Derick Close
| Born | 13 May 1927 Bowes, County Durham, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 4 October 2021 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1947–1948 | Middlesbrough Bears |
| 1948, 1949–1951 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| 1951–1954 | Motherwell/Lanarkshire Eagles |
| 1955 | Leicester Hunters |
Derick Tallentire Close (13 May 1927 – 4 October 2021) was a British motorcycle speedway rider, who reached the final of Speedway World Championship in 1952.[1]
Career
[edit]Close was born in Bowes, County Durham. He started his career with the Middlesbrough Bears in 1947 followed by a short spell on loan with the Newcastle Diamonds at the start of 1948. He returned to the Bears and established himself in the team.[2] In 1949, he rejoined Newcastle where he spent the next three seasons[3] before joining the Lanarkshire Eagles mid season in 1951.[4]
The 1952 season proved to be the best of his career after receiving a call up to ride for England, despite riding in National League Division Two, having never ridden in the top flight.[5] He also reached the final of the Speedway World Championship. In 1953, he suffered a fractured skull and although he rode well again in 1954 he suffered a drop in form after joining the Leicester Hunters in 1955 and retired at the end of the season.[6]
At retirement he had earned 2 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]
World final appearances
[edit]- 1952 –
London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 4pts[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Darling of the fans Warren can give youth its biggest speedway boost". Daily Mirror. 10 June 1949. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Henry, J. & Moultray, I. (2001). Speedway in Scotland. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2229-4
- ^ Foster, P. (2005) History of the Speedway Ashes, The History Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3468-3
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 31 October 2023.