Bradford Dukes
Encyclopedia
The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway
team which operated from the Odsal Stadium
in Bradford
from 1986 until their closure in 1997.
; there have been three eras of racing activity at the venue spanning the years 1945-1960, 1970-1975 and most recently 1985-1997. There was also a short-lived existence at the old Greenfield Stadium between 1961-1962.
Speedway returned to Odsal in 1985 after a ten-year absence when it was selected by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
to host the 1985 Speedway World Championship
. Bradford Council
were quick to seize on the prestige of being associated with a World event and approved £1 million project to refurbish the Odsal Stadium
. A 40,000 crowd attended at the final.
In March 1986 Odsal opened its doors to British League
action for the first time since the 1950s after the Halifax Dukes
were offered a new home track. The new 'Bradford Dukes' team would in later years include Gary Havelock
, the multi-British Champion
Simon Wigg
, England number one Kelvin Tatum
and Mark Loram
. However, the club suffered the loss of Kenny Carter
who died in a shooting incident during their first season.
Bradford speedway then enjoyed its greatest period of success winning eight trophies and a World Title until the club's closure in 1997 when despite winning the Elite League Championship
, the club folded for the third and final time.
became Speedway World Champion
whilst a Bradford rider in 1992, winning the title at the Olympic Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team which operated from the Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
from 1986 until their closure in 1997.
History
Speedway has long been associated with Odsal StadiumOdsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
; there have been three eras of racing activity at the venue spanning the years 1945-1960, 1970-1975 and most recently 1985-1997. There was also a short-lived existence at the old Greenfield Stadium between 1961-1962.
Speedway returned to Odsal in 1985 after a ten-year absence when it was selected by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
to host the 1985 Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
. Bradford Council
City of Bradford
The City of Bradford is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, Haworth, Silsden and...
were quick to seize on the prestige of being associated with a World event and approved £1 million project to refurbish the Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
. A 40,000 crowd attended at the final.
In March 1986 Odsal opened its doors to British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
action for the first time since the 1950s after the Halifax Dukes
Halifax Dukes
The Halifax Dukes were a Speedway team which operated from 1949-1951 and again from 1965 until their closure in 1985 at The Shay Stadium in Halifax...
were offered a new home track. The new 'Bradford Dukes' team would in later years include Gary Havelock
Gary Havelock
Robert Gary Havelock is a speedway rider who currently captains the Redcar Bears in the British Premier League...
, the multi-British Champion
British Speedway Championship
The British Speedway Championship is an annual motorcycle speedway competition open to British national speedway riders. The winner of the event becomes the British Speedway Champion. It has been open in the past to riders from British dominions and was dominated in its early years by riders from...
Simon Wigg
Simon Wigg
Simon Wigg was a speedway, grasstrack and Longtrack rider who finished runner-up in the Speedway World Championship in 1989....
, England number one Kelvin Tatum
Kelvin Tatum
Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE is a former British international motorcycle speedway and Grasstrack rider.-Career:...
and Mark Loram
Mark Loram
Mark Roysten Gregory Loram is a former British motorcycle speedway rider who started his career with the Hackney Kestrels in 1987. He is a former World Speedway Champion. In March 2007 Loram broke his thigh and dislocated his arm whilst riding in the opening fixture of the British Elite League...
. However, the club suffered the loss of Kenny Carter
Kenny Carter
Kenneth 'Kenny' Malcolm Carter , was a world class speedway rider. He rode for Newcastle Diamonds , Halifax Dukes and Bradford Dukes ....
who died in a shooting incident during their first season.
Bradford speedway then enjoyed its greatest period of success winning eight trophies and a World Title until the club's closure in 1997 when despite winning the Elite League Championship
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
, the club folded for the third and final time.
World Champions
Gary HavelockGary Havelock
Robert Gary Havelock is a speedway rider who currently captains the Redcar Bears in the British Premier League...
became Speedway World Champion
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
whilst a Bradford rider in 1992, winning the title at the Olympic Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland.
See also
- Odsal BoomerangsOdsal BoomerangsOdsal Boomerangs were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1945 to 1949. The team later become the Odsal Tudors. -History:...
- Bradford TudorsBradford TudorsThe Odsal Tudors were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1950 to 1956.-History:At the end of July 1950 the Odsal Tudors replaced the Odsal Boomerangs. At the time it was said that the name change was due to the riders hating the Boomerang nickname, or maybe they believed...
- Bradford PanthersBradford PanthersThe Bradford Panthers were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1960 to 1969.-Odsal:In 1960 the Bradford Tudors renamed themselves the Bradford Panthers. They had one disastrous season at Odsal before leaving for Greenfield Stadium at Dudley Hill...
- Bradford BaronsBradford BaronsBradford Barons were a motorcycle speedway team based at Odsal in Bradford from 1974 to 1975.-History:1974 saw yet another name change with Bradford Barons replacing Bradford Northern as Alan Knapkin began his first full season in charge...