Sören Sjösten

Sören Willy Ernfrid Sjösten (12 December 1938 – April 1999) was Swedish motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 76 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.^[1]

Sören Sjösten

Born	12 December 1938 (1938-12-12) Krylbo, Sweden
Died	April 1999(1999-04-00) (aged 60)
Nationality	Swedish
Career history
Sweden
1958–1959	Folkare
1960–1968	Vargarna
1969–1970, 1979	Masarna
1971–1978	Bysarna
Great Britain
1962–1964, 1967–1975	Belle Vue Aces
1976	Birmingham Brummies
1977	Wolverhampton Wolves
1978	Bristol Bulldogs
Individual honours
1959	Swedish U21 champion
1965	Nordic Champion
Team honours
1962, 1964, 1970	World Team Cup Winner
1974	World Pairs Champion
1960, 1961, 1971, 1972, 1975	Allsvenskan Champion
1959, 1964	Allsvenskan Div 2 Champion
1964, 1968, 1977	Swedish Pairs Champion
1963	National League Champion
1970, 1971, 1972	British League Champion
1972, 1973, 1975	British League KO Cup Winner
1975	Northern Trophy

Life and career

Sjösten was born on 12 December 1938.^[2] He won the world pairs championship in 1974 with Anders Michanek and became world team champion three times representing Sweden, in 1962, 1964 and 1970. Sjösten also appeared in six individual World Championship Finals with two bronze medals as best result. Both third places was received after losing race-off heats for silver medal, the first time to Barry Briggs and the second time to Ivan Mauger^[3]

Sjösten rode for Masarna, Vargarna and Bysarna in the Swedish leagues and for Belle Vue Aces,^[4] Wolverhampton Wolves and Bristol Bulldogs in the British League. An excellent starter, he was renowned for having a 'wild' style of riding with the rear of the bike sliding further out on the bends than is usual and was often considered rough on his opponents.^[5]

He retired after his brother Christer was killed in a meeting in Brisbane, Australia in 1979.^[6] He died on April 1999.^[7]

World final appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1962 – London, Wembley Stadium - 9th - 8pts
• 1965 – London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 9pts
• 1969 – London, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 11pts
• 1970 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 4th - 9pts
• 1971 – Gothenburg, Ullevi - 8th - 8pts
• 1974 – Gothenburg, Ullevi - 3rd - 11pts

World Pairs Championship

• 1974 – Manchester, Hyde Road (with Anders Michanek) - Winner - 28pts (14)

World Team Cup

• 1961 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Ove Fundin / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutson / Per Tage Svensson) - 2nd - 30pts (2)
• 1962 – Slaný, Slaný Speedway Stadium (with Björn Knutson / Ove Fundin / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 36pts (10)
• 1964 – Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Ove Fundin / Björn Knutson / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 34pts (0)
• 1969 – Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Ove Fundin / Anders Michanek / Torbjörn Harrysson) - 4th - 12pts (2)
• 1970 – London, Wembley Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Ove Fundin / Anders Michanek) - Winner - 42pts (10)
• 1971 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Anders Michanek / Bernt Persson / Bengt Jansson / Leif Enecrona) - 4th - 18pts
• 1974 – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Anders Michanek / Tommy Jansson / Christer Lofqvist) - 2nd - 31pts (10)
• 1975 – Norden, Motodrom Halbemond (with Anders Michanek / Tommy Jansson / Bernt Persson / Sören Karlsson) - 3rd - 17pts (1)