Graham Plant
Encyclopedia
Graham Plant is an English
former motorcycle speedway
rider. He won the Second Division Riders Championship
in 1968 and went to a career in the British League
with Leicester Lions, Newport Wasps
, and Halifax Dukes
.
, Graham Plant is the son of former speedway rider Wilf Plant, and began racing in his teens, initially in go-kart
and sidecar racing. After practicing at King's Lynn
, he had his first speedway races in second half events at Long Eaton Speedway in 1967. In 1968 he joined second division Middlesbrough Teessiders
on loan from Leicester Lions, and impressive performances (he averaged 8.54 over the season) also led to appearances for first division Lions. He also won the Second Division Riders Championship that year. In 1969 he rode full-time for the Lions, averaging 6.21 over the season, including one full maximum score. Also in 1969, he won the
British Under 21 Championship
. By 1971 he was one of the Lions' top riders, averaging 8.78 over the season, and he represented England in international competition and finished third in the Rhodesian Open Championship. In 1972 he moved to Newport Wasps
, where he stayed for two seasons before moving on to Halifax Dukes
, where he stayed until 1979, although he made no appearances in 1978 and only rode in only a handful of matches in 1979, before retiring. He returned in 1980 with National League
team the Milton Keynes Knights
where he raced in 1980 and 1981, when his season was cut short after a loss of form and a falling-out with the team management. He returned briefly for the Knights in 1983, before retiring for the final time.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former motorcycle speedway
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...
rider. He won the Second Division Riders Championship
Speedway Premier League Riders Championship
The Premier League Riders Championship is a contest between the top riders with the highest average points total from each club competing in the Speedway Premier League in the UK. The championship was inaugurated in 1968 when it was known as the British League Division Two Riders Championship...
in 1968 and went to a career in the 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....
with Leicester Lions, Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
, and 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...
.
Biography
Born in LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Graham Plant is the son of former speedway rider Wilf Plant, and began racing in his teens, initially in go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
and sidecar racing. After practicing at King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
, he had his first speedway races in second half events at Long Eaton Speedway in 1967. In 1968 he joined second division Middlesbrough Teessiders
Middlesbrough Bears
The Middlesbrough Bears were a British speedway team which operated under various names from 1939 until their closure in 1996.-Brief history:The team was initially nicknamed the Bears in 1939...
on loan from Leicester Lions, and impressive performances (he averaged 8.54 over the season) also led to appearances for first division Lions. He also won the Second Division Riders Championship that year. In 1969 he rode full-time for the Lions, averaging 6.21 over the season, including one full maximum score. Also in 1969, he won the
British Under 21 Championship
British Speedway Under 21 Championship
The British Speedway Under-21 Championship is an annual speedway competition open to riders of British nationality aged at least fifteen on the date of the first meeting, and under twenty-one on 1 January in the year of the competition...
. By 1971 he was one of the Lions' top riders, averaging 8.78 over the season, and he represented England in international competition and finished third in the Rhodesian Open Championship. In 1972 he moved to Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps
Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport...
, where he stayed for two seasons before moving on to 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...
, where he stayed until 1979, although he made no appearances in 1978 and only rode in only a handful of matches in 1979, before retiring. He returned in 1980 with National League
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
team the Milton Keynes Knights
Milton Keynes Knights
The Milton Keynes Knights were a Speedway team which operated under various names from 1978 until their closure in 1992. The team were based at the Groveway Greyhound Stadium until 1988. In 1989 they moved to the new stadium at Elfield Park...
where he raced in 1980 and 1981, when his season was cut short after a loss of form and a falling-out with the team management. He returned briefly for the Knights in 1983, before retiring for the final time.