1946 Speedway National League

1946 Speedway National League
Competition National League
Season 1946
No. of competitors 6
Champion Wembley Lions

The 1946 National League was the eighth season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain and the first post-war season. The league had been abandoned 7 years previously due to the outbreak of World War II. From that season, Southampton Saints and Harringay Tigers were no longer racing whilst Odsal Boomerangs brought National League speedway to Bradford for the first time.

Wembley Lions won their second National League title.

National League Final table

Team PL W D L Pts
Wembley Lions 20 18 0 2 36
Belle Vue Aces 20 12 1 7 25
Odsal Boomerangs 20 9 1 10 19
Wimbledon Dons 20 8 1 11 17
New Cross Rangers 20 6 1 13 13
West Ham Hammers 20 4 2 14 10

On account of the small number of teams in the league the ACU Cup was run in a league format. Belle Vue Aces came out on top.

A.C.U. Cup Final table

Team PL W D L Pts
Belle Vue Aces 10 8 0 2 16
Wembley Lions 10 6 1 3 13
New Cross Rangers 10 6 0 4 12
Odsal Boomerangs 10 4 1 5 9
Wimbledon Dons 10 4 0 6 8
West Ham Hammers 10 1 0 9 2

Such was the dearth of new riders caused by the war that all of the top ten riders were established pre-war riders and none were below the age of 32.

Top Ten Riders (League only)

Rider Team C.M.A.
1 Eric Langton Belle Vue Aces 11.13
2 Jack Parker Belle Vue Aces 11.00
3 Bill Kitchen Wembley Lions 10.75
4 Ron Johnson New Cross Rangers 10.69
5 Eric Chitty West Ham Hammers 10.30
6 Norman Parker Wimbledon Dons 10.12
7 Tommy Price Wembley Lions 10.00
8 Alec Statham Odsal Boomerangs 9.72
9 Ron Clarke Odsal Boomerangs 9.50
10 Bill Longley Odsal Boomerangs 9.20