Anders Michanek at the 1975 Intercontinental Final
| |
| Born | (1943-05-30) 30 May 1943 (age 81) Stockholm, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Career history | |
| Sweden | |
| 1965–1966, 1984–1985 | Gamarna |
| 1967–1983 | Getingarna |
| 1989 | Rospiggarna |
| Great Britain | |
| 1967 | Long Eaton Archers |
| 1968 | Leicester Lions |
| 1970 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| 1971–1973, 1975, 1981 | Reading Racers |
| 1977 | Cradley Heathens |
| 1979 | Ipswich Witches |
| Individual honours | |
| 1974 | World Champion |
| 1977 | Long Track World Champion |
| 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1982 | Swedish Champion[1] |
| 1973 | European Final winner |
| 1967, 1973 | Brandonapolis |
| 1973 | Pride of the East |
| 1973 | Blue Riband |
| 1973 | Spring Classic |
| 1967 | Olympique |
| 1973 | Superama |
| 1973 | Golden Gauntlets |
| Team honours | |
| 1973, 1974, 1975 | World Pairs Champion |
| 1970 | World Team Champion |
| 1973 | British League Champion |
| 1965, 1970, 1974, 1975 | Swedish Pairs Champion |
| 1967, 1969, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 | Allsvenskan Champion |
| 1982, 1983 | Elitserien Champion |
| 1965 | Allsvenskan Div 2 Champion |
| 1972 | Spring Gold Cup Winner |
Anders Michanek (born 30 May 1943 in Stockholm, Sweden)[2] is a Speedway rider.[3] In 1974 he won the Speedway World Championship in his Swedish homeland with a maximum score of 15 points.[4][5]
Michanek had a very successful career riding in the British League. He initially signed for the Long Eaton Archers in 1967 before going on to ride for various clubs including Leicester Lions, Newcastle Diamonds, Reading Racers, Ipswich Witches and Cradley Heathens.[6]
During the 1971 Swedish final, Michanek refused to pariticpate in a re-run for the title and was disqualified. Michanek and Göte Nordin both finished on 14 points and in the race off Michanek beat Nordin after the latter pulled out of the race, claiming that he saw a red light to stop the race. The match referee ordered a re-run but Michanek refused to take part claiming there was no red light. The incident resulted in violence between rival supporters and was headline news in Sweden.[7] Michanek contemplated retirement from the sport but continued to ride. Spurred on by the incident he went on to win the Swedish title the following year and then won four more during his career.
Michanek won the World Final in 1974 at the Ullevi StadiuminGothenburg, and won the Swedish Individual Championship several times.[8] He won the World Long Track Final in 1977 at AalborginDenmark.[9]
When Michanek finished second behind Denmark's Ole Olsen in the 1975 World Final at London's Wembley Stadium, it was reported that he was relieved to have relinquished his world title as he had not enjoyed the pressure of being the World Champion. Reports also told that he only started to enjoy the 1975 Final after finishing third in his opening heat behind Olsen and Russian rider Viktor Trofimov knowing that from that point he was not likely to repeat his 1974 win. This was reflected when he came out and won his final four races to finish 2 points behind the undefeated Olsen in second place.
Anders Michanek also won the World Pairs Championshipin1973inBorås with Bernt Persson, again in 1974 at the Hyde Road SpeedwayinManchester with Sören Sjösten, and a third time in succession in 1975inWrocław, Poland with Tommy Jansson. He also won the Speedway World Team Cup with Swedenin1970.
In 1977, Michanek won the Long Track World ChampionshipinAalborg, Denmark.
London, Wembley Stadium – 6th – 9pts
Gothenburg, Ullevi – 7th – 9pts
Wroclaw, Olympic Stadium – 9th – 7pts Gothenburg, Ullevi – 5th – 11pts London, Wembley Stadium – 7th – 8pts Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – 10th – 6pts Gothenburg, Ullevi – Winner – 15pts London, Wembley Stadium – 2nd – 13pts Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – Reserve – 2pts Gothenburg, Ullevi – 8th – 8pts London, Wembley Stadium – 10th – 7pts Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Bernt Persson) – 3rd – 22pts (13) Ryavallen Borås (with Bengt Jansson) – 4th – 22pts (15+2) Ryavallen, Borås (with Tommy Jansson) – Winner – 24pts (15) Manchester, Hyde Road (with Sören Sjösten) – Winner – 28pts (14) Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Tommy Jansson) – Winner – 24pts (17) Manchester, Hyde Road (with Bernt Persson) – 2nd – 18pts (16) London, Wembley Stadium (with Ove Fundin / Bengt Jansson / Olle Nygren / Torbjörn Harrysson) – 2nd – 30pts (7) Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Sören Sjösten / Ove Fundin / Torbjörn Harrysson) – 4th – 12pts (7) London, Wembley Stadium (with Ove Fundin / Bengt Jansson / Sören Sjösten) – Winner – 42pts (10) Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Bernt Persson] / Sören Sjösten/ Bengt Jansson / Leif Enecrona) – 4th – 18pts (9)
Olching, Olching Speedwaybahn (with Tommy Jansson / Christer Lofqvist / Jan Simensen / Göte Nordin) – 4th – 18pts (4) London, Wembley Stadium (with Bernt Persson / Bengt Jansson / Tommy Jansson) – 2nd – 31pts (11) Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Sören Sjösten / Tommy Jansson / Christer Lofqvist) – 2nd – 31pts (9) Norden, Motodrom Halbemond (with Tommy Jansson / Bernt Persson / Sören Sjösten / Sören Karlsson) – 3rd – 17pts (8) London, White City Stadium (with Bernt Persson / Lars-Åke Andersson / Bengt Jansson / Christer Löfqvist) – 3rd – 26pts (11) Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Bengt Jansson / Tommy Nilsson / Bernt Persson / Sören Karlsson) – 4th – 11pts (5)
