1985 British League season

Team changes

The league was cut drastically from 16 teams to 11. This meant the League Cup was expanded to be a competition with more fixtures than the British League. Both competitions would now see all teams meet home and away with only the League Cup having semi-finals and a final. Bonus points were introduced in both competitions awarded to the team that won each fixture on aggregate, with a run-off as a tie-breaker if the scores are level.

Wimbledon Dons dropped to the National league, this was the first time that Wimbledon would not compete in the top tier of speedway. They were joined in the National League by Poole Pirates, who took over Weymouth Wildcats to become Poole Wildcats, Eastbourne Eagles and Exeter Falcons. Newcastle Diamonds had no speedway in 1985 but they would return to the National League in 1986. There were no new entrants to the British League.

Summary

Oxford Cheetahs won the league and cup double. The Oxford team, financed by the Oxford Stadium owners Northern Sports and headed by David Hawkins was the most expensive team assembled in the history of the league. The team included Danish international Hans Nielsen (signed for a record £30,000) in 1984. Nielsen had topped the previous season's averages on Oxford's return to the league and was imperious during 1985, finishing with an exceptional average, way ahead of any other rider. The team eased to the league title by a clear ten points, with Simon Wigg, Andy Grahame, Marvyn Cox, Jens Rasmussen and Melvyn Taylor all riding over 50 matches each during the season.

Defending champions Ipswich Witches finished mid-table which was not surprising taking into account that just three matches into the season their leading rider Billy Sanders committed suicide on 23 April. The news shocked the club and the wider speedway world at the time.

Final table

Fixtures and results

Top ten riders (league averages)

British League Knockout Cup

The 1985 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 47th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Oxford Cheetahs were the winners.

First round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg John Cook Jeremy Doncaster Richard Knight Dennis Sigalos Hans Nielsen 14 Simon Wigg 10 Jens Rasmussen Troy Butler

Second leg Hans Nielsen 15 Simon Wigg 12 Marvyn Cox 7 Troy Butler 4 Alistair Stevens 4 Jens Rasmussen 0 Andy Grahame R/R John Cook 12 Richard Knight 9 Dennis Sigalos 4 Alan Farmer 4 Jeremy Doncaster 3 Kai Niemi 2 Robbie Fuller 1

Oxford Cheetahs were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 79-76.

League Cup

The League Cup was contested as a league format. Coventry Bees won the final over two legs defeating Oxford Cheetahs 86–70 on aggregrate.

Qualifying table

Fixtures and results

Semi-finals

Final

First leg Simon Wigg 14 Hans Nielsen 13 Marvyn Cox 9 Nigel De'ath 3 Jens Rasmussen 2 Troy Butler 1 Andy Grahame r/r Tommy Knudsen 11 Kelvin Tatum 9 Rick Miller 5 David Bargh 4 Steve Bastable 3 Frank Andersen 3 John Jorgensen 1

Second leg Kelvin Tatum 12 Rick Miller 10 Tommy Knudsen 9 John Jorgensen 6 Steve Bastable 5 David Bargh 4 Frank Andersen 4 Hans Nielsen 14 Simon Wigg 6 Jens Rasmussen 4 Troy Butler 2 Marvyn Cox 1 Melvyn Taylor 1 Andy Grahame r/r

Riders' Championship

Erik Gundersen won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time, the final was held at Hyde Road on 20 October.

• ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired

Pairs

The British League Pairs Championship was held at Monmore Green Stadium on 30 June and was won by Oxford.

Leading final averages

Midland Cup

Oxford won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams.

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Simon Wigg 12 Andy Grahame 9 Jens Rasmussen 8 Marvyn Cox 6 Hans Nielsen 4 Troy Butler 4 Nigel De'ath 2 Alan Grahame 10 Erik Gundersen 8 Jan O Pedersen 5 Phil Collins 5 Simon Cross 2 Finn Jensen 2 Nigel Leaver 1

Second leg Phil Collins 10 Erik Gundersen 8 Simon Cross 7 Jan O Pedersen 5 Alan Grahame 5 Finn Jensen 3 Nigel Leaver 0 Andy Grahame 10 Simon Wigg 9 Hans Nielsen 8 Marvyn Cox 6 Troy Butler 5 Nigel De'ath 1 Alastair Stevens 1

Oxford won on aggregate 85–71

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• 9.77
• 8.92
• 7.59
• 6.16
• 5.83
• 4.90
• 4.36
• 3.33
• 1.33
• 1.10

Coventry

• 10.13
• 9.09
• 6.68
• 6.12
• 5.93
• 5.76
• 4.11
• 3.41

Cradley Heath

• 10.38
• 7.93
• 7.91
• 7.37
• 6.21
• 5.41
• 4.26
• 1.23
• 1.20

Halifax

• 10.13
• 7.26
• 6.62
• 6.17
• 5.41
• 5.40
• 5.16
• 4.19

Ipswich

• 9.33
• 9.12
• 8.12
• 6.14
• 5.47
• 5.16
• 5.10
• 3.07
• 2.38

King's Lynn

• 7.80
• 7.20
• 6.19
• 6.12
• 5.91
• 5.76
• 4.84
• 4.54

Oxford

• 11.35
• 9.10
• 7.18
• 6.07
• 6.07
• 4.87
• 4.78
• 2.22

Reading

• 9.43
• 9.01
• 6.79
• 6.33
• 6.33
• 5.59
• 5.57
• 4.72
• 4.67
• 2.05

Sheffield

• 10.39
• 7.33
• 6.91
• 6.81
• 6.33
• 5.85
• 5.50
• 4.22
• 3.34

Swindon

• 9.35
• 8.92
• 7.90
• 6.54
• 6.31
• 5.54
• 5.40
• 5.02
• 3.69
• 1.71

Wolverhampton

• 9.80
• 7.72
• 7.69
• 7.42
• 4.97
• 4.89
• 4.79
• 3.88
• 2.00

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. "HISTORY ARCHIVE".
3. "1985 league tables". Speedway GB.
4. "SPEEDWAY: Nielsen regret at Oxford". Oxford Mail.
5. Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn. (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". Tempus Publishing Ltd.
6. "NOT FORGOTTEN – BILLY SANDERS".
7. "1985 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
8. "1985 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
9. (28 October 1985). "Hans takes a grip". Daily Mirror.
10. Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn. (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". Tempus Publishing Ltd.
11. "Coventry Bees results".
12. "League Cup table".
13. "1985 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
14. (26 October 1985). "Speedway".
15. (21 October 1985). "Ace Erik is King of the track". Daily Mirror.
16. (1 July 1985). "Racers are edged out by Oxford pair". Reading Evening Post.
17. (1 November 1985). "Grahame's glory". Birmingham Mail.