Bernt Persson Explained

Bernt Persson
Nationality:Swedish
Birth Date:24 June 1946
Birth Place:Eskilstuna, Sweden
Death Date:[1]
Nickname:Bernie
Career1:Great Britain
Years2:1965, 1967
Career2:Edinburgh Monarchs
Years3:1968
Career3:Coatbridge Monarchs
Years4:1969-1973, 1975-1977
Career4:Cradley Heathens/United
Years5:1978
Career5:Sheffield Tigers
Career6:Sweden
Years7:1963-1968, 1977-1983
Career7:Smederna
Years8:1965
Career8:Vargarna
Years9:1969-1976
Career9:Indianerna
Years10:1985-1986
Career10:Tuna Rebels
Indivyear1:1977
Indivhonour1:Swedish Champion
Teamyear1:1977
Teamhonour1:Allsvenskan Champion
Teamyear2:1972, 1973
Teamhonour2:Allsvenskan Div 2 (West) Champion
Teamyear3:1985
Teamhonour3:Allsvenskan Div 2 (North) Champion
Teamyear4:1967
Teamhonour4:Allsvenskan Div 3 (West) Champion

Bernt Eveart Persson (24 June 1946 - 20 September 2020) was a Swedish international motorcycle speedway rider.[2] He earned 102 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.[3]

Career

Persson started his career in the Swedish Speedway Team Championship riding for Smederna but came to prominence racing in the British leagues from 1965 to 1978.[4] In 1965 after competing in the Brandonapolis at Coventry, he signed to race for the Edinburgh Monarchs for the latter part of the 1965 British League season.[5]

Persson was unable to ride for Edinburgh in 1966 because he was serving in the Swedish army but returned in 1967.[6] During 1967 he established himself as one of the world's leading riders finishing 9th in the 1967 Individual Speedway World Championship final.

Persson joined Cradley Heathens/United in 1969 and spent five years at the Dudley Wood Stadium in his first spell with the club.[7]

His greatest achievement was finishing runner up in the 1972 Speedway World Championship. After tying with the legendary Ivan Mauger on 13 points, during the 1972 Individual Speedway World Championship final, held on 16 September at Wembley Stadium, he lost the run-off and missed out on becoming the world champion.[8] [9]

Persson went on to win three medals at the Speedway World Cup (1973, 1975 and 1977) and became Swedish Champion in 1977.[10]

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

World Pairs Championship

World Team Cup

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography. Cradley Speedway. 22 May 2022.
  2. Book: Oakes, Peter . Mauger, Ivan . Ivan Mauger. Who's Who of World Speedway . Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd . 1976 . 0-904584-04-6 .
  3. Web site: Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 8 September 2024.
  4. Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”.
  5. News: Stars at Gold Cup match at Brandon . Rugby Advertiser . 24 September 1965 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 8 September 2024.
  6. News: broken foot . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 3 June 1966 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 8 September 2024.
  7. News: Swede No.2 for Cradley . Wolverhampton Express and Star . 12 June 1970 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 8 September 2024.
  8. News: 4-Timer Mauger . Sunday Mirror . 17 September 1972 . 9 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  9. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
  10. Book: Oakes, Peter . 1981 Speedway Yearbook . 1981 . 85 . Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd . 0-86215-017-5.