Tommy Jansson
Encyclopedia
Per Tommy Jansson was a motorcycle speedway
rider. He was one of Sweden's most exciting speedway prospects in the 1970s but was killed in the Swedish Final a World Championship
Qualifying Round meeting.
He was the son of former Swedish International speedway rider Joel Jansson. His brother Bo (Bosse) Jansson was also a speedway rider. He rode Smederna, in Sweden. And also had had a few meetings for the Wimbledon Dons
in 1976, and one meeting for the Reading Racers
in 1977.
He initially appeared in the UK on 23 July 1970 while touring with the Young Sweden team, in a British League Division Two test series, at Teeside, scoring 10 points. But he was injured in the second test match against Young England, at Workington the following night, and he went back home to Sweden.
He came back to England in 1971 to ride for the Wembley Lions
making his debut on 9 April, in an away match against Wolverhampton, where he scored 6 points. But his stay with the 'Lions' only lasted for three British League Division One matches. Although he did continue to race in the UK for the Young Sweden touring team, against Young England in a British League Division Two test series. He never rode a home match at Wembley for the Lions, because at this time their home matches were taking place, at Newport, in Wales.
In 1972 he made his debut for the Wimbledon Dons
on 15 June, at home to Wolverhampton, scoring 10 points. He later returned to Sweden to complete his National Service during the 1973 British League season, after competing in several league matches.
In 1974 when all Swedish based riders were banned from riding in the British League, he only rode in open meetings, at Wimbledon, and in a International Test Match series, against England.
His last appearance at Plough Lane (Wimbledon's home) was on Thursday 13 May 1976, in a Marlboro Southern Riders Championship, qualifying round (which he was the reigning Champion). He won this meeting with a 15-point maximum. Prior to this meeting he beat Dave Jessup (Reading) 2 -1 (after suffering an first race engine failure) to retain his Golden Helmet British Match Race Championship. Tommy's last meeting in the UK was at Halifax, in a British League Division One match, on Saturday 15 May, he scored 12 points from five rides, in this meeting.
In Sweden he rode for Smederna. At the time of his death aged only twenty-three, he had already appeared in four World
finals. He also won the World Pairs Championship
with Anders Michanek
in 1973 and 1975.
Tommy, also rode in four speedway World Team Cup
Finals, for Sweden in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
He was the last rider to hold the British Speedway Golden Helmet. The original Golden Helmet was given to his family after his death.
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...
rider. He was one of Sweden's most exciting speedway prospects in the 1970s but was killed in the Swedish Final a World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The 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...
Qualifying Round meeting.
He was the son of former Swedish International speedway rider Joel Jansson. His brother Bo (Bosse) Jansson was also a speedway rider. He rode Smederna, in Sweden. And also had had a few meetings for the Wimbledon Dons
Wimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
in 1976, and one meeting for the Reading Racers
Reading Racers
Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history...
in 1977.
He initially appeared in the UK on 23 July 1970 while touring with the Young Sweden team, in a British League Division Two test series, at Teeside, scoring 10 points. But he was injured in the second test match against Young England, at Workington the following night, and he went back home to Sweden.
He came back to England in 1971 to ride for the Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions
The Wembley Lions were an English ice hockey team.The team were founded in 1934 but showed a continuity with the London Lions team which had played at various venues since 1924. The Wembley team were based at the newly built Empire Pool which they shared with the Wembley Monarchs until 1950.The...
making his debut on 9 April, in an away match against Wolverhampton, where he scored 6 points. But his stay with the 'Lions' only lasted for three British League Division One matches. Although he did continue to race in the UK for the Young Sweden touring team, against Young England in a British League Division Two test series. He never rode a home match at Wembley for the Lions, because at this time their home matches were taking place, at Newport, in Wales.
In 1972 he made his debut for the Wimbledon Dons
Wimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
on 15 June, at home to Wolverhampton, scoring 10 points. He later returned to Sweden to complete his National Service during the 1973 British League season, after competing in several league matches.
In 1974 when all Swedish based riders were banned from riding in the British League, he only rode in open meetings, at Wimbledon, and in a International Test Match series, against England.
His last appearance at Plough Lane (Wimbledon's home) was on Thursday 13 May 1976, in a Marlboro Southern Riders Championship, qualifying round (which he was the reigning Champion). He won this meeting with a 15-point maximum. Prior to this meeting he beat Dave Jessup (Reading) 2 -1 (after suffering an first race engine failure) to retain his Golden Helmet British Match Race Championship. Tommy's last meeting in the UK was at Halifax, in a British League Division One match, on Saturday 15 May, he scored 12 points from five rides, in this meeting.
In Sweden he rode for Smederna. At the time of his death aged only twenty-three, he had already appeared in four World
Speedway World Championship
The 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...
finals. He also won the World Pairs Championship
Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 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 :...
with Anders Michanek
Anders Michanek
Anders Michanek is a Speedway rider. In 1974 he won the Speedway World Championship in his Swedish homeland with a maximum score of 15 points. He also won the World Pairs Championship with the late Tommy Jansson in 1973 and 1975 and with Sören Sjösten in 1974.Michanek had a very successful career...
in 1973 and 1975.
Tommy, also rode in four speedway World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The 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...
Finals, for Sweden in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
He was the last rider to hold the British Speedway Golden Helmet. The original Golden Helmet was given to his family after his death.
World final appearances
- 19711971 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1971 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 10, 1971 Göteborg, UlleviNote : Vladimir Gordeev was disqualified after illegal additives were found in his fuel.-Heat by Heat Classification:...
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Sweden Göteborg, UlleviUlleviUllevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
- 14th - 1pt - 19731973 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1973 Individual Speedway World Championship.The 1973 World Final was won by Polish rider Jerzy Szczakiel following a run-off in with defending champion Ivan Mauger after both riders had finished on 13 points. In the run-off Mauger fell in turn 3 after trying a risky passing move leaving...
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Poland ChorzówChorzówChorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Silesian Stadium - Reserve - 0pts - 19741974 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1974 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 6, 1974 Göteborg, Ullevi...
- Sweden Göteborg, UlleviUlleviUllevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
- Reserve - 3pts - 19751975 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1975 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 6, 1975 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Torrie Kittelsen-Classification:...
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United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 9th - 7pts