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1973 British League season

The 1973 British League season was the 39th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the ninth season of the British League.

Summary

Glasgow Tigers relocated to become Coatbridge Tigers.

The Reading Racers won their first title, ending the dominance of Belle Vue Aces who could only finish in sixth place. Swede Anders Michanek was in imperious form, going undefeated at Reading Stadium (which was in its final year as a venue). He finished with an 11.36 average ahead of the four time world champion Ivan Mauger on 11.29. In addition to Michanek the Reading team was boosted by high scoring from Norwegian Dag Lövaas and Australian Geoff Curtis. In a sensational finish to the 1973 Knockout Cup final Reading were beaten by Belle Vue in a run-off for the Cup after an aggregate draw over two legs.

Reading's success had a sour note after the season had finished when Geoff Curtis returned to Australia for the Australian season and was killed in a race at the Sydney Showground in December.

Final table

<small>M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points</small>

Fixtures and results

Top ten riders (league averages)

British League Knockout Cup

The 1973 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 35th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Belle Vue were the winners after Peter Collins of Belle Vue defeated Anders Michanek of Reading in a race-off because the tie had finished 78–78 on aggregate.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

Second leg

Match finished 78–78 on aggregate. Belle Vue won race-off.

Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time, it was held at Hyde Road on 3 October and was sponsored by Player's No.10.

  • ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded

Leading final averages

Both Anders Michanek and Ivan Mauger recorded perfect 12 point average scores at home for the season, meaning they were unbeaten by any opposing rider on their own track in League competition.

London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup for just the third time but there were now only two teams remaining in London.

Results

Midland Cup

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

First round

Semi final round

Final first leg

Final Second leg

Wolverhampton won on aggregate 81.5–74.5

Spring Gold Cup

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

  • 10.55
  • 9.08
  • 8.73
  • 7.00
  • 6.94
  • 6.21
  • 5.67
  • 5.16
  • 3.52
  • 3.05

Coatbridge

  • 9.01
  • 8.00
  • 6.38
  • 5.03
  • 4.82
  • 4.55
  • 4.13
  • 1.79

Coventry

  • 8.59
  • 8.33
  • 8.32
  • 6.31
  • 5.55
  • 4.83
  • 4.65
  • 3.44
  • 3.26
  • 3.20
  • 2.53

Cradley Heath

  • 9.38
  • (Kid Brodie) 9.12
  • 6.62
  • 5.77
  • 4.85
  • 4.49
  • 4.46
  • 4.40
  • 3.44
  • 2.50

Exeter

  • 11.29
  • 7.57
  • 6.38
  • 6.00
  • 5.80
  • 5.34
  • 4.74
  • 4.48

Hackney

  • 8.86
  • 7.83
  • 6.41
  • 5.55
  • 5.44
  • 5.40
  • 5.29
  • 4.31

Halifax

  • 10.32
  • 6.92
  • 6.31
  • 6.25
  • 5.63
  • 5.14
  • 4.19
  • 3.28
  • 2.33
  • 1.22

Ipswich

  • 10.06
  • 7.46
  • 7.43
  • 6.09
  • 5.87
  • 5.68
  • 3.20

King's Lynn

  • 10.26
  • 9.95
  • 6.28
  • 6.07
  • 5.44
  • 5.35
  • 4.82
  • 4.71
  • 4.22

Leicester

  • 10.24
  • 9.44
  • 9.24
  • 5.80
  • 4.67
  • 4.37
  • 4.21
  • 3.09

Newport

  • 9.77
  • 7.39
  • 7.37
  • 7.28
  • 6.01
  • 4.79
  • 3.93
  • 3.62

Oxford

  • 7.77
  • 7.32
  • 6.42
  • 6.19
  • 6.09
  • 5.81
  • 5.72
  • 5.38
  • 4.80
  • 3.24

Poole

  • 9.58
  • 8.30
  • 7.18
  • 6.49
  • 5.93
  • 5.36
  • 4.34
  • 3.70
  • 2.40
  • 2.10

Reading

  • 11.36
  • 10.06
  • 8.23
  • 6.05
  • 5.83
  • 5.28
  • 4.46
  • 3.20

Sheffield

  • 9.30
  • 7.78
  • 7.72
  • 7.36
  • 7.06
  • 6.92
  • 6.85

Swindon

  • 10.18
  • 7.34
  • 6.81
  • 6.67
  • 4.90
  • 4.25
  • 4.18
  • 3.58
  • 2.48
  • 0.94
  • 0.50

Wimbledon

  • 9.19
  • 7.74
  • 6.95
  • 6.75
  • 5.09
  • 5.09
  • 4.72
  • 3.06
  • 2.09

Wolverhampton

  • 10.82
  • 7.93
  • 6.73
  • 5.99
  • 5.47
  • 4.67
  • 4.63
  • 4.55
  • 4.33
  • 3.82
  • 2.95

See also

References