The Great Britain national speedway team (formerly the England speedway team) is one of the major teams in international motorcycle speedway. The team is managed by former Great Britain riders Oliver Allen and Simon Stead, and captained by Tai Woffinden.

The team raced as England from 1928 to 1961 and again from 1974 to 2000. They have raced as Great Britain from 1962 to 1973 and since 2001.

History The national speedway team held test matches against the Australia as early as 1928, although the first official test match is listed as 30 June 1930 at Wimbledon Stadium.

The team won the Speedway World Team Cup on five occasions as England and four times as Great Britain from 1968 to 1989. They were a major force in the 1970s, winning five consecutive tournaments, two as England and three as Great Britain. Key riding members of the title wins include Peter Collins (five wins), Malcolm Simmons (four wins), New Zealand born Ivan Mauger and Ray Wilson (all three wins). Prior to 1974, the Great Britain team often consisted of riders from other Commonwealth Nations including Australia and New Zealand.

The cup eluded the team after 1989, although they came close in 2000, missing out when Mark Loram fell in a race-off and 2004 where a team of Mark Loram, Lee Richardson, Gary Havelock, David Norris and Scott Nicholls missed out by one point. Both the 2000 and 2004 narrow defeats were at the hands of Sweden and both in somewhat controversial fashion.

In June 2018, Great Britain competed as one of 15 nations in the inaugural Speedway of Nations tournament and in August 2018, Great Britain hosted a top-level international test match for the first time in over 15 years when they took on Australia at Glasgow's Peugeot Ashfield Stadium.

At the 2021 Speedway of Nations in Manchester, Team GB ended a 32 years drought. After finishing third in qualifying, they beat Denmark 6–3 in the Grand Final qualifier and then beat Poland in the Grand Final 5–4. The winning team included Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden. The team subsequently won the 2024 Speedway of Nations.

Major tournament wins World Team Championships YearVenueStandings (Pts)RidersPts1968LondonWembley Stadium 1. Great Britain (40)2. Sweden (30)3. Poland (19)4. Czechoslovakia (7) Ivan Mauger (NZ) 12 Nigel Boocock 10 Martin Ashby 8 Barry Briggs (NZ) 7 Norman Hunter 31971WrocławStadion Olimpijski 1. Great Britain (37)2. Soviet Union (22)3. Poland (19)4. Sweden (18) Ray Wilson 12 Ivan Mauger (NZ) 10 Jim Airey (AUS) 9 Barry Briggs (NZ) 6 Ronnie Moore (NZ) dnr1972OlchingOlching Speedwaybahn 1. Great Britain (36)2. Soviet Union (21)3. Poland (21)4. Sweden (18) Ivan Mauger (NZ) 11 John Louis 9 Terry Betts 9 Ray Wilson 8 Ronnie Moore (NZ) dnr1973LondonWembley Stadium 1. Great Britain (37)2. Sweden (31)3. Soviet Union (20)4. Poland (8) Peter Collins 12 Terry Betts 9 Malcolm Simmons 8 Ray Wilson 8 Dave Jessup dnr1974 ChorzówStadion Śląski 1. England (42)2. Sweden (31)3. Poland (13)4. Soviet Union (10) Peter Collins 12 John Louis 12 Dave Jessup 10 Malcolm Simmons 8 Ray Wilson dnr1975NordenMotodrom Halbemond 1. England (41)2. Soviet Union (29)3. Sweden (17)4. Poland (9) Peter Collins 12 Malcolm Simmons 11 Martin Ashby 10 John Louis 8 Dave Jessup dnr1977WrocławStadion Olimpijski 1. England (37)2. Poland (25)3. Czechoslovakia (23)4. Sweden (11) Peter Collins 10 Michael Lee 9 Dave Jessup 9 John Davis 6 Malcolm Simmons 3 1980 WrocławStadion Olimpijski 1. England (40)2. United States (29)3. Poland (15)4. Czechoslovakia (12) Michael Lee 11 Chris Morton 11 Peter Collins 10 Dave Jessup 8 John Davis dnr 1989 BradfordOdsal Stadium 1. England (48)2. Denmark (34)3. Sweden (30)4. United States (8) Jeremy Doncaster 13 Paul Thorp 12 Kelvin Tatum 12 Simon Wigg 11 Simon Cross 0 2021 ManchesterNational Speedway Stadium 1. Great Britain (64+6+5)2. Poland (74+4)3. Denmark (68+3)4. Australia (49)5. France (47)6. Latvia (42) 7. Sweden (30) Robert Lambert 32+4+3 Dan Bewley 11+2+2 Tai Woffinden 14 Tom Brennan 7 2024 ManchesterNational Speedway Stadium 1. Great Britain (35+5+7)2. Australia (36+2)3. Sweden (27+4)4. Germany (26)5. Poland (24)6. Denmark (21) 7. Latvia (20) Robert Lambert 22+3+4 Dan Bewley 13+2+3 Tom Brennan dnr

Titles

World Pairs Championship YearVenueStandings (Pts)RidersPts1972BoråsRyavallen1. England (24)2. New Zealand (24) 3. Sweden B (22)4. Sweden A (22)5. Poland (15)6. Czechoslovakia (12)7. Hungary (6) Ray Wilson 15+3 Terry Betts 91976EskilstunaSnälltorpet1. England (27)2. Denmark (24) 3. Sweden (22)4. Australia (16)5. New Zealand (15)6. Scotland (12)7. Poland (10) John Louis 17 Malcolm Simmons 101977ManchesterHyde Road1. England (28)2. Sweden (18)3. West Germany (18)4. Czechoslovakia (17)5. New Zealand (17)6. Finland (14)7. Australia (12) Peter Collins 15 Malcolm Simmons 131978ChorzówrStadion Śląski1. England (24)2. New Zealand (24)3. Denmark (21)4. Czechoslovakia (18)5. Poland (15)6. West Germany (13)7. Sweden (11) Malcolm Simmons 15+3Gordon Kennett 91980KrskoMatija Gubec Stadium1. England (29)2. Poland (22) 3. Denmark (21)4. Sweden (18)5. New Zealand (16)6. Finland (14)7. Yugoslavia (6) Dave Jessup 15 Peter Collins 141983GöteborgUllevi1. England (25)2. Australia (24) 3. Denmark (19)4. United States (18)5. Sweden (16)6. West Germany (12)7. New Zealand (11) Kenny Carter 15 Peter Collins 101984LonigoSanta Marina Stadium1. England (27)2. Denmark (25) 3. New Zealand (25) 4. United States (19)5. Australia (14)6. Czechoslovakia (10)7. Italy (6) Chris Morton 14 Peter Collins 13

International caps (as of 2022) Since the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix era, international caps earned by riders is largely restricted to international competitions, whereas previously test matches between two teams were a regular occurrence. This means that the number of caps earned by a rider has decreased in the modern era.

RiderCaps for EnglandCaps for Great BritainTotalAbbott, Joe30-30Airey, Jim - 17 17Allen, Oliver - 2 2Andrew, Bill - 7 7Andrews, Bob 211233Ashby, Martin 49 2170Ashworth, Ricky - 1 1Atkinson, Arthur 30-30Auffret, Frank 6 -6Bales, Billy12113Barker, Ben - 5 5Barker, Dean 14418Bastable, Steve 18 -18Beaton, Bobby - 1 1Betts, Terry 551974Bird, Danny - 1 1Blackbird, Carl 8 -8Boocock, Eric 53 3790Boocock, Nigel 90 64154Boothroyd, Eric 2 13Boss, Chris 5 -5Boulger, John - 5 5Bounds, Reg 2 -2Bradley, Dick 24 -24Brett, Brian 3 47Bridger, Lewis - 5 5Briggs, Barry - 57 57Brine, Cyril 12 -12Broadbank, Mike 28 836Broadbelt, Eric 17 1431Brown, Ivor 1 -1Burton, Squib 7 -7Bush, Arthur 5 -5Byers, Gordon 3 -3Byford, Howdy 6 -6Carr, Peter 12 -12Carter, Kenny 51 -51Cartwright, Ian 6 -6Clarke, Tony 11 213Clarke, Phil 5 -5Clarke, Ron 9 -9Clark, Pat 2 -2Clibbett, Bill 1 -1Close, Derick 2 -2Cole, Howard 10 111Coles, Bob 1 -1Coles, Michael 2 -2Collins, Les 31 -31Collins, Neil 19 -19Collins, Peter 118 9 127Collins, Phil 55 156Cottrell, Col 1 -1Courtney, Mark 5 -5Cox, Marvyn 25 - 25Craven, Gil 1 -1Craven, Malcolm 11 -11Craven, Peter 48 1260Cresp, Ray - 6 6Cribb, Bruce - 3 3Croombs, Tommy 30 -30Cross, Simon 33 - 33Crutcher, Brian 23 -23Cunningham, Glenn 2 -2Davey, Tony 11 -11Davis, John 64 -64Dent, Russ 1 -1Doncaster, Jeremy 52 -52Drury, Graham 1 -1Dugard, Martin 41 -41Edwards, Bert 7 -7Elliott, Bryan 6 -6Erskine, Jon 1 23Etheridge, Laurie 1 - 1Evans, Norman 1 -1Evitts, Neil 27 -27Farndon, Tom 21 -21Featherby, Clive - 1 1Fisher, Dick 1 45Forrest, Arthur 26 -26France, Rick 1 45Francis, Joe 6 -6French, Eric 8 -8Frogley, Roger 3 -3Galvin, Andy 1 -1Gamble, Tommy 1 -1Genz, Ronnie 7 18Gifford, Dave - 2 2Gilbert, Bill 6 -6Glover, Carl 1 -1Gofffe, Lloyd 1 -1Golden, Alby - 1 1Gooch, Jimmy 10 313Gooddy, Colin 1 -1Goulden, Frank 1 -1Grahame, Alan 42 -42Grahame, Andy 16 -16Gray, Dennis 1 -1Greatrex, Stan 5 -5Green, Richard 1 -1Green, Wally 6 -6Greenwood, George 2 -2Greer, Richard 4 -4Gregory, Eric 2 -2Gregory, Les 1 -1Grifiths, Syd 1 -1Hagon, Alf 4 -4Haigh, Dusty 15 -15Haley, Arnie 33 639Harkins, Bert 7 411Harris, Chris - 22 22Harris, Dick 5 -5Harrison, Bob 10 -10Hart, Oliver 16 -16Havelock, Gary 54 1266Hedge, Trevor 16 1733Hemus, Dave - 1 1Herbert, Hal 1 -1Hill, Roger 1 -1Holden, Kevin 5 712How, Ron 44 1256Howe, Ben 8 -8Howe, David - 4 4Hull, Wally 2 -2Hunt, Alan 26 -26Hunt, Tim 1 -1Hunter, George 17 1633Hunter, Norman 9 1322Hurry, Paul 12 517Hussey, Gerry 2 -2Jackson, Syd 8 -8Jay, Alan 1 -1Jervis, Arthur 2 -2Jessup, Dave 97 -97Johns, Roger 2 -2Jolly, Kevin 6 -6Jones, Graham 3 -3Kelly, Peter 1 -1Kempster, Jim 4 -4Kennett, Edward - 10 10Kennett, Gordon 53 -53Kentwell, Greg - 1 1Key, Nobby 11 -11Kilby, Bob 37 542King, Danny - 6 6Kitchen, Bill 41 -41Kitchen, Jack - 2 2Knight, Richard 20 -20Kuhn, Gus 4 -4Landels, Bill 1 89Langton, Eric 44 -44Langton, Oliver 1 -1Lawson, Louis 7 -7Leadbitter, Tom 2 -2Lee, Michael 72 -72Lees, Ginger 22 -22Levai, Sandor 1 12Lightfoot, Jim 1 34Lloyd, Jeff 5 -5Lloyd, Wally 8 -8Lomas, Tony 12 -12Loram, Mark 36 1046Louis, Chris 41 344Louis, John 54 458Luckhurst, Reg 4 711McAuliffe, Leo - 1 1McGillivray, Les 2 -2McGregor, Gordon 19 120McKinlay, Ken 92 23115McMillan, Jim 28 3159Maidment, Cyril 6 1622Mardon, Geoff - 1 1Mauger, Ivan - 47 47Mear, Robert - 2 2Middleditch, Ken 5 -5Middleditch, Neil 7 -7Miller, Tommy 5 -5Milner, Keith 1 -1Molyneux, Alan 1 -1Monk, Charlie - 15 15Moore, Peter - 3 3Moore, Ronnie - 21 21Morton, Chris 115 7122Morton, Dave 18 -18Morton, Ray 1 -1Mountford, Ron 25 429Mudge, Geoff - 1 1Mullett, Dave 3 -3Neath, Chris - 1 1Newton, George 12 -12Nicholls, Nick 5 -5Nicholls, Scott 8 2735Norris, David 20 828Oakley, Bob 1 -1Oliver, Dent 19 - 19Ormston, Jack 14 -14Owen, Joe 3 -3Owen, Les 2 13Owen, Tom 1 -1Parker, Dennis 5 -5Parker, Jack 89 -89Parker, Norman 36 -36Parkinson, Cliff 17 724Paulson, Bob 3 -3Pawson, Fred 5 -5Phillips, Wal 27 -27Pitcher, Bill 7 -7Plant, Graham 5 16Pratt, Colin 14 721Price, Arthur 3 -3Price, Tommy 23 -23Pusey, Chris 51 -51Pymar, Geoff 12 -12Richardson, Colin 1 -1Richardson, Lee 1 2526Rigg, Eddie 14 -14Roger, Bert 11 -11Roger, Cyril 25 -25Rogers, Fred 1 -1Roper, Tommy 4 -4Rossiter, Alun 8 -8Roynon, Adam - 1 1Rye, Claude 4 -4Schofield, Steve 12 -12Scott, Jack - 1 1Screen, Joe 37 744Sharpe, Les - 2 2Sharples, Ken 8 -8Silver, Andrew 22 -22Simmons, Malcolm 73 578Small, Terry 1 -1Smith, Andy 29 -29Smith, Kevin 3 -3Smith, Pete 7 29Squibb, Jimmy 4 48Standing, Dean 4 -4Statham, Alec 22 -22Stead, Simon - 11 11Stevenson, Tiger 27 -27Stobbart, Rol 2 -2Stonehewer, Carl 7 512Street, Neil - 1 1Sweetman, Tommy 6 -6Tatum, Kelvin 65 -65Taylor, Chum - 1 1Thomas, Barry 26 -26Thorp, Paul 31 -31Trigg, Roy 31 536Trott, Reg 1 -1Tyrer, Paul 1 -1Unstead, Jack 2 -2Varey, Frank 21 -21Warwick, Arthur 7 -7Waterman, Split 32 -32Watkin, Mike 1 12Watson, Colin 9 -9White, George 19 -19White, Keith 7 -7Whitfield, Harry 1 -1Wigg, Simon 57 -57Wilkinson, Alan 12 -12Wilkinson, Fred 2 -2Wilks, George 9 -9Williams, Eric 23 -23Williams, Freddie 28 -28Williams, Ian 8 -8Wilson, Ray 72 36108Wilson, Reg 7 1623Wilson, Sean 23 225Woffinden, Tai - 11 11Woods, Paul 2 -2Wotton, Les 13 -13Wright, Arthur 7 - 7Wyer, Doug 46 1460Young, Jack - 1 1Younghusband, Dave 8 311

Managers

1975–1975 (Reg Fearman) 1975–1976 (John Berry) 1976–1976 (Len Silver) 1977–1978 (John Berry) 1979–1980 (Colin Pratt) 1980–1980 (Ian Thomas) 1981–1981 (Len Silver) 1982–1982 (Eric Boocock) 1983–1984 (Wally Mawdsley) 1984–1984 (Carl Glover) 1984–1985 (John Berry) 1982 & 1986–1993 (Eric Boocock) 1986–1993 (Colin Pratt) 1994–1998 (John Louis) 1994–1994 (James Easter) 1998–2001 (Dave Jessup) 2001–2008 (Neil Middleditch) 2009–2010 (Rob Lyon) 2011–2013 (Neil Middleditch) 2014–2019 (Alun Rossiter) 2019– (Oliver Allen) 2019– (Simon Stead)

References