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Sören Willy Ernfrid Sjösten (born 12 December 1938,^[1] Krylbo, Sweden, died April 1999)^[2] was a motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden. He earned 76 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.^[3]

Career

Sjösten won the world pairs championship in 1974 with Anders Michanek and became world team champion three times representing Sweden, in 1962, 1964 and 1970. Sjösten also appeared in six individual World Championship Finals with two bronze medals as best result. Both third places was received after losing race-off heats for silver medal, the first time to Barry Briggs and the second time to Ivan Mauger^[4]

Sjösten rode for Masarna, Vargarna and Bysarna in the Swedish leagues and for Belle Vue Aces,^[5] Wolverhampton Wolves and Bristol Bulldogs in the British League. An excellent starter, he was renowned for having a 'wild' style of riding with the rear of the bike sliding further out on the bends than is usual and was often considered rough on his opponents.^[6]

He retired after his brother Christer was killed in a meeting in Brisbane, Australia in 1979.^[7]

1961 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Ove Fundin / Rune Sörmander / Björn Knutson / Per Tage Svensson) - 2nd - 30pts (2)
1962 - Slaný, Slaný Speedway Stadium (with Björn Knutson / Ove Fundin / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 36pts (10)
1964 - Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Ove Fundin / Björn Knutson / Göte Nordin / Rune Sörmander) - Winner - 34pts (0)
1969 - Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Ove Fundin / Anders Michanek / Torbjörn Harrysson) - 4th - 12pts (2)
1970 - London, Wembley Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Ove Fundin / Anders Michanek) - Winner - 42pts (10)
1971 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Anders Michanek / Bernt Persson / Bengt Jansson / Leif Enecrona) - 4th - 18pts
1974 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Anders Michanek / Tommy Jansson / Christer Lofqvist) - 2nd - 31pts (10)
1975 - Norden, Motodrom Halbemond (with Anders Michanek / Tommy Jansson / Bernt Persson / Sören Karlsson) - 3rd - 17pts (1)

^ Oakes, Peter; Mauger, Ivan OBE, MBE (1976). Who's Who of World Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-904584-04-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Sören Sjösten" (in Swedish). Katrineholms-Kuriren. 16 April 1999.
^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
^ "Kolstybben - Sören Sjösten". 19 May 2007.
^ "Motorsport Memorial".