Kelvin Tatum
| Kelvin Tatum | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  England | |
| Date of birth | 8 February 1964 | |
| Place of birth | Epsom, England | |
| Current club information | ||
| Career status | Retired | |
| Career history | ||
| Great Britain Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees Berwick Bandits Bradford Dukes Arena Essex Hammers Poole Pirates London Lions Peterborough Panthers Poland Sparta Wrocław Sweden Örnarna Indianerna |
1983-1984 1985-1990 1991 1992-1993 1994, 2002-2004 1995, 1998 1996 1997 1991-1992 1989-1998 2000-2001 | |
| Individual honours | ||
| Inter-Continental Champion Overseas Champion Commonwealth Champion British Champion Long Track World 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 Elitserien champion |
1989 1987, 1988, 1995 1992, 1993 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 | |
Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE (born 8 February 1964, in Epsom, England) is a former British international motorcycle speedway and Grasstrack rider.[1]
Career
Tatum attended Brighton College from 1977 to 1980.[2] He started riding speedway bikes at Hackney's training school at the Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982/1983. He was given his first team place at Hackney's rivals, the Wimbledon Dons, riding in the top flight British League in 1983. He finished 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 Tatum among his team-mates.
Tatum became British Champion twice; in 1987 and 1990.
Later in Tatum's career, he turned his attention to Grasstrack and Long track to much success. He won the Long Track World Championship three times between 1995 and 2000. Kelvin was almost unbeatable in domestic Grasstrack events in the latter stage of his career, winning 4 British Masters Championships. Inevitably, Kelvin won his last ever Grasstrack event, the Bonfire Burnup in 2006 at Collier Street in Kent.
World Final Appearances
- 1985 -
Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 8th - 8pts - 1986 -
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 3rd - 12pts - 1988 -
Vojens, Speedway Center - 8th - 8pts - 1989 -
Munich, Olympic Stadium - 5th - 10pts - 1990 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 7th - 9pts
- 1991 -
Göteborg, Ullevi - 8th - 8pts - 1992 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 10th - 6pts[3]
Longtrack and grasstrack
Tatum has been World Longtrack Champion three times, in 1995, 1998 and 2000, and missed out on a fourth title in 2004 when his bike broke down whilst leading the final. Tatum was also the European Grasstrack Champion in 1995 and British Grasstrack Champion four times: in 1996, 1999, 2000 and jointly in 2001.
After retirement
Kelvin is now a television presenter, appearing on Sky Sports speedway programmes as a presenter and 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 an MBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours list.[2]
References
- ↑ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kelvin Tatum MBE (B. 1977-80)". Old Brightonian Association. 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
- ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5