1981 British League season
The 1981 British League season was the 47th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 17th known as the British League.[1] SummaryThe league comprised 16 teams - one fewer than the previous season. Wolverhampton Wolves had dropped down to the National League.[2] American Bruce Penhall (who would be crowned world champion by the end of the season) topped the averages and helped Cradley Heathens win their first title. The Cradley team included Penhall, rising Danish star Erik Gundersen and British internationals Alan Grahame and Phil Collins. The league runner-up Ipswich Witches gained some consolation by winning the Knockout Cup.[3] The year saw a changing of the guard as a number of young riders broke through as heat leaders. American duo Penhall and Dennis Sigalos led Cradley Heath and Ipswich respectively, Danish trio Gundersen, Hans Nielsen and Tommy Knudsen all qualified for the World Final, and Kenny Carter finished as top Englishman in the World Final and won the League Riders' Championship.[4] Final league table
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Top Ten Riders (League Averages)
British League Knockout CupThe 1981 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 43rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Ipswich Witches were the winners.[5] First round
Second round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
FinalFirst leg
Second leg
The Ipswich Witches were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 100-92. League CupThe League Cup was inaugurated in 1981 with the 16 teams split into North and South sections comprising 8 teams each that met each other home and away. The winners of each section qualified for the two-legged final with Coventry Bees beating King's Lynn Stars in the final 120โ70 on aggregate. North Group
South Group
Final
Riders' ChampionshipKenny Carter won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 17 October and sponsored by the Daily Mirror.[4]
Final leading averages
Midland CupCoventry won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of five teams and was sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank.[6] First round
Semi final round
FinalFirst leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate 84โ72 London CupHackney won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.[7] Results
Riders & final averagesBelle Vue
Birmingham
Coventry
Cradley Heath
Eastbourne
Hackney
Halifax
Hull
Ipswich
King's Lynn
Leicester
Poole
Reading
Sheffield
Swindon
Wimbledon
See alsoReferences
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