Born | Bowes, County Durham, England | 13 May 1927
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Died | 4 October 2021 | (aged 94)
Nationality | British (English) |
Career history | |
1947–1948 | Middlesbrough Bears |
1948, 1949–1951 | Newcastle Diamonds |
1951–1954 | Motherwell/Lanarkshire Eagles |
1955 | Leicester Hunters |
Derick Tallentire Close (13 May 1927 – 4 October 2021) was a British motorcycle speedway rider, who reached the final of Speedway World Championship in 1952. [1]
Close was born in Bowes, County Durham. He 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. [2] In 1949, he rejoined Newcastle where he spent the next three seasons before joining the Lanarkshire Eagles mid season in 1951. [3]
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. [4] 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. [5]
At retirement he had earned 2 international caps for the England national speedway team. [2]