1954 Individual Speedway World Championship

9th edition of the World motorcycle speedway championship

1954 Individual Speedway World Championship

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1953

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In the 1954 Individual Speedway World Championship was the ninth edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Ronnie Moore a 21-year-old New Zealander won his first World Championship with a 15-point maximum in front of a 90,000 attendance. He defeated his main rival Olle Nygren in the final heat. Nygren then lost the silver medal ride off to Wembley's teenager Brian Crutcher.[7] Moore's success was made all the more remarkable because he rode the meeting while still recovering from a broken leg.[8] Moore's win made him New Zealand's first ever World Champion in all forms of motor racing.[9]

## Qualification

[edit]

Qualification started on 1 May.[10][11]

### Stage 1

[edit]

#### Norwegian round

[edit]

* 27 September 1953
* Lerkendal Stadion, Trondheim
* Top 2 (+2 seeded) to Nordic final 1954

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Basse Hveem | 15
2 | Reidar Kristoffersen | 14
3 | Sverre Gjömesli | 13
4 | Odd Johansen | 9
5 | Erling Simonsen | 9
6 | Anders Röhme | 8
7 | Oddvar Gundersgaard | 8
8 | Rolf Solberg | 7
9 | Rolf Westerberg | 7
10 | Nils Kristian Paulsen | 6
11 | Arne Kristiansen | 6
12 | Gunnar Dyrseth | 5
13 | Aage Hansen | 5
14 | Tore Meiner | 5
15 | Gunnar Hamsaeter | 2
16 | Aage W. Jensen | 1

#### Swedish round

[edit]

* Top 16 to Swedish final

* 1 May 1954
* Dagsbergsfältet, Norrköping

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Rune Sörmander | 15
2 | Ove Fundin | 12
3 | Bertil Carlsson II | 10
4 | Curt Fredlund | 9
5 | Georg Duneborn | 9
6 | Rune Stenström | 9
7 | Per Olof Söderman | 8
8 | Dan Forsberg | 8
9 | Lars Pettersson | 7
10 | Bert Lindarw | 6
11 | Olle Heyman | 6
12 | Bernt Nilsson | 6
13 | Gunnar Johansson | 5
14 | Gunnar Karlsson | 4
15 | Ove Bodin | 3
16 | Ulf Ericsson | 2

* 1 May 1954
* Grevby Motorstadion, Mariestad

| Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Olle Nygren | 11
2 | Olle Segerström | 11
3 | Allan Nilsson | 11
4 | Thorsten Carlsson | 10
5 | Sune Karlsson | 10
6 | Joel Jansson | 10
7 | Harry Lindgren | 10
8 | Evert Hägg | 8+3
9 | Göte Olsson | 8+2
10 | Sven Fahlén | 7
11 | Stig Pramberg | 7
12 | Birger Forsberg | 5
13 | Gunnar Hellqvist | 4
14 | Per-Tage Svensson | 2
15 | Göran Norlén | 2
16 | Jan Johnsson | 2

### Stage 2

[edit]

#### Swedish final

[edit]

* 9 May 1954
* Örebro Motorstadion Adolfsberg, Örebro
* Top 8 to Nordic final, 3 to Continental qualification

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 | Olle Nygren | 14
2 | Göte Olsson | 12
3 | Ove Fundin | 12
4 | Rune Sörmander | 11
5 | Dan Forsberg | 10
6 | Joel Jansson | 10
7 | Sune Karlsson | 10
8 | Georg Duneborn | 8
9 | Per Olof Söderman | 8
10 | Olle Segerström | 7
11 | Rune Stenström | 6
12 | Thorsten Carlsson | 4
13 | Allan Nilsson | 2
14 | Bertil Carlsson II | 2
15 | Evert Hägg | 2
16 | Harry Lindgren | 1

#### Continental Qualification

[edit]

* 23 May 1954
* Altes Stadion Abensberg, Abensberg
* 8 to Continental semifinal

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Kjell Carlsson | 14+3
2 |  Josef Kamper | 14+2
3 |  Josef Hofmeister | 14+1
4 |  Fritz Dirtl | 11
5 |  Albin Siegl | 11
6 |  Thei Bisschops | 9
7 |  Karl Killmeyer | 9
8 |  Josef Seidl | 7
9 |  Sven Skoglund | 5
10 |  Franz Aigner | 5
11 |  Fred Aberl | 4
12 |  Nicola Snjaric | 4
13 |  Leopold Killmeyer | 3
14 |  Sebastian Wiesent | 3
15 |  Karl Kiendl | 3
16 |  Valentin Medved | 0

### Stage 3

[edit]

#### Nordic Final

[edit]

* 3 June 1954
* Dælenenga idrettspark, Oslo
* First 8 to Continental final

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Olle Nygren | 15
2 |  Rune Sörmander | 14
3 |  Georg Duneborn | 12
4 |  Sune Karlsson | 10
5 |  Dan Forsberg | 10
6 |  Ove Fundin | 9
7 |  Göte Olsson | 9
8 |  Joel Jansson | 9
9 |  Reidar Kristoffersen | 7
10 |  Kiehn Berthelsen | 6
11 |  Leif Bech | 6
12 |  Aage Hansen | 5
13 |  Werner Lorentzen | 4
14 |  Simo Ylänen | 2
15 |  Kaukko Jousanen | 1
16 |  Erling Simonsen | 1

#### Continental semi-final

[edit]

* 13 June 1954
* Niederrheinstadion, Oberhausen
* 8 to Continental final

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Kjell Carlsson | 14
2 |  Albin Siegl | 12
3 |  Bill Kitchen | 11
4 |  Sven Skoglund | 11
5 |  Josef Hofmeister | 10
6 |  Olle Segerström | 8
7 |  Jack Parker | 8
8 |  Josef Seidl | 8
9 |  Karl Killmeyer | 7
10 |  Jan Kesselmans | 7
11 |  Per Olof Söderman | 5
12 |  Hans van der Sluis | 5
13 |  Tonny Kroeze | 4
14 |  Thei Bisschops | 4
15 |  Gerrit Kops | 2
16 |  H. van Rijswijk | 1

### Stage 4

[edit]

#### British round

[edit]

* Top 24 to Championship Round[12]

Date  | Venue  | Winner

|
|

1 July | Foxhall Stadium | Tommy Miller
1 July | Oxford Stadium | Peter Robinson
5 July | County Ground Stadium | Goog Hoskin
5 July | Wimborne Road | Ken Middleditch
6 July | Banister Court Stadium | Charlie May
8 July | Pennycross Stadium | Brian McKeown
9 July | Knowle Stadium | Dick Bradley
9 July | Leicester Stadium | Ken McKinlay
9 July | The Stadium, Motherwell | Derek Close
10 July | Brandon Stadium | Ernie Brecknell
10 July | Old Meadowbank | Ken McKinlay
10 July | Rayleigh Weir Stadium | Peter Clark
10 July | Abbey Stadium | Bob Roger

#### Continental Final

[edit]

* 20 June 1954[13]
* Ryd Motorstadion, Linköping
* First 8 to Championship Round

Pos. | Rider | Points

|
|

1 |  Ove Fundin | 14
2 |  Rune Sörmander | 14
3 |  Sune Karlsson | 12
4 |  Olle Nygren | 10
5 |  Kjell Carlsson | 9
6 |  Fritz Dirtl | 9
7 |  Joel Jansson | 9
8 |  Olle Segerström | 9
9 |  Bill Kitchen | 8
10 |  Dan Forsberg | 7
11 |  Göte Olsson | 6
12 |  Fred Lang | 4
13 |  Georg Duneborn | 3
14 |  Sven Skoglund | 3
15 |  Thorsten Carlsson | 2
16 |  Josef Kamper | 1
17 |  Per Olof Söderman | 1

### Stage 5

[edit]

#### Championship Round

[edit]

* Top 16 qualify for World final, 17th & 18th reserves for World final

Date  | Venue  | Winner

|
|

14 August | Hyde Road Stadium | Peter Craven
14 August | Perry Barr Stadium | Jack Young
16 August | Wimbledon Stadium | Barry Briggs
18 August | Harringay Stadium | Split Waterman
21 August | The Firs Stadium | Aub Lawson
26 August | Wembley Stadium | Edie Rigg
31 August | West Ham Stadium | Jack Young
1 September | Odsal Stadium | Arthur Forrest

#### Scores

[edit]

* Top 16 qualify for World final, 17th-18th reserves for World final

| Pos. | Rider | Total pts

|
|

1 |  Jack Young | 29
2 |  Peter Craven | 28
3 |  Eddie Rigg | 28
4 |  Ove Fundin | 26
5 |  Brian Crutcher | 26
6 |  Ronnie Moore | 26
7 |  Geoff Mardon | 26
8 |  Aub Lawson | 26
9 |  Arthur Forrest | 26
10 |  Jack Biggs | 24
11 |  Fred Brand | 24
12 |  Split Waterman | 23
13 |  Barry Briggs | 23
14 |  Tommy Price | 23
15 |  Olle Nygren | 22
16 |  Trevor Redmond | 22
17 |  Alan Hunt | 22
18 |  Freddie Williams | 21
19 |  Gerry Hussey | 21
20 |  Eric Williams | 19
21 |  Ron Johnston | 18
22 |  Arthur Wright | 17
23 |  Dick Campbell | 17
24 |  Dick Bradley | 17
25 |  Rune Sörmander | 16
26 |  Cyril Roger | 16
27 |  Derick Close | 16
28 |  Sune Karlsson | 15
29 |  Harry Edwards | 15
30 |  Bert Roger | 15
31 |  Tommy Miller | 14
32 |  Alan Smith | 14
| Pos. | Rider | Total pts

|
|

33 |  Cyril Brine | 14
34 |  John Fitzpatrick | 13
35 |  Don Perry | 13
36 |  Ken Sharples | 13
37 |  Ken McKinlay | 12
38 |  Alan Quinn | 12
39 |  Fred Rogers | 12
40 |  Ian Williams | 12
41 |  Bob Roger | 11
42 |  Peter Robinson | 11
43 |  Ken Middleditch | 11
44 |  Jack Geran | 10
45 |  Kjell Carlsson | 9
46 |  Ron Mountford | 9
47 |  Dent Oliver | 9
48 |  Joel Jansson | 8
49 |  Eric Boothroyd | 8
50 |  Charlie May | 8
51 |  Brian McKeown | 8
52 |  Jim Lightfoot | 9
53 |  Pete Lansdale | 8
54 |  Olle Segerström | 7
55 |  Fritz Dirtl | 7
56 |  Bob Oakley | 7
57 |  Junior Bainbridge | 7
58 |  Wally Green | 6
59 |  Phil Clarke | 6
60 |  Billy Bales | 5
61 |  Les McGillivray | 4
62 |  Jimmy Squibb | 4
63 |  Dick Seers | 4
64 |  Ernie Brecknell | 2

## World final

[edit]

* 16 September 1954
* London, Wembley Stadium[14]

Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total

|
|
|

1 |  Ronnie Moore | (3,3,3,3,3) | 15
2 |  Brian Crutcher | (3,2,2,3,3) | 13+3
3 |  Olle Nygren | (2,3,3,3,2) | 13+2
4 |  Jack Young | (3,1,3,3,1) | 11
5 |  Split Waterman | (2,1,3,1,2) | 9
6 |  Barry Briggs | (1,2,2,2,2) | 9
7 |  Eddie Rigg | (0,3,2,2,0) | 7
8 |  Fred Brand | (3,1,0,2,1) | 7
9 |  Jack Biggs | (1,3,1,1,1) | 7
10 |  Arthur Forrest | (0,1,0,2,3) | 5
11 |  Tommy Price | (1,0,2,0,2) | 5
12 |  Geoff Mardon | (2,2,1,0,0) | 5
13 |  Trevor Redmond | (0,2,1,1,1) | 5
14 |  Aub Lawson | (2,0,0,2,0) | 4
15 |  Peter Craven | (F,0,0,0,3) | 3
16 |  Ove Fundin | (1,0,1,0,F) | 2
R1 |  Alan Hunt | did not ride | –
R2 |  Freddie Williams | did not ride | –

### Classification

[edit]

Placing  | Rider  | Total  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | Pts  | Pos

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1  |  (14) Ronnie Moore | 15  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3  | 15  | 1
2  |  (6) Brian Crutcher | 13+3  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 3  |  | 13  | 2
3  |  (11) Olle Nygren | 13+2  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 3  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  | 2  | 13  | 3
4  |  (10) Jack Young | 11  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  | 3  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 11  | 4
5  |  (15) Split Waterman | 9  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  | 2  |  |  |  | 9  | 5
6  |  (7) Barry Briggs | 9  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 2  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 9  | 6
7  |  (5) Eddie Rigg | 7  |  | 0  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 0  | 7  | 7
8  |  (4) Fred Brand | 7  | 3  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 1  | 7  | 8
9  |  (16) Jack Biggs | 7  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 3  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 7  | 9
10  |  (1) Arthur Forrest | 5  | 0  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 5  | 10
11  |  (3) Tommy Price | 5  | 1  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 2  |  | 5  | 11
12  |  (8) Geoff Mardon | 5  |  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  | 1  |  |  | 0  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 5  | 12
13  |  (13) Trevor Redmond | 5  |  |  |  | 0  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 5  | 13
14  |  (2) Aub Lawson | 4  | 2  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  | 4  | 14
15  |  (9) Peter Craven | 3  |  |  | \-  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  | 3  |  |  | 3  | 15
16  |  (12) Ove Fundin | 2  |  |  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 0  |  | 1  |  |  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | \-  |  | 2  | 16
|  (17) Alan Hunt | 0  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |
|  (18) Freddie Williams | 0  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0  |
Placing  | Rider  | Total  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20 | Pts  | Pos

m \- exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •  t \- exclusion for touching the tapes •  x \- other exclusion •  e \- retired or mechanical failure •  f \- fell •  ns \- non-starter •  nc \- non-classify

gate A - inside  | gate B  | gate C  | gate D - outside

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## References

[edit]

1. ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
2. ^ "World Championship 1936-1994". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
3. ^ "WORLD FINALS 1936-1994" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
4. ^ "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
5. ^ "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
6. ^ "WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX". British Speedway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
7. ^ "Moore Wins World Speedway Title". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 17 September 1954. Retrieved 5 July 2021 - via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ "Profile". Moore Park Speedway. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
9. ^ "Speedway Star Confounded The Doctors". Edinburgh Evening News. 17 September 1954. Retrieved 27 August 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "1954 World Championship". Metal Speedway. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
11. ^ "1954 World Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
12. ^ "104 riders in Wembley bid". Weekly Dispatch (London). 20 June 1954. Retrieved 11 January 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ "Monarchs bid for help went unheeded". Edinburgh Evening News. 1 July 1954. Retrieved 12 January 2024 - via British Newspaper Archive.
14. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

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Individual Speedway World Championship and Speedway Grand Prix seasons

Speedway World Championship|

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See also|

* Medalists
* Medal Classification
* Grands Prix
* SGP riders
* Super Prix
* SGP Statistics

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