George Major (speedway rider) explained

George Major
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date:26 October 1939
Birth Place:Donnington, Oxfordshire, England
Years1:1959
Career1:Aldershot Shots
Years2:1960
Career2:Yarmouth Bloaters
Years3:1961
Career3:Newcastle Diamonds
Years4:1962
Career4:Neath Welsh Dragons
Years5:1963
Career5:St. Austell Gulls
Years6:1961, 1963–1964, 1969–1970
Career6:Oxford Cheetahs
Years7:1964
Career7:Norwich Stars
Years8:1964–1965, 1973
Career8:Cradley Heathens/United
Years9:1966–1967, 1971
Career9:Sheffield Tigers
Years10:1968
Career10:Leicester Lions
Years11:1970
Career11:Doncaster Dragons
Years12:1970
Career12:Newport Wasps
Years13:1971–1975
Career13:Birmingham Brummies
Years14:1971
Career14:Belle Vue Aces
Years15:1971
Career15:King's Lynn Stars
Years16:1972
Career16:Oxford Rebels
Years17:1972
Career17:Glasgow Tigers
Years18:1972, 1973
Career18:Wolverhampton Wolves
Years19:1972
Career19:Halifax Dukes
Years20:1973
Career20:Coventry Bees
Teamyear1:1974
Teamhonour1:British League Division Two Champion
Teamyear2:1974
Teamhonour2:British League Division Two KO Cup Winner
Teamyear3:1975
Teamhonour3:New National League Champion

Clive George Major (born 26 October 1939) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]

Biography

Born in Donnington, Oxfordshire,[2] Major's first speedway experience was riding on a track built on a rubbish tip in his home town.[3] He made his competitive debut in 1959 for Aldershot Shots in the Southern Area League. In the early 1960s he rode for Yarmouth Bloaters, Newcastle Diamonds, Neath Welsh Dragons, St Austell Gulls, and Norwich Stars before riding for his home town club, Oxford Cheetahs in 1963 and 1964. In 1964 he signed for Cradley Heathens, and was the team's top scorer in 1964 before riding with them in the first season of the British League the following year, in which he averaged over 7.5 points per match.[4] After two seasons with Sheffield Tigers he signed for Leicester Lions in 1968, before returning to Oxford in the 1969 season after injury saw him lose his place in the Lions team. In 1970, no longer a high points scorer at the top level, he dropped down to the second division with Doncaster Stallions, averaging over 9.5 over the season, with 4 maximum points scores. Four seasons with Birmingham Brummies followed, in which he captained the team and continued to score highly in the second division, before retiring at the end of the 1975 season.

Major represented Britain in 1963 and 1964 in Test matches against an Overseas team, and England in 1964 against Scotland. He competed in the first British Final in 1965, finishing thirteenth. He competed in the Second Division Riders Final in 1971 and 1972, finishing seventh and ninth respectively.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 9 August 2023.
  2. Hearn, Dan (2010) "Speedway stars hold memorial reunion", Banbury Cake, 9 October 2010, retrieved 2012-03-24
  3. Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications,, p. 79-80
  4. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 157