Bob Sharp (speedway rider)

Bob Sharp

Born	17 February 1934 (1934-02-17) Arcadia, New South Wales, Australia
Died	12 September 2012(2012-09-12) (aged 78)
Nationality	Australian
Career history
1952–1954	Glasgow White City
1954–1958	Ipswich Witches
Individual honours
1962, 1965	Australian champion
1964	New South Wales champion

Robert Henry Sharp (17 February 1934 – 12 September 2012) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice champion of Australia in 1962 and 1965 and earned 13 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.^[1]

Biography

Sharp, born in Arcadia, New South Wales, began his British leagues career riding for Glasgow Tigers during the 1952 Speedway National League Division Two season.^[2] He won the Scottish novices Championship in September 1952.^[3]

He spent two full seasons with Glasgow but in 1954 was forced to find a new club following Glasgow's withdrawal from the league campaign.^[4]

He switched to Ipswich Witches^[5] and began to build on his previous seasons averages, recording 6.38 for the 1954 season.^[6] He came to prominence in 1956 after recording an 8.93 average for Ipswich.^[7] However, following a disappointing 1958 campaign he returned to ride in Australia.

He became the Australian champion after winning the Australian Solo Championship in 1962^[8] and New South Wales champion in 1964. He won a second Australian title in 1965.

References

1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
2. "1952 fixtures" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
3. "Another Aussie Champion". Wishaw Press. 26 September 1952. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "Speedway Club out of League". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 May 1954. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
5. "Monarchs to lose Greenwood". Edinburgh Evening News. 11 May 1954. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
7. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
8. "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 18 February 2024.