Derick Close
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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]
Career
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[3] before joining the Lanarkshire Eagles mid season in 1951.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
At retirement he had earned 2 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]
World final appearances
- 1952 – Template:Flagicon London, Wembley Stadium – 14th – 4pts[1]
References
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- ↑ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Henry, J. & Moultray, I. (2001). Speedway in Scotland. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Template:ISBN
- ↑ Foster, P. (2005) History of the Speedway Ashes, The History Press Ltd. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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