauger (NZ)	11
			John Louis	9
			Terry Betts	9
			Ray Wilson	8
			Ronnie Moore (NZ)	dnr
1973	London Wembley Stadium	1. Great Britain (37) 2. Sweden (31) 3. Soviet Union (20) 4. Poland (8)	Peter Collins	12
			Terry Betts	9
			Malcolm Simmons	8
			Ray Wilson	8
			Dave Jessup	dnr
1974	Chorzów Stadion Śląski	1. England (42) 2. Sweden (31) 3. Poland (13) 4. Soviet Union (10)	Peter Collins	12
			John Louis	12
			Dave Jessup	10
			Malcolm Simmons	8
			Ray Wilson	dnr
1975	Norden Motodrom Halbemond	1. England (41) 2. Soviet Union (29) 3. Sweden (17) 4. Poland (9)	Peter Collins	12
			Malcolm Simmons	11
			Martin Ashby	10
			John Louis	8
			Dave Jessup	dnr
1977	Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski	1. England (37) 2. Poland (25) 3. Czechoslovakia (23) 4. Sweden (11)	Peter Collins	10
			Michael Lee	9
			Dave Jessup	9
			John Davis	6
			Malcolm Simmons	3
1980	Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski	1. England (40) 2. United States (29) 3. Poland (15) 4. Czechoslovakia (12)	Michael Lee	11
			Chris Morton	11
			Peter Collins	10
			Dave Jessup	8
			John Davis	dnr
1989	Bradford Odsal Stadium	1. England (48) 2. Denmark (34) 3. Sweden (30) 4. United States (8)	Jeremy Doncaster	13
			Paul Thorp	12
			Kelvin Tatum	12
			Simon Wigg	11
			Simon Cross	0
2021	Manchester National Speedway Stadium	1. Great Britain (64+6+5) 2. Poland (74+4) 3. Denmark (68+3) 4. Australia (49) 5. France (47) 6. Latvia (42) 7. Sweden (30)	Robert Lambert	32+4+3
			Dan Bewley	11+2+2
			Tai Woffinden	14
			Tom Brennan	7
2024	Manchester National Speedway Stadium	1. Great Britain (35+5+7) 2. Australia (36+2) 3. Sweden (27+4) 4. Germany (26) 5. Poland (24) 6. Denmark (21) 7. Latvia (20)	Robert Lambert	22+3+4
			Dan Bewley	13+2+3
			Tom Brennan	dnr

Titles

Preceded by Sweden	World Champions 1968 (1st title)	Succeeded by Poland
Preceded by Sweden	World Champions 1971 (2nd title) 1972 (3rd title) 1973 (4th title) 1974 (5th title) 1975 (6th title)	Succeeded by Australia
Preceded by Australia	World Champions 1977 (7th title)	Succeeded by Denmark
Preceded by New Zealand	World Champions 1980 (8th title)	Succeeded by Denmark
Preceded by Denmark	World Champions 1989 (9th title)	Succeeded by United States
Preceded by Russia	World Champions 2021 (10th title)	Succeeded by Australia
Preceded by Poland	World Champions 2024 (11th title)	Succeeded by

World Pairs Championship

Year	Venue	Standings (Pts)	Riders	Pts
1972	Borås Ryavallen	1. England (24) 2. New Zealand (24) 3. Sweden B (22) 4. Sweden A (22) 5. Poland (15) 6. Czechoslovakia (12) 7. Hungary (6)	Ray Wilson	15+3
			Terry Betts	9
1976	Eskilstuna Snälltorpet	1. England (27) 2. Denmark (24) 3. Sweden (22) 4. Australia (16) 5. New Zealand (15) 6. Scotland (12) 7. Poland (10)	John Louis	17
			Malcolm Simmons	10
1977	Manchester Hyde Road	1. England (28) 2. Sweden (18) 3. West Germany (18) 4. Czechoslovakia (17) 5. New Zealand (17) 6. Finland (14) 7. Australia (12)	Peter Collins	15
			Malcolm Simmons	13
1978	Chorzówr Stadion Śląski	1. England (24) 2. New Zealand (24) 3. Denmark (21) 4. Czechoslovakia (18) 5. Poland (15) 6. West Germany (13) 7. Sweden (11)	Malcolm Simmons	15+3
			Gordon Kennett	9
1980	Krsko Matija Gubec Stadium	1. England (29) 2. Poland (22) 3. Denmark (21) 4. Sweden (18) 5. New Zealand (16) 6. Finland (14) 7. Yugoslavia (6)	Dave Jessup	15
			Peter Collins	14
1983	Göteborg Ullevi	1. England (25) 2. Australia (24) 3. Denmark (19) 4. United States (18) 5. Sweden (16) 6. West Germany (12) 7. New Zealand (11)	Kenny Carter	15
			Peter Collins	10
1984	Lonigo Santa Marina Stadium	1. England (27) 2. Denmark (25) 3. New Zealand (25) 4. United States (19) 5. Australia (14) 6. Czechoslovakia (10) 7. Italy (6)	Chris Morton	14
			Peter Collins	13

International caps (as of 2022)

Since the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix era, international caps earned by riders is largely restricted to international competitions, whereas previously test matches between two teams were a regular occurrence. This means that the number of caps earned by a rider has decreased in the modern era.^[7]

Rider	Caps for England	Caps for Great Britain	Total
Abbott, Joe	30	-	30
Airey, Jim	-	17	17
Allen, Oliver	-	2	2
Andrew, Bill	-	7	7
Andrews, Bob	21	12	33
Ashby, Martin	49	21	70
Ashworth, Ricky	-	1	1
Atkinson, Arthur	30	-	30
Auffret, Frank	6	-	6
Bales, Billy	12	1	13
Barker, Ben	-	5	5
Barker, Dean	14	4	18
Bastable, Steve	18	-	18
Beaton, Bobby	-	1	1
Betts, Terry	55	19	74
Bird, Danny	-	1	1
Blackbird, Carl	8	-	8
Boocock, Eric	53	37	90
Boocock, Nigel	90	64	154
Boothroyd, Eric	2	1	3
Boss, Chris	5	-	5
Boulger, John	-	5	5
Bounds, Reg	2	-	2
Bradley, Dick	24	-	24
Brett, Brian	3	4	7
Bridger, Lewis	-	5	5
Briggs, Barry	-	57	57
Brine, Cyril	12	-	12
Broadbank, Mike	28	8	36
Broadbelt, Eric	17	14	31
Brown, Ivor	1	-	1
Burton, Squib	7	-	7
Bush, Arthur	5	-	5
Byers, Gordon	3	-	3
Byford, Howdy	6	-	6
Carr, Peter	12	-	12
Carter, Kenny	51	-	51
Cartwright, Ian	6	-	6
Clarke, Tony	11	2	13
Clarke, Phil	5	-	5
Clarke, Ron	9	-	9
Clark, Pat	2	-	2
Clibbett, Bill	1	-	1
Close, Derick	2	-	2
Cole, Howard	10	1	11
Coles, Bob	1	-	1
Coles, Michael	2	-	2
Collins, Les	31	-	31
Collins, Neil	19	-	19
Collins, Peter	118	9	127
Collins, Phil	55	1	56
Cottrell, Col	1	-	1
Courtney, Mark	5	-	5
Cox, Marvyn	25	-	25
Craven, Gil	1	-	1
Craven, Malcolm	11	-	11
Craven, Peter	48	12	60
Cresp, Ray	-	6	6
Cribb, Bruce	-	3	3
Croombs, Tommy	30	-	30
Cross, Simon	33	-	33
Crutcher, Brian	23	-	23
Cunningham, Glenn	2	-	2
Davey, Tony	11	-	11
Davis, John	64	-	64
Dent, Russ	1	-	1
Doncaster, Jeremy	52	-	52
Drury, Graham	1	-	1
Dugard, Martin	41	-	41
Edwards, Bert	7	-	7
Elliott, Bryan	6	-	6
Erskine, Jon	1	2	3
Etheridge, Laurie	1	-	1
Evans, Norman	1	-	1
Evitts, Neil	27	-	27
Farndon, Tom	21	-	21
Featherby, Clive	-	1	1
Fisher, Dick	1	4	5
Forrest, Arthur	26	-	26
France, Rick	1	4	5
Francis, Joe	6	-	6
French, Eric	8	-	8
Frogley, Roger	3	-	3
Galvin, Andy	1	-	1
Gamble, Tommy	1	-	1
Genz, Ronnie	7	1	8
Gifford, Dave	-	2	2
Gilbert, Bill	6	-	6
Glover, Carl	1	-	1
Gofffe, Lloyd	1	-	1
Golden, Alby	-	1	1
Gooch, Jimmy	10	3	13
Gooddy, Colin	1	-	1
Goulden, Frank	1	-	1
Grahame, Alan	42	-	42
Grahame, Andy	16	-	16
Gray, Dennis	1	-	1
Greatrex, Stan	5	-	5
Green, Richard	1	-	1
Green, Wally	6	-	6
Greenwood, George	2	-	2
Greer, Richard	4	-	4
Gregory, Eric	2	-	2
Gregory, Les	1	-	1
Grifiths, Syd	1	-	1
Hagon, Alf	4	-	4
Haigh, Dusty	15	-	15
Haley, Arnie	33	6	39
Harkins, Bert	7	4	11
Harris, Chris	-	22	22
Harris, Dick	5	-	5
Harrison, Bob	10	-	10
Hart, Oliver	16	-	16
Havelock, Gary	54	12	66
Hedge, Trevor	16	17	33
Hemus, Dave	-	1	1
Herbert, Hal	1	-	1
Hill, Roger	1	-	1
Holden, Kevin	5	7	12
How, Ron	44	12	56
Howe, Ben	8	-	8
Howe, David	-	4	4
Hull, Wally	2	-	2
Hunt, Alan	26	-	26
Hunt, Tim	1	-	1
Hunter, George	17	16	33
Hunter, Norman	9	13	22
Hurry, Paul	12	5	17
Hussey, Gerry	2	-	2
Jackson, Syd	8	-	8
Jay, Alan	1	-	1
Jervis, Arthur	2	-	2
Jessup, Dave	97	-	97
Johns, Roger	2	-	2
Jolly, Kevin	6	-	6
Jones, Graham	3	-	3
Kelly, Peter	1	-	1
Kempster, Jim	4	-	4
Kennett, Edward	-	10	10
Kennett, Gordon	53	-	53
Kentwell, Greg	-	1	1
Key, Nobby	11	-	11
Kilby, Bob	37	5	42
King, Danny	-	6	6
Kitchen, Bill	41	-	41
Kitchen, Jack	-	2	2
Knight, Richard	20	-	20
Kuhn, Gus	4	-	4
Landels, Bill	1	8	9
Langton, Eric	44	-	44
Langton, Oliver	1	-	1
Lawson, Louis	7	-	7
Leadbitter, Tom	2	-	2
Lee, Michael	72	-	72
Lees, Ginger	22	-	22
Levai, Sandor	1	1	2
Lightfoot, Jim	1	3	4
Lloyd, Jeff	5	-	5
Lloyd, Wally	8	-	8
Lomas, Tony	12	-	12
Loram, Mark	36	10	46
Louis, Chris	41	3	44
Louis, John	54	4	58
Luckhurst, Reg	4	7	11
McAuliffe, Leo	-	1	1
McGillivray, Les	2	-	2
McGregor, Gordon	19	1	20
McKinlay, Ken	92	23	115
McMillan, Jim	28	31	59
Maidment, Cyril	6	16	22
Mardon, Geoff	-	1	1
Mauger, Ivan	-	47	47
Mear, Robert	-	2	2
Middleditch, Ken	5	-	5
Middleditch, Neil	7	-	7
Miller, Tommy	5	-	5
Milner, Keith	1	-	1
Molyneux, Alan	1	-	1
Monk, Charlie	-	15	15
Moore, Peter	-	3	3
Moore, Ronnie	-	21	21
Morton, Chris	115	7	122
Morton, Dave	18	-	18
Morton, Ray	1	-	1
Mountford, Ron	25	4	29
Mudge, Geoff	-	1	1
Mullett, Dave	3	-	3
Neath, Chris	-	1	1
Newton, George	12	-	12
Nicholls, Nick	5	-	5
Nicholls, Scott	8	27	35
Norris, David	20	8	28
Oakley, Bob	1	-	1
Oliver, Dent	19	-	19
Ormston, Jack	14	-	14
Owen, Joe	3	-	3
Owen, Les	2	1	3
Owen, Tom	1	-	1
Parker, Dennis	5	-	5
Parker, Jack	89	-	89
Parker, Norman	36	-	36
Parkinson, Cliff	17	7	24
Paulson, Bob	3	-	3
Pawson, Fred	5	-	5
Phillips, Wal	27	-	27
Pitcher, Bill	7	-	7
Plant, Graham	5	1	6
Pratt, Colin	14	7	21
Price, Arthur	3	-	3
Price, Tommy	23	-	23
Pusey, Chris	51	-	51
Pymar, Geoff	12	-	12
Richardson, Colin	1	-	1
Richardson, Lee	1	25	26
Rigg, Eddie	14	-	14
Roger, Bert	11	-	11
Roger, Cyril	25	-	25
Rogers, Fred	1	-	1
Roper, Tommy	4	-	4
Rossiter, Alun	8	-	8
Roynon, Adam	-	1	1
Rye, Claude	4	-	4
Schofield, Steve	12	-	12
Scott, Jack	-	1	1
Screen, Joe	37	7	44
Sharpe, Les	-	2	2
Sharples, Ken	8	-	8
Silver, Andrew	22	-	22
Simmons, Malcolm	73	5	78
Small, Terry	1	-	1
Smith, Andy	29	-	29
Smith, Kevin	3	-	3
Smith, Pete	7	2	9
Squibb, Jimmy	4	4	8
Standing, Dean	4	-	4
Statham, Alec	22	-	22
Stead, Simon	-	11	11
Stevenson, Tiger	27	-	27
Stobbart, Rol	2	-	2
Stonehewer, Carl	7	5	12
Street, Neil	-	1	1
Sweetman, Tommy	6	-	6
Tatum, Kelvin	65	-	65
Taylor, Chum	-	1	1
Thomas, Barry	26	-	26
Thorp, Paul	31	-	31
Trigg, Roy	31	5	36
Trott, Reg	1	-	1
Tyrer, Paul	1	-	1
Unstead, Jack	2	-	2
Varey, Frank	21	-	21
Warwick, Arthur	7	-	7
Waterman, Split	32	-	32
Watkin, Mike	1	1	2
Watson, Colin	9	-	9
White, George	19	-	19
White, Keith	7	-	7
Whitfield, Harry	1	-	1
Wigg, Simon	57	-	57
Wilkinson, Alan	12	-	12
Wilkinson, Fred	2	-	2
Wilks, George	9	-	9
Williams, Eric	23	-	23
Williams, Freddie	28	-	28
Williams, Ian	8	-	8
Wilson, Ray	72	36	108
Wilson, Reg	7	16	23
Wilson, Sean	23	2	25
Woffinden, Tai	-	11	11
Woods, Paul	2	-	2
Wotton, Les	13	-	13
Wright, Arthur	7	-	7
Wyer, Doug	46	14	60
Young, Jack	-	1	1
Younghusband, Dave	8	3	11

Managers

• 1975–1975 (Reg Fearman)
• 1975–1976 (John Berry)
• 1976-1976 (Len Silver)
• 1977–1978 (John Berry)
• 1979–1980 (Colin Pratt)
• 1980–1980 (Ian Thomas)
• 1981-1981 (Len Silver)
• 1982-1982 (Eric Boocock)
• 1983-1984 (Wally Mawdsley)
• 1984–1984 (Carl Glover)
• 1984–1985 (John Berry)
• 1982 & 1986–1993 (Eric Boocock)
• 1986–1993 (Colin Pratt)
• 1994–1998 (John Louis)^[8]
• 1994–1994 (James Easter)^[8]
• 1998–2001 (Dave Jessup)^[9]
• 2001–2008 (Neil Middleditch)
• 2009–2010 (Rob Lyon)^[10]
• 2011–2013 (Neil Middleditch)
• 2014–2019 (Alun Rossiter)^[11]
• 2019– (Oliver Allen)^[12]
• 2019– (Simon Stead)^[12]