| Bradford Dukes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club information | |||||||||
| Track address |
Odsal Stadium Odsal Top Bradford West Yorkshire | ||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||
| Founded | 1985 replaced Halifax Dukes | ||||||||
| Closed | 1997 | ||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||
| Colours | Blue Red and White | ||||||||
| Track size | 357 metres (390 yd) | ||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||
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The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated from the Odsal Stadium in Bradford from 1986 until their closure in 1997. [1] [2]
History
Speedway has long been associated with Odsal Stadium; there have been three eras of racing activity at the venue spanning the years 1945–1960, 1970–1975 and most recently 1985–1997. There was also a short-lived existence at the old Greenfield Stadium between 1961 and 1962. [1]
Speedway returned to Odsal in 1985 after a ten-year absence when it was selected by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme to host the 1985 Speedway World Championship. Bradford Council were quick to seize on the prestige of being associated with a World event and approved £1 million project to refurbish the Odsal Stadium. A 40,000 crowd attended at the final. [2]
In March 1986, Odsal opened its doors to British League action for the first time since the 1950s after the Halifax Dukes were offered a new home track. [3] The new 'Bradford Dukes' team would in later years include Gary Havelock, the multi- British Champion Simon Wigg, England number one Kelvin Tatum and Mark Loram. [4] However, the club suffered the loss of Kenny Carter who died in a shooting incident during their first season. [5]
Bradford speedway then enjoyed its greatest period of success winning eight trophies and a World Title until the club's closure in 1997 when despite winning the Elite League, the club folded for the third time. [6] The success included four Knockout Cup wins from 1991 to 1995, three of which were in consecutive years. [7]
In 2013 businessman Tony Mole successfully applied for planning permission to again use Odsal for speedway, with the possibility of racing returning in 2014 with the Bradford and Halifax Dukes. [8]
World champions
Gary Havelock became Speedway World Champion whilst a Bradford rider in 1992, winning the title at the Olympic Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. [9]
Notable riders
-
Kenny Carter -
Glenn Doyle -
Gary Havelock
-
Mark Loram
-
Joe Screen
-
Kelvin Tatum
-
Simon Wigg
-
Paul Thorp
-
Andy Smith
-
Neil Evitts
Season summary
Extended content
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See also
- Category:Bradford Dukes riders
- Odsal Boomerangs
- Bradford Tudors
- Bradford Panthers
- Bradford Barons
- Bradford Northern (speedway)
- List of defunct motorcycle speedway teams in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ a b Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- ^ a b "Bradford Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "British League Tables – British League Era (1965–1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ^ MacDonald, T.(2007). The Kenny Carter Story. ISBN 0-9551176-3-1
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES – MODERN ERA (1991–PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ " Bradford Update", speedwaygb.co, 29 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5