# 1975 British League season

The 1975 Gulf Oil British League season was the 41st season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 11th season known as the British League.

## Summary

The league was sponsored for the first time by Gulf Oil. Reading Racers returned after a one-season absence to increase the size of the league back to eighteen teams and the ban on overseas riders that rode in other leagues abroad was lifted.
The Ipswich Witches won their first title, defeating Belle Vue Aces by a solitary point. John Louis and Billy Sanders scored heavily throughout the season for Ipswich. Belle Vue found consolation by winning the Knockout Cup.
In their last season at the Cowley track, Oxford Rebels won the Midland Cup, beating Wolverhampton Wolves but the competition was overshadowed by the death of rider Gary Peterson.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Ipswich Witches | 34 | 26 | 1 | 7 | 53 |
| 2 | Belle Vue Aces | 34 | 25 | 2 | 7 | 52 |
| 3 | Newport | 34 | 24 | 1 | 9 | 49 |
| 4 | Exeter Falcons | 34 | 20 | 3 | 11 | 45 |
| 5 | Sheffield Tigers | 34 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 42 |
| 6 | Reading Racers | 34 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 42 |
| 7 | Oxford Rebels | 34 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 36 |
| 8 | Leicester Lions | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 36 |
| 9 | Wimbledon Dons | 34 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 34 |
| 10 | Halifax Dukes | 34 | 15 | 3 | 16 | 33 |
| 11 | Cradley United | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 32 |
| 12 | King's Lynn Stars | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 31 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 34 | 13 | 1 | 20 | 27 |
| 14 | Hull Vikings | 34 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 24 |
| 15 | Poole Pirates | 34 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 23 |
| 16 | Coventry Bees | 34 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 20 |
| 17 | Hackney Hawks | 34 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 19 |
| 18 | Swindon Robins | 34 | 8 | 0 | 26 | 16 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | BV | COV | CH | EX | HAC | HAL | HV | IPS | KL | LEI | NEW | OX | PP | RR | SHE | SWI | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue | | 49–29 | 42–36 | 55–23 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 50–28 | 46–32 | 47–31 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 45–33 | 50–28 | 51–27 | 48–30 | 53–25 | 55–23 |
| Coventry | 30–48 | | 44–34 | 42–36 | 44.5–33.5 | 35–43 | 39–39 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 38–40 | 33–45 | 52–26 | 41–7 | 38–40 | 37–41 | 44–34 | 41–37 | 35–42 |
| Cradley Heath | 39–39 | 58–20 | | 39–39 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 51–27 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 42–35 | 45–32 | 40–38 | 44–34 | 35–43 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 35–43 | 50–28 |
| Exeter | 41–37 | 58–20 | 30–48 | | 55–23 | 41–37 | 51–27 | 45–33 | 46–32 | 45–33 | 36–42 | 43–35+ | 46–32 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 43–35 | 50–28 |
| Hackney | 35–43 | 43–35 | 58–20 | 39–39 | | 52–26 | 41–37 | 31–47 | 38–40 | 30–48 | 43–35 | 37–41 | 36–42 | 35–43 | 42–36 | 49–29 | 34–44 | 42–36 |
| Halifax | 34–44 | 40–38 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 43–35 | | 39–39 | 35–43 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 47–31 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 44–34 | 33–44 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 41–37 |
| Hull | 39–39 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 36–42 | 42–36 | 39–39 | | 37–41 | 36–41 | 43–35 | 35–43 | 40–38 | 49–29 | 36–42 | 38–40 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 47–31 |
| Ipswich | 42–36 | 53–25 | 45–33 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 59–19 | 50–28 | | 50–28 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 40–38 | 43–34 | 50–27 | 55–23 | 47–31 | 50–28 | 46–32 |
| King's Lynn | 36–42 | 52–25 | 36–42 | 35–43 | 52–26 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 33–45 | | 39–39 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 48–30 | 41–37 | 41–37 | 51–27 | 54–24 |
| Leicester | 40–38 | 45–33 | 49–29 | 37–41 | 43–35 | 34–44 | 43–35 | 39–39 | 47–31 | | 43–35 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 46–32 | 48–30 | 45–33 |
| Newport | 55–23 | 58–20 | 49–29 | 40–38 | 58–20 | 53–25 | 46–32 | 56–22 | 52–26 | 52–26 | | 52–26 | 56–22 | 51–27 | 61–17 | 47–31 | 47–30 | 50–28 |
| Oxford | 34–44 | 58–20 | 58–14 | 35–43 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 49–29 | 40–38 | 49–29 | 40–38 | 36–42 | | 44–34 | 46–32 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 43–35 |
| Poole | 37–41 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 36–42 | 43–35 | 39–39 | 39–39 | 45–33 | | 37–41 | 31–47 | 45–33 | 36–42 | 37–41 |
| Reading | 41–37 | 48–30 | 40–38 | 43–34 | 53–25 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 36–42 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 41–37 | 50–28 | | 41–37 | 50–28 | 40–38 | 52–26 |
| Sheffield | 38–40 | 47–31 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 51–27 | 40–38 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 45–33 | 34–44 | 41–36 | 51–27 | 42–36 | | 51–27 | 44–33 | 49–29 |
| Swindon | 40–38 | 37–41 | 33–45 | 36–41 | 46–31 | 32–46 | 42–36 | 36–42 | 36–42 | 42–36 | 29–49 | 37–41 | 44–34 | 48–30 | 33–45 | | 41–37 | 40–38 |
| Wimbledon | 36–42 | 45–33 | 53–25 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 45–33 | 44–34 | 35–43 | 43–35 | 40–38 | 42–35 | 50–28 | 42–36 | 37–41 | 42–35 | | 43–35 |
| Wolverhampton | 40–38 | 47–31 | 45–33 | 32–46 | 34–44 | 40–38 | 42–36 | 31–47 | 46–32 | 43–35 | 37–41 | 31–47 | 46–32 | 47–31 | 45–33 | 46–32 | 39–39 | |
+ Match awarded to Oxford

## Top ten riders (league averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | Exeter | 11.45 |
| 2 | Peter Collins | Belle Vue | 11.27 |
| 3 | Phil Crump | Newport | 11.17 |
| 4 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 11.03 |
| 5 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 10.79 |
| 6 | John Louis | Ipswich | 10.67 |
| 7 | Dave Jessup | Leicester | 10.45 |
| 8 | Malcolm Simmons | Poole | 10.37 |
| 9 | Dag Lövaas | Oxford | 10.22 |
| 10 | Reg Wilson | Sheffield | 10.18 |

## British League Knockout Cup

The 1975 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 37th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Belle Vue Aces were the winners.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 22/05 | Sheffield | 44–34 | Exeter |
| 19/04 | Belle Vue | 49–29 | Wolverhampton |
| 18/04 | Wolverhampton | 37–41 | Belle Vue |
| 14/04 | Exeter | 47–31 | Sheffield |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 01/07 | Leicester | 47–31 | Hackney |
| 27/06 | Hackney | 40–38 | Leicester |
| 23/06 | Cradley Heath | 46–32 | Kings Lynn |
| 21/06 | Kings Lynn | 42–36 | Cradley Heath |
| 19/06 | Oxford | 60–18 | Coventry |
| 19/06 | Ipswich | 42–36 | Belle Vue |
| 16/06 | Exeter | 43–35 | Poole |
| 16/06 | Reading | 38–40 | Newport |
| 14/06 | Swindon | 47–31 | Hull |
| 14/06 | Coventry | 33–45 | Oxford |
| 11/06 | Poole | 41–37 | Exeter |
| 11/06 | Hull | 46–32 | Swindon |
| 07/06 | Halifax | 58–20 | Wimbledon |
| 06/06 | Newport | 46–32 | Reading |
| 05/06 | Wimbledon | 49–29 | Halifax |
| 04/06 | Belle Vue | 49–28 | Ipswich |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 09/08 | Cradley Heath | 51–27 | Newport |
| 09/08 | Belle Vue | 45–33 | Oxford |
| 08/08 | Newport | 49–29 | Cradley Heath |
| 07/08 | Oxford | 36–42 | Belle Vue |
| 02/08 | Swindon | 32–46 | Leicester |
| 29/07 | Leicester | 42–36 | Swindon |
| 17/07 | Exeter | 43–35 | Halifax |
| 05/07 | Halifax | 47–31 | Exeter |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 05/10 | Belle Vue | 44–34 | Cradley Heath |
| 27/09 | Halifax | 37–40 | Leicester |
| 26/09 | Leicester | 47–31 | Halifax |
| 22/09 | Cradley Heath | 32–45 | Belle Vue |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Belle Vue Aces were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 86-70.

## Riders' Championship

Peter Collins won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time, it was held at Hyde Road on 18 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Peter Collins | 3 3 3 3 3 | 15 |
| 2 | Phil Crump | 2 3 3 1 3 | 12 |
| 3 | Martin Ashby | 3 1 2 3 2 | 11 |
| 4 | John Louis | 3 2 0 3 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Doug Wyer | 3 2 1 2 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Malcolm Simmons | 2 3 1 2 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Chris Pusey | 1 0 3 3 2 | 9 |
| 8 | Dave Jessup | 2 0 2 2 2 | 8 |
| 9 | Anders Michanek | 2 1 2 R 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Ivan Mauger | 1 0 3 1 1 | 6 |
| 11 | Tommy Jansson | 0 3 1 1 1 | 6 |
| 12 | Terry Betts | 1 1 2 0 1 | 5 |
| 13 | Jim McMillan | 2 0 2 0 0 | 4 |
| 14 | Bob Valentine | 0 1 1 1 EF | 3 |
| 15 | Dag Lövaas | 1 2 0 0 0 | 3 |
| 16 | John Boulger | 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded

## Leading final averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | Exeter | 11.52 |
| 2 | Phil Crump | Newport | 11.15 |
| 3 | Peter Collins | Belle Vue | 11.13 |
| 4 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 10.90 |
| 5 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 10.79 |
| 6 | John Louis | Ipswich | 10.58 |
| 7 | Dave Jessup | Leicester | 10.41 |
| 8 | Malcolm Simmons | Poole | 10.41 |
| 9 | Martin Ashby | Swindon | 10.13 |
| 10 | Tommy Jansson | Wimbledon | 10.12 |
| 11 | Dag Lövaas | Oxford | 10.04 |
| 12 | Ray Wilson | Wolverhampton | 9.90 |
| 13 | Reg Wilson | Sheffield | 9.79 |
| 14 | Jim McMillan | Hull | 9.69 |
| 15 | Billy Sanders | Ipswich | 9.58 |
| 16 | Doug Wyer | Sheffield | 9.37 |
| 17 | Chris Morton | Belle Vue | 9.27 |
| 18 | Barry Briggs | Wimbledon | 9.23 |
| 19 | Scott Autrey | Exeter | 9.19 |
| 20 | Reidar Eide | Newport | 8.98 |

## Midland Cup

Oxford won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of six teams.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Oxford | Swindon | 39–39, 39–39 |
| Oxford | Swindon | 53–25, 33–44 |
| Coventry | Cradley | 40–37, 35–43 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Wolverhampton | Cradley | 42–35, 44–34 |
| Oxford | Leicester | 46–32, 35–43 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Oxford won on aggregate 79–76

## London Cup

Wimbledon retained the London Cup but there were now only two teams remaining in London.
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Wimbledon | 48–30 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 46–32 | Wimbledon |

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Peter Collins 11.13
* Chris Morton 9.27
* Sören Sjösten 8.76
* Alan Wilkinson 7.14
* Paul Tyrer 6.21
* Russ Hodgson 5.03
* Ian Hindle 4.00
* Geoff Pusey 3.55
Coventry
* Bob Valentine 8.66
* Nigel Boocock 8.02
* Tommy Nilsson 5.37
* John Harrhy 5.14
* Ian Hindle 4.82
* Alan Molyneux 4.43
* Alan Jay 4.36
* Frank Smith 3.84
* Mitch Shirra 2.23
* Roger Hill 1.71
Cradley Heath
* John Boulger 8.73
* Bernt Persson 8.58
* Arthur Price 7.68
* Bruce Cribb 7.53
* Sándor Lévai 4.87
* Steve Bastable 4.84
* Dave Perks 4.56
* Russell Osborne 3.08
Exeter
* Ivan Mauger 11.52
* Scott Autrey 9.19
* Kevin Holden 7.50
* Steve Reinke 6.07
* John Titman 5.89
* Les Rumsey 5.71
* Geoff Mudge 4.96
* Mike Farrell 4.72
* Chris Julian 3.44
Hackney
* Dave Morton 8.54
* Barry Thomas 7.81
* Christer Löfqvist 7.61
* Laurie Etheridge 5.84
* Dave Kennett 4.68
* Steve Lomas 4.60
* Mike Broadbank 4.46
* Ted Hubbard 3.86
Halifax
* Chris Pusey 8.77
* Rick France 8.03
* Graham Plant 7.58
* Charlie Monk 7.11
* Ian Cartwright 5.92
* Henny Kroeze 5.74
* Dave Gatenby 4.89
* Mike Hiftle 4.32
* Andy Cusworth 3.83
Hull
* Jimmy McMillan 9.69
* Joe Owen 7.29
* Bobby Beaton 7.20
* Tommy Johansson 6.64
* Mitch Graham 6.53
* Lou Sansom 5.22
* Brian Havelock 5.14
* Kym Amundson 5.10
* Alan Cowland 3.49
* Robin Amundson 3.45
Ipswich
* John Louis 10.58
* Billy Sanders 9.58
* Tony Davey 7.75
* Mike Lanham 6.44
* Mick Hines 5.13
* Trevor Jones 4.99
* Ted Howgego 4.78
* Dave Gooderham 4.00
King's Lynn
* Terry Betts 8.87
* Ian Turner 7.48
* Michael Lee 7.43
* Trevor Hedge 6.20
* Ray Bales 5.77
* Garry Middleton 5.76
* Olle Nygren 4.75
* David Gagen 4.56
* Jan Henningsen 4.07
* Billy Burton 4.00
* Eddie Reeves 4.00
Leicester
* Dave Jessup 10.41
* Ray Wilson 9.90
* Ila Teromaa 5.91
* Frank Auffret 5.84
* Tony Lomas 5.70
* Keith White 4.93
* Doug Underwood 4.17
* Norman Storer 3.75
Newport
* Phil Crump 11.15
* Reidar Eide 8.98
* Phil Herne 8.70
* Neil Street 7.32
* Bob Coles 7.13
* Steve Gresham 6.34
* Tom Owen 6.11
* Jim Tebby 3.26
Oxford
* Dag Lövaas 10.04
* Gordon Kennett 8.41
* Richard Greer 7.48
* John Dews 6.57
* Trevor Geer 5.73
* Richard Hellsen 4.75
* Paul Gachet 4.15
* Helge Langli 2.46
Poole
* Malcolm Simmons 10.41
* Eric Broadbelt 7.50
* Christer Sjösten 6.23
* Colin Gooddy 5.39
* Pete Smith 5.29
* Neil Middleditch 4.48
* Neil Cameron 3.77
* Martin Yeates 2.53
Reading
* Anders Michanek 10.90
* John Davis 7.37
* Bengt Jansson 7.06
* Bernie Leigh 5.59
* Bob Humphreys 5.56
* Mick Bell 5.21
* Richard May 4.99
Sheffield
* Reg Wilson 9.79
* Doug Wyer 9.37
* Arnold Haley 7.91
* Carl Glover 6.41
* Soren Karlsson 6.09
* Craig Pendlebury 5.88
* Nicky Allott 3.17
Swindon
* Martin Ashby 10.13
* Bob Kilby 8.26
* Norman Hunter 5.43
* Alan Grahame 4.95
* Jan Andersson 4.56
* Geoff Bouchard 4.42
* Bobby McNeil 4.27
* Mike Keen 3.18
* David Ashby 2.79
Wimbledon
* Tommy Jansson 10.12
* Barry Briggs 9.23
* Edgar Stangeland 7.24
* Bert Harkins 6.11
* Barry Crowson 4.97
* Larry Ross 4.85
* Reg Luckhurst 4.76
* Roger Johns 4.40
* Graham Banks 2.19
Wolverhampton
* Ole Olsen 10.79
* George Hunter 6.99
* Finn Thomsen 6.29
* Gary Peterson 5.85
* Malcolm Shakespeare 4.55
* Colin Meredith 3.19
* Tony Clarke 3.16
* Nigel Wasley 2.96