1979 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1979 Individual Speedway World Championship.
In his 14th straight World Final appearance (dating back to 1966), New Zealand's Ivan Mauger won his 6th Speedway World Championship, breaking the previous record of 5 wins held by himself and legendary Swede Ove Fundin. Mauger scored 14 points to defeat local favourite Zenon Plech (13) and young English tearaway Michael Lee (11), with Lee the only rider to defeat Mauger on the day. Lee also had to defeat Kelly Moran (USA), Billy Sanders (Australia) and defending champion Ole Olsen in a runoff for third after all four riders finished on 11 points.
This would prove to be the last appearance for Ivan Mauger as a rider in a World Final.
British Qualification
Similar to the previous season, the British qualifying rounds for the World Championship doubled up as qualifying rounds for the Grand Prix. Therefore, many non-British riders such as Scott Autrey and Ivan Mauger rode in these meetings scoring points towards the Grand Prix qualification - but their scores didn't count towards World Championship qualification.
British Final
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
 |
 (9) Peter Collins |
15 |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
15 |
1 |
|
 |
(8) Michael Lee |
14 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
14 |
2 |
|
 |
(7) Dave Jessup |
12 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
12 |
3 |
|
| 4 |
(16) John Davis |
11 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
11 |
4 |
|
| 5 |
(10) Doug Wyer |
10 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
10 |
5 |
|
| 6 |
(11) Malcolm Simmons |
10 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
10 |
6 |
|
| 7 |
(12) Roger Johns |
8 |
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
8 |
7 |
|
| 8 |
(1) Gordon Kennett |
7 |
3 |
|
|
|
E |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
7 |
8 |
|
| 9 |
(13) Alan Molyneyx |
7 |
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
7 |
9 |
|
| 10 |
(2) John Louis |
6 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
3 |
| 11 |
(6) Chris Morton |
6 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
6 |
11 |
2 |
| 12 |
(5) Reg Wilson |
6 |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
6 |
12 |
|
| 13 |
 (15) Jim McMillan |
4 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
13 |
|
| 14 |
(14) Alan Grahame |
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
14 |
|
| 15 |
(4) Mike Lanham |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
1 |
15 |
|
| 16 |
(3) Ian Turner |
0 |
E |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
0 |
16 |
|
| R1 |
(R1) Craig Pendlebury |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
R1 |
| R2 |
(R2) Ian Cartwright |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
R2 |
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
Swedish Qualification
Swedish Final
- May 29, 1979
Kumla- First 5 to Scandinavian Final + 1 reserve
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
|---|
| 1 | Jan Andersson | 15 |
| 2 | Anders Michanek | 12 |
| 3 | Bernt Persson | 11 |
| 4 | Richard Hellsen | 11 |
| 5 | Ake Fridell | 11 |
| 6 | Lars Ake Andersson | 10 |
| 7 | Bo Wirebrand | 9 |
| 8 | Uno Johansson | 8 |
| 9 | Stefan Salmonsson | 7 |
| 10 | Bengt Jansson | 5 |
| 11 | Hans Danielsson | 5 |
| 12 | Soren Sjosten | 4 |
| 13 | Tommy Nilsson | 3 |
| 14 | Lennart Bengsson (res) | 3 |
| 15 | Gert Carlsson | 2 |
| 16 | Kent Eriksson | 1 |
| 17 | Soren Karlsson | 0 |
New Zealand Final
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
|---|
| 1 |  Larry Ross | 3,3,3,3,3 | 15 |
| 2 | Mitch Shirra | 3,3,2,2,2 | 12 |
| 3 | Ivan Mauger | 2,3,E,3,3 | 11 |
| 4 | Roger Wright | 2,0,3,3,3 | 11 |
| 5 | John Goodall | 1,3,3,1,2 | 10 |
| 6 | David Bargh | 3,0,1,3,2 | 9 |
| 7 | Tony Briggs | 1,2,1,2,3 | 9 |
| 8 | Graeme Stapleton | 2,2,2,1,2 | 9 |
| 9 | Mike Fullerton | 3,1,3,0,1 | 8 |
| 10 | James Moore | 1,2,0,2,1 | 6 |
| 11 | Colin Tucker | 0,2,1,2,0 | 5 |
| 12 | Patrick Pawson | 0,1,2,1,0 | 4 |
| 13 | Robin Adlington | 0,1,2,0,1 | 4 |
| 14 | Max Brown | 1,1,0,0,0 | 2 |
| 15 | John Brown | 0,0,0,0,1 | 1 |
| 16 | William Aulsford | ns | 0 |
| R1 | Paul Fewings | 2,1,0 | 3 |
| R2 | Gary Forscutt | 0,1 | 1 |
Intercontinental Round
American Final
- December 29, 1978
Santa Ana, Santa Ana Speedway- First 2 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
|---|
| 1 | Bobby Schwartz | 12+3 |
| 2 | Mike Bast | 12+2 |
| 3 | Kelly Moran | 12+1 |
| 4 | Steve Gresham | 12+0 |
| 5 | Mike Faria | 10 |
| 6 | Steve McConnell | 9 |
| 7 | Bruce Penhall | 7 |
| 8 | Bill Cordy | 7 |
| 9 | John Cook | 6 |
| 10 | Rich McMurray | 6 |
| 11 | Gary Hutchinson | 6 |
| 12 | Dave Robinson | 5 |
| 13 | Duane Yarrow | 5 |
| 14 | Dave Faria | 4 |
| 15 | Denny Pyeatt | 3 |
| 16 | Mark Blom | 2 |
Australian Final
- February 11, 1978
-
Mildura
- First 8 to Austral-Asian Final
Australasian Final
Danish Final
- May 6, 1979
-
Fjelsted
- First 5 to Scandinavian Final
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
|
(5) Bo Petersen |
14 |
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
14 |
1 |
3 |
|
(12) Finn Thomsen |
14 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
14 |
2 |
2 |
|
(6) Michael Lochmann |
12 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
12 |
3 |
3 |
| 4 |
(1) Hans Nielsen |
12 |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
12 |
4 |
2 |
| 5 |
(14) Finn Rune Jensen |
11 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
11 |
5 |
|
| 6 |
(7) Bent Rasmussen |
10 |
|
F |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
10 |
6 |
|
| 7 |
(15) Jens Henry Nielsen |
10 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
7 |
|
| 8 |
(10) Steen Mastrup |
8 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
8 |
8 |
|
| 9 |
(3) Helge Hansen |
5 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
5 |
9 |
|
| 10 |
(13) Svend Lund |
5 |
|
|
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
E |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
5 |
10 |
|
| 11 |
(4) Gunnar Svendsen |
5 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
5 |
11 |
|
| 12 |
(2) Finn Londal Jensen |
4 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
4 |
12 |
|
| 13 |
(16) Alf Busk |
4 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
F |
|
|
- |
|
|
4 |
13 |
|
| 14 |
(8) Kai Kristiansen |
3 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
F |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3 |
14 |
|
| 15 |
(9) Kristian Praestbro |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
E |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
|
1 |
15 |
|
| 16 |
(11) Ernst Bogh |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
16 |
|
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
Scandinavian Final
- June 5, 1979
- Norrköping
- First 5 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
|
(1) Jan Andersen |
13 |
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
13 |
1 |
3 |
|
(13) Hans Nielsen |
13 |
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
(8) Finn Thomsen |
12 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
12 |
3 |
3 |
| 4 |
(10) Ole Olsen |
12 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
12 |
4 |
2 |
| 5 |
 (3) Kai Niemi |
9 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
9 |
5 |
3 |
| 6 |
(5) Ila Teromaa |
9 |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
| 7 |
(16) Bo Petersen |
8 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
0 |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
8 |
7 |
|
| 8 |
(6) Bernt Persson |
8 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
8 |
8 |
|
| 9 |
(4) Anders Michanek |
7 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
7 |
9 |
|
| 10 |
(14) Michael Lochmann |
6 |
|
|
|
X |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
E |
6 |
10 |
|
| 11 |
 (2) Reidar Eide |
6 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
6 |
11 |
|
| 12 |
(11) Rolf Gramstad |
5 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
5 |
12 |
|
| 13 |
(15) Ake Fridell |
4 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
4 |
13 |
|
| 14 |
(9) Richard Hellsen |
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
|
3 |
14 |
|
| 15 |
(7) Olli Turkia |
2 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
F |
|
|
2 |
15 |
|
| 16 |
(12) Audun Ove Olsen |
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
2 |
16 |
|
| R1 |
(R1) Lars Ake Andersson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
R1 |
| R2 |
(R2) Soren Karlsson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
R2 |
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
Commonwealth Final
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
Intercontinental Final
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
Continental Round
Continental Final
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
|
 (9) Christoph Betzl |
14 |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
2 |
|
|
14 |
1 |
|
|
 (3) Mikhail Starostin |
13 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
13 |
2 |
|
|
 (5) Zdeněk Kudrna |
12 |
|
3 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
| 4 |
(14) Alois Wiesbock |
12 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
12 |
4 |
2 |
| 5 |
(13) Petr Ondrašík |
11 |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
11 |
5 |
|
| 6 |
(16) Valery Gordeev |
10 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
10 |
6 |
|
| 7 |
(11) Vaclav Verner |
9 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
9 |
7 |
|
| 8 |
(10) Jiří Štancl |
7 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
0 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
7 |
8 |
|
| 9 |
(12) Viktor Kuznetsov |
7 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
7 |
9 |
|
| 10 |
(15) Anatoly Maksimov |
6 |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
2 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
6 |
10 |
|
| 11 |
(2) Karl Maier |
6 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
6 |
11 |
|
| 12 |
(4) Georg Hack |
4 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
X |
4 |
12 |
|
| 13 |
(7) Jan Hadek |
4 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
4 |
13 |
|
| 14 |
 (1) László Mészáros |
2 |
X |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
14 |
|
| 15 |
(8) Jan Verner |
0 |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
0 |
15 |
|
| 16 |
(6) Aleš Dryml, Sr. |
0 |
|
X |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
0 |
16 |
|
| R1 |
(R1) Janosz Szoke |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
1 |
R1 |
| Placing |
Rider |
Total |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
Pts |
Pos |
21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
World Final
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •
t - exclusion for touching the tapes •
x - other exclusion •
e - retired or mechanical failure •
f - fell •
ns - non-starter •
nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside |
gate B |
gate C |
gate D - outside |
References
- ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
|
|---|
|
| Speedway World Championship | | |
|---|
|
| Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) | |
|---|
|
| See also | |
|---|
Žarnovica 
Wiener Neustadt 
Giavera del Montello 
Nikolaj Manev
Henny Kroeze 
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium[1]