Göte Nordin

Göte Nordin (2 July 1935 – 21 November 2023) was a former motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden.^[1] He earned 45 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.^[2]

Göte Nordin

Born	(1935-07-02) 2 July 1935 (age 90) Hofors, Sweden
Died	21 November 2023 (aged 88) Falun, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Career history
Sweden
1952-1954	Vikingarna
1955-1958, 1960-1967	Getingarna
1968-1971	Kaparna
1972-1973	Smederna
Great Britain
1960	Belle Vue Aces
1962	Norwich Stars
1964	Wimbledon Dons
1966	Newport Wasps
1967-1969	Poole Pirates
1969	Coventry Bees
1971	Wembley Lions
1972	Halifax Dukes
Individual honours
1965, 1971	Swedish Championship
1970	Nordic Champion
1961	Speedway World Championship bronze medal
1966, 1967	Internationale
Team honours
1962, 1963, 1964, 1967	World Team Cup
1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973	Allsvenskan Champion
1953, 1962	Allsvenskan Div 2 Champion
1960	Britannia Shield

Speedway career

Nordin is a two times champion of Sweden, winning the Swedish Championship in 1965 and 1971.^[3][4] He reached the final of the Speedway World Championship on four occasions (1961, 1962, 1963 and 1966) finishing third in the 1961 Individual Speedway World Championship.^[5]

He helped Sweden win the World Team Cup in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967. He won the Swedish League title on eight occasions with three clubs.

Nordin won the 1971 Swedish final after Anders Michanek refused to pariticpate in a re-run for the title and was disqualified. Both riders finished on 14 points and in the race off Michanek beat Nordin after the latter pulled out of the race, claiming that he saw a red light to stop the race. The match referee ordered a re-run but Michanek refused to take part claiming there was no red light. The incident resulted in violence between rival supporters and was headline news in Sweden.^[6]

He rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1966 until 1972, riding for various clubs^[7] and despite problems with restrictions of overseas riders in the league.^[8] He rode for Belle Vue Aces, Norwich Stars, Wimbledon Dons, Newport Wasps,^[9][10] Poole Pirates, Coventry Bees, Wembley Lions and Halifax Dukes.

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1961 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion - 3rd - 12pts + 2pts
• 1962 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 9pts
• 1963 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts
• 1964 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - Did not ride
• 1966 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 6th - 9pts
• 1971 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - Did not ride

World Team Cup

• 1962 - Slaný (with Ove Fundin / Sören Sjösten / Björn Knutson / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 36pts (4)
• 1963 - Vienna, Stadion Wien (with Ove Fundin / Per Olof Söderman / Björn Knutson / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 37pts (6)
• 1964 - Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Ove Fundin / Björn Knutson / Rune Sörmander / Sören Sjösten) - Winner - 34pts (10)
• 1965 - Kempten, Illerstadion (with Ove Fundin / Bengt Jansson / Björn Knutson) - 2nd - 33pts (6)
• 1966 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Ove Fundin / Leif Enecrona / Björn Knutson / Leif Larsson) - 3rd - 22pts (3)
• 1967 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Ove Fundin / Bengt Jansson / Torbjörn Harrysson) - Winner - 32pts (11)
• 1972 - Olching, Olching Speedwaybahn (with Tommy Jansson / Anders Michanek / Christer Lofqvist / Jan Simensen) 4th - 18pts (1)

World Pairs Championship

• 1969* - Stockholm, Gubbängens IP (with Ove Fundin) - 2nd - 27pts (12)

* Unofficial World Championships.