1979 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1979 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 34th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

In his 14th straight World Final appearance (dating back to 1966), New Zealand's Ivan Mauger won his 6th Speedway World Championship, breaking the previous record of 5 wins held by himself and legendary Swede Ove Fundin. Mauger scored 14 points to defeat local favourite Zenon Plech (13) and young English tearaway Michael Lee (11), with Lee the only rider to defeat Mauger on the day. Lee also had to defeat Kelly Moran (USA), Billy Sanders (Australia) and defending champion Ole Olsen in a runoff for third after all four riders finished on 11 points. This would prove to be the last appearance for Ivan Mauger as a rider in a World Final.

Qualification results.

First round

British qualification

Similar to the previous season, the Sunday Mirror sponsored British qualifying rounds for the World Championship doubled up as qualifying rounds for the Berger-sponsored Grand Prix. Therefore, many non-British riders such as Scott Autrey and Ivan Mauger rode in these meetings scoring points towards the Grand Prix qualification - but their scores didn't count towards World Championship qualification. The Rye House track flooded so the event was moved to Hackney.

Second round

Swedish qualification

• Top 5 in each heat to Swedish final

Continental Preliminary round

• Riders progress to Continental quarter-finals

British semi-finals

Third round

Continental quarter-finals

• Top 32 riders to Continental semi-finals

American semi-finals

• Top 16 to American final (two 32 rider meetings, held in 1978)

British Final

• 20 June 1979
• Brandon Stadium, Coventry
• First 10 to Commonwealth Final plus 1 reserve

Australasian Final

• 23 February 1979
• Rowley Park Speedway, Adelaide
• Referee: Sam Bass
• First 6 to Commonwealth final plus 1 reserve

Danish Final

• 6 May 1979
• Fjelsted Speedway Stadium, Harndrup
• First 4 to Nordic Final (Ole Olsen seeded to Nordic final)

Norwegian Final

• To 3 riders to Nordic Final
• Elgane, Varhaug

Finland Final

• 3 selected riders to Nordic Final
• 13 August '78
• Kärpänen Speedway, Lahti

Swedish Final

• 29 May 1979
• Kumla Motorstadion, Kumla
• First 5 to Nordic Final + 1 reserve

Fourth round

Continental semi-finals

American Final

• 29 December 1978
• Santa Ana Stadium, Santa Ana
• First 2 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve

Commonwealth Final

• 1 July 1979
• White City Stadium, London
• First 9 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve

Nordic Final

• 5 June 1979
• Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping
• First 5 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve

Fifth round

Continental Final

• 8 July 1979
• Rottalstadion, Pocking
• First 4 to World final plus 1 reserve
• Polish riders Zenon Plech, Edward Jancarz and Robert Słaboń seeded to World Final

Intercontinental Final

• 8 August 1979
• White City Stadium, London
• First 9 to World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

• 2 September 1979
• Silesian Stadium, Chorzów

References