Kelvin Tatum

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Kelvin Tatum MBE
Personal Information
Nationality Flag of England England
Date of birth February 8, 1964 (1964-02-08) (age 44)
Place of birth    Epsom, England
Current Club Information
Career Status Retired
Career History
Wimbledon Dons
Coventry Bees
Berwick Bandits
Bradford Dukes
Arena Essex Hammers
Poole Pirates
London Lions
Peterborough Panthers		 1983-1984
1985-1990
1991
1992-1993
1994, 2002-2004
1995, 1998
1996
1997
Individual Honours
Inter-Continental Champion
Overseas Champion
Commonwealth Champion
British Champion
World Longtrack Champion		 1989
1991, 1997
1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
1987, 1990
1995, 1998, 2000
Team Honours
World Team Cup Winner
British League Champion
British League KO Cup Winner		 1989
1987, 1988, 1995
1992, 1993

Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE (born 8 February 1964 Epsom, England) is a former Speedway rider.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

Kelvin started riding speedway bikes at Hackney Training School at the Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982-83. He was given his first team place at rivals the Wimbledon Dons riding in the top flight British League in 1983, finishing the season with an average of over six points per meeting.

In 1985 he signed for the Coventry Bees, staying there for the next six seasons. Stints then followed at the Berwick Bandits, Bradford Dukes, Arena Essex Hammers, Poole Pirates, Peterborough Panthers, and the ill-fated London Lions, with brother Neville among his team-mates.

He became British Champion twice, in 1987 and 1990.

[edit] World Final Appearances

[edit] Longtrack

Kelvin has been World Longtrack Champion three times, in 1995, 1998 and 2000 and was very unlucky not to win it again in 2004 when his bike broke down whilst leading the final.

[edit] Grasstrack

Kelvin was European Grasstrack Champion in 1995 and British Grasstrack Champion four times, in 1996, 1999, 2000 and jointly in 2001.

[edit] After Retirement

Kelvin is now a TV presenter, appearing on Sky Sports speedway programmes as a presenter and expert commentator. He began commentating when taking a break from the sport but continued when he returned to ride for the Arena Essex Hammers in 2002. He was awarded the MBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours list.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
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