Simon Wigg
 | |
| Born |
15 October 1960 Aylesbury, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 15 November 2000 (aged 40) |
| Nationality |
 England |
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Deceased |
| Career history | |
| 1980-1982 1981-1983 1984-1986, 1988-1990 1987 1991-1992 1993 1995 1996 1997-1998 |
Weymouth Wildcats Cradley Heath Heathens Oxford Cheetahs Hackney Kestrels Bradford Dukes Coventry Bees Long Eaton Invaders Exeter Falcons King's Lynn Stars |
| Individual honours | |
| 1985, 1986 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994 1988, 1989 1989 1990, 1994, 1995 1994 1994 1996 1984 1981, 1984, 1993 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990 |
Mr Melbourne winner Long Track World Champion British Speedway Champion Commonwealth Champion Australian Long track Grand Prix New Zealand Long track Grand Prix Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE) Grand Prix Challenge Golden Gala (Italy) Ace of Aces Grasstrack Champion British Masters 500cc Solo Grasstrack Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1989 1982 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989 1983, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992 1985, 1986 |
World Team Cup Winner National League Pairs Champion British League Champion British League KO Cup winner British League Pairs Champion |
Simon Wigg (15 October 1960 – 15 November 2000) was a speedway, grasstrack and Longtrack rider who finished runner-up in the Speedway World Championship in 1989.[1]
Career
Wigg was born in Aylesbury, England.[2] 1988 saw him become British Speedway Champion and he retained the title the following year. 1989 also saw Simon captain the Great Britain speedway team when they won the World Team Cup. During his career, Wigg was a frequent visitor to Australia and always enjoyed success on the larger Showground tracks down under such as the 450 metres (490 yd) Brisbane Exhibition Ground, the 510 metres (560 yd) Wayville Showground in Adelaide, the 520 metres (570 yd) Claremont Speedway in Perth, and the 610 metres (670 yd) Melbourne Showgrounds. He always maintained that his success in Australia was in part due to these larger tracks which suited his Long track style of riding.
During his time riding in both Australia and New Zealand, Wigg won the Australian Long track Grand Prix in 1990, 1994 and 1995, as well as the New Zealand Long track Grand Prix in 1994.
He moved to Brisbane, Australia aged just two years old in 1962 and returned to England after 15 years in 1977. When he returned, 3 years later he joined his first speedway club Weymouth Wildcats which was just the start of his professional career as a Speedway Rider [1]
In 1982, Wigg won the British League Division Two Pairs Championship with Martin Yeates. He became the second British Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship 1985 (Michael Lee was the first in 1981) and went on to win the title a further four times. He was the most successful British Grasstrack and Longtrack rider ever. When Wigg was riding in Oxford, England he met his wife to be, Charlie, and after a few years together they had two children.
Wigg was also famous for his bright green leathers and bikes, as well as pulling wheelies when he had a comfortable lead in a race. He claimed that the wheelies were to reduce friction from the front wheel and made him faster on the straights, though Wigg also enjoyed playing up to the crowd.
Death
Simon died after a long battle with a brain tumour in 2000 at the age of 40.[3]
British Grasstrack Championship Record
- 1981 - British 500cc Grasstrack
- 1982 - British Masters Grasstrack
- 1983 - British Masters Grasstrack
- 1985 - British Masters Grasstrack
- 1989 - British Masters Grasstrack
- 1990 - British Masters Grasstrack
World Longtrack Championship Record
- 1985 - World Longtrack Champion
- 1989 - World Longtrack Champion
- 1990 - World Longtrack Champion
- 1993 - World Longtrack Champion
- 1994 - World Longtrack Champion
World final Appearances
Individual World Championship
- 1984 -
Göteborg, Ullevi - 6th - 9pts - 1988 -
Vojens, Speedway Center - 6th - 9pts - 1989 -
Munich, Olympic Stadium - 2nd - 12pts + 3pts
World Pairs Championship
- 1986 - Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Jeremy Doncaster) - 7th - 23pts (11)
- 1987 -
Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Kelvin Tatum) - 2nd - 44pts (20)
World Team Cup
- 1984 -
Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium (with Chris Morton / Peter Collins / Phil Collins / Neil Collins) - 2nd - 24pts (9) - 1986 - Göteborg, Ullevi, Vojens, Speedway Center and
Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 3rd - 81pts (24) - 1987 - Fredericia, Fredericia Speedway, Coventry, Brandon Stadium and Prague, Marketa Stadium - 2nd - 101pts (29)
- 1988 -
Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Simon Cross / Kelvin Tatum / Chris Morton / Gary Havelock) - 4th - 22pts (0) - 1989 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Jeremy Doncaster / Kelvin Tatum / Paul Thorp / Simon Cross) - Winner - 48pts (11)
- 1990 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Kelvin Tatum / Jeremy Doncaster / Marvyn Cox / Gary Havelock) - 2nd - 34pts (8)
Speedway Grand Prix results
| Year | Position | Points | Best Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 17th | 13 | 10th | - |
External links
References
- ↑ Rogers, G.(2005). Wiggy!: Simon Wigg in His Own Words . ISBN 0-9548336-7-8
- ↑ Oakes, P & Rising, P (1986). 1986 Speedway Yearbook. Spotsdata. ISBN 0-948882-00-X
- ↑ "Bike champion dies young". The Daily Telegraph (London). 22 November 2000.