Bob Sharp (speedway rider)

Robert Henry Sharp (17 February 1934 – 12 September 2012) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice champion of Australia in 1962 and 1965 and earned 13 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1]

Bob Sharp
Born17 February 1934 (1934-02-17)
Arcadia, New South Wales, Australia
Died12 September 2012(2012-09-12) (aged 78)
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1952–1954Glasgow White City
1954–1958Ipswich Witches
Individual honours
1962, 1965Australian champion
1964New South Wales champion

Biography

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Sharp, born in Arcadia, New South Wales, began his British leagues career riding for Glasgow Tigers during the 1952 Speedway National League Division Two season.[2] He won the Scottish novices Championship in September 1952.[3]

He spent two full seasons with Glasgow but in 1954 was forced to find a new club following Glasgow's withdrawal from the league campaign.[4]

He switched to Ipswich Witches[5] and began to build on his previous seasons averages, recording 6.38 for the 1954 season.[6] He came to prominence in 1956 after recording an 8.93 average for Ipswich.[7] However, following a disappointing 1958 campaign he returned to ride in Australia.

He became the Australian champion after winning the Australian Solo Championship in 1962[8] and New South Wales champion in 1964. He won a second Australian title in 1965.

References

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  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ "1952 fixtures" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Another Aussie Champion". Wishaw Press. 26 September 1952. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Speedway Club out of League". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 May 1954. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Monarchs to lose Greenwood". Edinburgh Evening News. 11 May 1954. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 18 February 2024.