Derick Close

Derick Close
Personal information
Nationality  England
Date of birth 13 May 1927 (1927-05-13) (age 84)
Place of birth    Bowes, County Durham
Current club information
Career status retired
Career history
Middlesbrough Bears
Newcastle Diamonds
Motherwell Eagles
Leicester Hunters		 1947-1948
1948, 1949-1951
1951-1954
1955
Individual honours
None
Team honours
None

Derek Close (born 13 May 1927 in Bowes, County Durham, England) was a former international motorcycle speedway rider reached the final of Speedway World Championship in 1952.[1]

Career

Close started his career with the Middlesbrough Bears in 1947 followed by a short spell on loan with the Newcastle Diamonds at the start of 1948. He returned to the Bears and established himself in the team. In 1949 he rejoined Newcastle where he spent the next three seasons before joining the Motherwell Eagles mid season in 1951.[2]

The 1952 season proved to be the best of his career after receiving a call up to ride for England despite riding in National League Division Two, having never ridden in the top flight.[3] He also reached the final of the Speedway World Championship. In 1953 he suffered a fractured skull and although he rode well again in 1954 he suffered a drop in form after joining the Leicester Hunters in 1955 and retired at the end of the season.

World final appearances

References

  1. ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  2. ^ Henry, J. & Moultray, I. (2001). Speedway in Scotland. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2229-4
  3. ^ Foster, P. (2005) History of the Speedway Ashes, The History Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3468-3