1968 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1968 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 23rd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

Ivan Mauger won his first World title. Fellow countryman Barry Briggs finished second and Pole Edward Jancarz took the bronze medal.

Format changes

The format of the Championship changed again for the 1968 event. It reverted to the 1966 system whereby six riders from the Swedish section would qualify for the World Final direct to be held in Sweden. All other nations had to go through various events to establish the other ten riders to qualify for the final.

First round

Qualification results.

British/Commonwealth qualifying

• Top 32 to British/Commonwealth semi-finals

Continental qualifying

• Top 32 to Continantal semi-finals

Second round

British/Commonwealth semi-finals

Third round

British/Commonwealth Final

• 11 July 1968
• Wimbledon Stadium, London
• First 10 to British-Nordic Final plus 1 reserve

Nordic Final

• 2 June 1968
• Selskov Stadium, Hillerød
• First 6 to British-Nordic Final, plus 1 reserve

Continental semi-finals

Fourth round

Swedish Qualifying

British/Commonwealth/Nordic Final

• 6 August 1968
• West Ham Stadium, London
• First 8 to European Final plus 1 reserve

Continental Final

• 21 June 1968
• Stroitel Stadium, Ufa
• First 8 to European Final plus 1 reserve

Fifth round

Swedish Final

• Top 6 to World final, 1 reserve

European Final

• 25 August 1968
• Olympic Stadium, Wrocław
• First 10 to World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

• 6 September 1968
• Ullevi, Gothenburg

References