Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

1979 Individual Speedway World Championship

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

The 1979 Individual Speedway World Championship.

Contents

In his 14th straight World Final appearance (dating back to 1966), New Zealand's Ivan Mauger won his 6th Speedway World Championship, breaking the previous record of 5 wins held by himself and legendary Swede Ove Fundin. Mauger scored 14 points to defeat local favourite Zenon Plech (13) and young English tearaway Michael Lee (11), with Lee the only rider to defeat Mauger on the day. Lee also had to defeat Kelly Moran (USA), Billy Sanders (Australia) and defending champion Ole Olsen in a runoff for third after all four riders finished on 11 points.

This would prove to be the last appearance for Ivan Mauger as a rider in a World Final.

British Qualification

Similar to the previous season, the British qualifying rounds for the World Championship doubled up as qualifying rounds for the Grand Prix. Therefore, many non-British riders such as Scott Autrey and Ivan Mauger rode in these meetings scoring points towards the Grand Prix qualification - but their scores didn't count towards World Championship qualification.

British Final

  • June 20, 1979
  • Coventry, Brandon Stadium
  • First 10 to Commonwealth Final plus 1 reserve
  • Swedish Final

  • May 29, 1979
  • Kumla
  • First 5 to Scandinavian Final + 1 reserve
  • New Zealand Final

  • 21 January 1979
  • Christchurch
  • First 8 to Austral-Asian Final
  • American Final

  • December 29, 1978
  • Santa Ana, Santa Ana Speedway
  • First 2 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve
  • Australian Final

  • February 11, 1978
  • Mildura
  • First 8 to Austral-Asian Final
  • Australasian Final

  • February 23, 1979
  • Adelaide, Rowley Park Speedway
  • Referee: Sam Bass
  • First 6 to Commonwealth final plus 1 reserve
  • Danish Final

  • May 6, 1979
  • Fjelsted
  • First 5 to Scandinavian Final
  • Scandinavian Final

  • June 5, 1979
  • Norrköping
  • First 5 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve
  • Commonwealth Final

  • July 1, 1979
  • London, White City Stadium
  • First 9 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve
  • Intercontinental Final

  • August 8, 1979
  • London, White City Stadium
  • First 9 to World Final plus 1 reserve
  • Continental Final

  • July 8, 1979
  • Pocking
  • First 4 to World final plus 1 reserve
  • Polish riders Zenon Plech, Edward Jancarz and Robert Slabon seeded to World Final
  • World Final

  • September 2, 1979
  • Chorzów, Silesian Stadium
  • References

    1979 Individual Speedway World Championship Wikipedia