Andy Smith
Andy Smith in 2007
Born (1966-05-25) 25 May 1966
York, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
Great Britain
1982–1988, 1998–2001, 2005Belle Vue
1989–1990Bradford
1991, 1998, 2004Swindon
1992–1995, 1997Coventry
2003, 2007Oxford
2006-2007Reading
Sweden
1991, 1993–1994Smederna
1992Skepparna
Poland
1992-1995, 1998, 2004Bydgoszcz
1996Rzeszów
1997Tarnów
1999-2000Piła
2001Leszno
2002-2003Warszawa
2005Toruń
2006-2007Gdańsk
Individual honours
1993, 1994, 1995British Champion
Team honours
1982, 1992British League Champion
2005Knockout Cup
1997Craven Shield Winner
1990Gold Cup Winner
1983British League Cup Winner

Andrew Smith (born 25 May 1966 in York, England) is a retired motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2] He earned 29 international caps for the England national speedway team.[3]

Career

Andy Smith (centre), 1992

Smith spent the first seven years of his career riding for the Belle Vue Aces from 1982 to 1988.[4] He then joined Bradford Dukes for two British League seasons and began to build a reputation as one of Britain's leading riders. Smith also rode in Australia, including the 1990/91 Australian season when he based himself at Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia. Despite Claremont being almost twice the length of most British tracks, on 18 January 1991 Smith defeated home town hero, and twice Australian Champion Glenn Doyle in the King of Claremont Classic. Smith also finished 2nd to Sweden's Dennis Löfqvist at the 1990 Boxing Day International at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

After joining the Coventry Bees in 1992[5] he went on to win the British Speedway Championship three times in a row in 1993, 1994, and 1995, giving him the distinction of being one of only three riders ever to achieve this feat.[6]

From 1998 until 2001 Smith rode a second stint at Belle Vue and recorded a 8.27 average during the 1999 Elite League speedway season. He did not ride in the United Kingdom for the 2002 season, spending his time in Poland.

Smith riding for Oxford

In 2003, he returned to the UK and signed for Oxford (known as the Silver Machine at the time) for the 2003 Elite League speedway season. He then rode for Swindon Robins in 2004 before returning to his first club Belle Vue for the 2005 Elite League speedway season, where he helped the club win the Elite League Knockout Cup.[7]

He would spend 16 seasons racing in the Polish leagues after making his Polish league debut in 1992.[1] He also continued to ride for various clubs in England until the end of the 2007 seasons.

During his career Smith reached two World finals and rode in the Speedway Grand Prix for eight years. He represented Great Britain and his appearances included a Speedway World Cup, which was the 1999 Speedway World Team Cup.

Family

His son Jack Smith is a speedway rider.[3]

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

World Team Cup

Speedway Grand Prix results

Year Position Points Best Finish Notes
1995 19th 34 6th
1996 17th 19 8th
1997 14th 22 9th
1998 14th 43 6th
1999 20th 22 13th
2000 25th 10 19th
2001 22nd 12 17th
2002 20th 29 13th

See also

World Longtrack Championship

Finals

1991 - Czech Republic Marianske Lazne 10pts (8th)

1992 - Germany Pfarrkirchen 5pts (12th)

References

  1. 1 2 "Andy Smith". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Andy Smith". Grasstrack GB. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Andy Smith". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  7. ↑ "Belle Vue bounce back to grab cup". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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