Kelvin Tatum

Kelvin Tatum
Born (1964-02-08) 8 February 1964
Epsom, Surrey, England, UK
Nationality  England
Current club information
Career status Retired
Career history

1983-1984
1985-1990
1991
1992-1993
1994, 2002-2004
1995, 1998
1996
1997

1991-1992

1989-1998
2000-2001		 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
Individual honours
1987, 1990
1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
1989
1991, 1997
1991, 1999
1995, 1998, 2000
1994, 1995
1995
1996, 1999, 2000, 2001 (shared)
1987, 1990		 British Champion
Commonwealth Champion
Intercontinental Champion
Overseas Champion
Australian Long track Grand Prix
Long Track World Champion
Ace of Aces Grasstrack Champion
European Grasstrack Champion
British Masters 500cc Solo Grasstrack Champion
Pride of the East
Team honours
1989
1987, 1988, 1995
1992, 1993
1992, 1993, 1994, 1996		 World Team Cup winner
British League champion
British League KO Cup winner
Elitserien champion

Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE (born 8 February 1964, in Epsom, Surrey) 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 Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982-83. He was given his first team place at Hackney's rivals, 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 Coventry Bees, staying there for the next six seasons. Stints then followed at 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. In 1990 Tatum was the highest placed British rider in the World Final at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, finishing in 7th place with 9 points from his 5 rides. In the 1990 World Final qualifying rounds, Tatum had won the Commonwealth Final at the Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester. It was his third Commonwealth Final win after having done so in 1987 and 1988. Tatum would add a fourth Commonwealth crown to his trophy cabinet in 1992.

Longtrack and grasstrack

Later in Tatum's career, he turned his attention to grasstrack and longtrack to much success. He won the World Long Track Championship 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, and was almost unbeatable in domestic grasstrack events in the latter stage of his career, winning 4 British Masters Championships. Fittingly, Tatum won his last ever grasstrack event, the Bonfire Burnup in 2006 at Collier Street in Kent.

Kelvin Tatum also won the Australian Long track Grand Prix in 1991 at the 800 metres (870 yards) Bathurst Showground,[3] and again in 1999 at the Tamworth Showground.

After retirement

Kelvin is now a television presenter, appearing on Sky Sports speedway programmes as a presenter and commentator and is currently the lead expert commentator for Speedway Grand Prix and Speedway World Cup broadcasts. 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 Honours list.[2]

World Final appearances

Individual World Championship

World Pairs Championship

World Team Cup

References

  1. ↑ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. 1 2 "Kelvin Tatum MBE (B. 1977-80)". Old Brightonian Association. 2004. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  3. ↑ 1990/91 Australian Long Track GP Final
  4. ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
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