King's Lynn Stars
Encyclopedia
King's Lynn Stars are a motorcycle speedway
team who compete in the British Elite League
. The nickname "Stars" comes from the defunct Norwich Stars
team. The team was founded in 1965 and has been running continually since then, except for 1996 when King's Lynn failed to have a team competing in the British League system.
but in 1994 the green was replaced with blue, to match the blue and yellow of the King's Lynn
official town crest. During their time as The Knights, silver and black became the prominent colours, but since reviving the Stars nickname they returned to using blue and yellow.
The promotion is run by Buster Chapman, a former junior rider at Kings Lynn, who also owns the stadium (renamed the Norfolk Arena) at Saddlebow Road on the outskirts of King's Lynn
. The team manager is Rob Lyon who in 2009 was selected to be Team Manager for the Great Britain team
.
King's Lynn finished top of the Premier League
table in 2006 but were the first such team not automatically crowned champions because it was the first season that the Premier League used the play-off system to decide the championship. However, the Stars beat the Sheffield Tigers
in the play off final to be crowned champions. King's Lynn Stars also won the 2006 Premier Trophy
and the 2006 Premier League Knockout Cup
completing the treble for the year.
In 2007 the Stars once again won the Premier Trophy and Premier League Knock-out Cup. They also finished top of the Premier League table but that year the Stars were beaten by the Sheffield Tigers
in the play-off semi-final. Rye House were ultimately crowned Premier League champions.
In 2008 the Stars were eliminated from the Premier Trophy and the Premier League Knockout Cup, but eventually finished third in the league. They then participated in the play-off promotion battle, where they lost on aggregate to Edinburgh
in the final.
In 2009, for the second time in three years, the Stars won the treble: the first club ever to achieve this feat twice. The Stars were crowned league champions on 16 September 2009 but then lost on aggregate to the Edinburgh Monarchs in the promotion play-off final. The Stars also won the Premier Trophy on 30 September beating the Edinburgh Monarchs 99–92 on aggregate over two legs and in October the Stars won the Knock-Out Cup, beating the same Edinburgh Monarchs again on aggregate over two legs.
1966–1978 1993–1998, 2003–2011 1975–82, 1985–86, 1991 1973, 1976–1985 1970–1980 1990–1999 1968–1974, 1986, 1993 1988–1994 1979–81, 1984–85 2000–01 1999–2000 2001–02 1999
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team who compete in the British Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
. The nickname "Stars" comes from the defunct Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
team. The team was founded in 1965 and has been running continually since then, except for 1996 when King's Lynn failed to have a team competing in the British League system.
Brief history
The team has operated with a few different nicknames, including: the Knights; Silver Machine (as an additional nickname to the Knights) and the Stars. The team colours were originally green and yellow, taken directly from the Norwich StarsNorwich Stars
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.-History:Speedway racing was staged in Norwich both before and after World War II at The Firs Stadium in Aylsham Road, Hellesdon. Pre-War Norwich were members of the National...
but in 1994 the green was replaced with blue, to match the blue and yellow of the King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
official town crest. During their time as The Knights, silver and black became the prominent colours, but since reviving the Stars nickname they returned to using blue and yellow.
The promotion is run by Buster Chapman, a former junior rider at Kings Lynn, who also owns the stadium (renamed the Norfolk Arena) at Saddlebow Road on the outskirts of King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
. The team manager is Rob Lyon who in 2009 was selected to be Team Manager for the Great Britain team
Great Britain national speedway team
The Great Britain national speedway team are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by Poole Pirates manager Neil Middleditch and the captain is Chris Harris of the Belle Vue Aces....
.
King's Lynn finished top of the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
table in 2006 but were the first such team not automatically crowned champions because it was the first season that the Premier League used the play-off system to decide the championship. However, the Stars beat the Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
in the play off final to be crowned champions. King's Lynn Stars also won the 2006 Premier Trophy
Speedway Premier Trophy
The Premier Trophy is a contest between teams competing in the Speedway Premier League in the UK. The first competition was held in 1999. The competition is usually run before the Premier League starts in April and May. The finals are usually contested in June/July...
and the 2006 Premier League Knockout Cup
Premier League Knockout Cup
The Premier League Knockout Cup is a motorcycle speedway competition in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The teams from the second tier of league racing, the Premier League, take part...
completing the treble for the year.
In 2007 the Stars once again won the Premier Trophy and Premier League Knock-out Cup. They also finished top of the Premier League table but that year the Stars were beaten by the Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
in the play-off semi-final. Rye House were ultimately crowned Premier League champions.
In 2008 the Stars were eliminated from the Premier Trophy and the Premier League Knockout Cup, but eventually finished third in the league. They then participated in the play-off promotion battle, where they lost on aggregate to Edinburgh
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
in the final.
In 2009, for the second time in three years, the Stars won the treble: the first club ever to achieve this feat twice. The Stars were crowned league champions on 16 September 2009 but then lost on aggregate to the Edinburgh Monarchs in the promotion play-off final. The Stars also won the Premier Trophy on 30 September beating the Edinburgh Monarchs 99–92 on aggregate over two legs and in October the Stars won the Knock-Out Cup, beating the same Edinburgh Monarchs again on aggregate over two legs.
Notable riders
A number of the riders listed below have appeared for many British clubs and therefore could be claimed as notable riders by most teams. The riders that are strongly linked to Kings Lynn are Michael Lee, Terry Betts, Tomáš Topinka and Malcolm Simmons, although Rickard Hellsen and Ian 'Tiddler' Turner were long time servants of the club. Most others only appeared for the Stars for one or two seasons only.1966–1978 1993–1998, 2003–2011 1975–82, 1985–86, 1991 1973, 1976–1985 1970–1980 1990–1999 1968–1974, 1986, 1993 1988–1994 1979–81, 1984–85 2000–01 1999–2000 2001–02 1999
Individual honours
- Howard Cole became the first King's Lynn rider to reach a World FinalSpeedway World ChampionshipThe World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
in 19691969 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1969 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 5, 1969 London, Wembley Stadium...
. - Ian Turner won the British Junior ChampionshipBritish Speedway Under 21 ChampionshipThe British Speedway Under-21 Championship is an annual speedway competition open to riders of British nationality aged at least fifteen on the date of the first meeting, and under twenty-one on 1 January in the year of the competition...
in 1971. - Terry BettsTerry BettsTerence Arnold Betts is a former international speedway rider who reached the final of theSpeedway World Championship in 1974...
representing England along with Ray WilsonRay Wilson (speedway rider)Ray Wilson is a former international speedway rider who was World Pairs Champion in 1972 and British Speedway Champion in 1973, was also England Team Captain for 5years in the early 1970s. He was the first Englishman to record a maximum score in a World Team Cup Final...
(Leicester Lions), won the 1972 World Pairs FinalSpeedway World Pairs ChampionshipThe Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first competition was held in 1968 and the final competition was held in 1993. From 1994 it was merged with the World Team Cup.- Rules :...
. - Terry Betts was a member of the Great Britain team that won the World Team CupSpeedway World Team CupThe Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
in 1972 and 1973. - Michael LeeMichael Lee (speedway rider)Michael Andrew Lee is a former international speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1980...
rode for King's Lynn when he won the 1980 Speedway World ChampionshipSpeedway World ChampionshipThe World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
in GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. - Michael Lee won the 1981 World Longtrack Championship Final in Radgona, YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. - Michael Lee was a member of the England team that won the World Team CupSpeedway World Team CupThe Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
in 1977 & 1980. - Malcolm SimmonsMalcolm SimmonsMalcolm Simmons is a former speedway rider.-Career:He made his debut at Hackney Hawks in 1963 aged seventeen but was unable to break into the Hackney team regularly so moved to the newly re-opened West Ham Hammers for the 1964 season. In 1965 Simmons won a British League and British League...
was a member of the Great Britain team that won the World Team CupSpeedway World Team CupThe Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
in 1972 and 1974. - Dave JessupDave JessupDavid John Jessup is a former speedway rider who finished runner-up the Speedway World Championship in 1980 to fellow countryman Michael Lee. The same season he won the World Pairs Championship with Peter Collins and became British Speedway Champion after finishing runner-up in 1978 and third in...
representing England along with Peter CollinsPeter Collins (speedway rider)Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
(Belle Vue AcesBelle Vue AcesThe Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
), won the 1980 World Pairs FinalSpeedway World Pairs ChampionshipThe Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first competition was held in 1968 and the final competition was held in 1993. From 1994 it was merged with the World Team Cup.- Rules :...
. - Dave JessupDave JessupDavid John Jessup is a former speedway rider who finished runner-up the Speedway World Championship in 1980 to fellow countryman Michael Lee. The same season he won the World Pairs Championship with Peter Collins and became British Speedway Champion after finishing runner-up in 1978 and third in...
was a member of the England team that won the World Team CupSpeedway World Team CupThe Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
in 1980. - Tony RickardssonTony RickardssonTony Rickardsson is a retired Swedish motorcycle speedway rider. He is widely acknowledged as being the most successful speedway rider of the current era, having won six Speedway World Championship titles in 15 attempts. He has two daughters, Michelle and Natalie with his wife Anna...
rode for King's Lynn when he won the 1999 Grand Prix SeriesSpeedway Grand PrixSpeedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. As of 2008, all of the events take place in Europe.- Event format :...
. - Darcy WardDarcy WardDarcy Stephen Ward is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider who won the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Australian Under-21 Championships as well as the 2009 and 2010 World Under-21 Championships...
won the World Under 21 ChampionshipIndividual Speedway Junior World ChampionshipThe Individual Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the International Motorcycling Federation since 1977...
in 2009.