Born | Birmingham, England | 10 September 1957
---|---|
Nationality | British (English) |
Career history | |
1976-1983 | Birmingham Brummies |
1978-1979 | Milton Keynes Knights |
1984, 1988 | Wolverhampton Wolves |
1985-1987, 1989, 1994 | Oxford Cheetahs |
1990 | Wimbledon Dons |
1991-1992 | Eastbourne Eagles |
1992-1994 | Cradley Heathens |
Individual honours | |
1982 | British Champion |
1990 | National League Riders Champion |
Team honours | |
1979 | National League Best Pairs Champion |
1985, 1986, 1989 | British League Champion |
1985, 1986 | British League KO Cup winner |
1987 | British League Pairs Champion |
Andrew George Grahame (born 10 September 1957 [1] in Birmingham, England) is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 16 international caps for the England national speedway team. [2]
Grahame began his British leagues career when he joined his older brother Alan Grahame at Birmingham Brummies for the 1976 British League season. Over the next three seasons he would only make a handful of appearances for the Midlands club so doubled up with Milton Keynes Knights in 1978, where he managed a 6.17 average. In 1979, he significantly improved his average for Birmingham and was the top rider at Milton Keynes. [3] He also won the 1979 National League Pairs, partnering Bob Humphreys, during the 1979 National League season. [4]
From 1980 to 1983 he only rode for Birmingham and finished second in the team averages three seasons running behind Danish superstar Hans Nielsen. Grahame won the British Speedway Championship in 1982 and made it to the World Final in 1982 in Los Angeles as reserve but did not ride.
In 1984, he rode for Wolverhampton before being signed by Oxford Cheetahs for the 1985 British League season. At Oxford he teamed up again with Hans Nielsen and the pair formed a formidable partnership at positions 1 and 2 in the team. He was part of the league and cup double winning team in both 1985 and 1986. [5]
In 1987, he teamed up with Nielsen to win the British League Pairs Championship, held at Smallmead Stadium. [6] He spent a year at Wolverhampton in 1988 before returning to Oxford again for the 1989 British League season, where he won another league title. [2]
In 1990, he left Oxford to drop down a division and joined Wimbledon Dons. He won the National League Riders' Championship, held on 15 September 1990 at Brandon Stadium and also topped Wimbledon's averages. [7]
He would reach his seventh British final in 1993 and continued to ride until the end of 1994.
His brother Alan Grahame also rode for the Oxford Cheetahs in 1993 and 1994 and both rode together for the Cradley Heathens in 2009. [8] Another brother John Grahame also rode professional speedway.
Andy's image is depicted on Proof of Youth an album released in 2007 by the Brighton band The Go! Team. [ citation needed ]
Hans Hollen Nielsen is a Danish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1977 to 1999. Nielsen is notable for winning four Speedway World Championship titles. During his career, he won a total of 22 world championships, making him arguably the most successful speedway rider of all time. In 2012, Nielsen was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. He later managed the Danish national team.
Wolverhampton Wolves were a British motorcycle speedway team based in Wolverhampton, England. They were five times champions of the United Kingdom and raced at Monmore Green Stadium from 1928 to 2023.
The Oxford Cheetahs are a British speedway team based at Oxford Stadium, in Oxford, England. They were founded in 1939 and are five times champions of Britain, in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. The club folded in 2007 but returned to racing when participating in the SGB Championship 2022.
Guy Allen Ermolenko is a former motorcycle speedway rider. During his career he was known as Sam Ermolenko. In 1993, he won the Speedway World Championship.
Gordon William Kennett was an English motorcycle speedway rider. In 1978, he won the World Pairs Championship and finished runner-up to Ole Olsen in the 1978 Individual Speedway World Championship, at Wembley. He earned 53 international caps for the England national speedway team.
Alan William Grahame was a British motorcycle speedway rider, who rode for the England national speedway team.
Sebastian Ułamek is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Poland. He was a European individual Champion.
Steven Paul Johnston is former international motorcycle speedway rider from Australia.
Jesper Bruun Monberg is a former speedway rider from Denmark.
The 1984 British League season was the 50th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 20th known as the British League.
The 1985 British League season was the 51st season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 21st known as the British League.
The 1986 British League season was the 52nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 22nd known as the British League.
The 1987 British League season was the 53rd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 23rd known as the British League.
The 1989 British League season was the 55th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 25th known as the British League.
The 1990 British League season was the 56th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 26th known as the British League.
Derek Charles Ernest Harrison is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.
Arthur Malcolm Price is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. He won the Second Division Riders Championship in 1973 and made three appearances for the England national speedway team.
Troy Steve Butler is a former speedway rider from Australia.
Nigel Sparshott was a speedway rider from England.
Robert Allen Humphreys is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Australia.