We are the Champions (Part Two)...

Continuing from yesterday, here are the other motorcycling World Champions that Great Britain has produced.  Some of these sports may not be totally familiar to American readers!

MX3 (Motocross)

Another sport that has changed its name in recent years, MX3 used to be 500cc Motocross.  MX3 is the highest class in the sport, with the inaugural World Championship being held in 1957.

1964 - Jeff Smith
1965 - Jeff Smith
1979 - Graham Noyce
1985 - David Thorpe
1986 - David Thorpe
1989 - David Thorpe

MX1 (Motocross)

MX1 is what used to be 250cc Motocross.  The first World Championship in this class was held in 1962.

1981 - Neil Hudson

Speedway

Yes, there is a sport simply called "speedway".  From its humble beginnings as "dirt-track racing" in the early 1900's, speedway has evolved into perhaps the most specialised form of motor-cycle racing.  500cc engines run on methanol, and the bikes have a preset gearing, and no brakes.  Modern tracks are ovals with a loose shale surface, and are usually between 300-440 metres in length.  The first World Championship was held at London's Wembley Stadium in 1936.

1949 - Tommy Price
1950 - Freddie Williams
1953 - Freddie Williams
1955 - Peter Craven
1962 - Peter Craven
1976 - Peter Collins
1980 - Michael Lee
1992 - Gary Havelock
2000 - Mark Loram
2013 - Tai Woffinden

Here is a video of England's Chris Harris winning the 2007 British Speedway GP

Long-Track

Simply put, a version of speedway held on tracks (sometimes of sand) of around 1000 metres.  The first World Championship was staged in 1971.  You will see that Michael Lee is the only Briton to win both the speedway and long-track titles.

1981 - Michael Lee
1985 - Simon Wigg
1989 - Simon Wigg
1990 - Simon Wigg
1993 - Simon Wigg
1994 - Simon Wigg
1995 - Kelvin Tatum
1998 - Kelvin Tatum
2000 - Kelvin Tatum

Trials

Not so much racing as a discipline, trials riding is an exercise in keeping control of the machine while negotiating various natural and constructed elements and obstacles (jumps, rocks, waterfalls etc).  This is done while the rider is standing, rather than sitting, on the bike.  The World Championship started in 1964.  Dougie Lampkin is the son of Martin Lampkin.

1964 - Don Smith
1967 - Don Smith
1968 - Sammy Miller
1969 - Don Smith
1970 - Sammy Miller
1971 - Mick Andrews
1972 - Mick Andrews
1973 - Martin Lampkin
1974 - Martin Lampkin
1975 - Martin Lampkin
1997 - Dougie Lampkin
1998 - Dougie Lampkin
1999 - Dougie Lampkin
2000 - Dougie Lampkin
2001 - Dougie Lampkin
2002 - Dougie Lampkin
2003 - Dougie Lampkin

Trials (Indoor)

A relatively new sport (the first World Championship was in 1993), this was introduced into indoor arenas, and understandably, the obstacles are all man-made.

1997 - Dougie Lampkin
1998 - Dougie Lampkin
1999 - Dougie Lampkin
2000 - Dougie Lampkin
2001 - Dougie Lampkin

Dougie Lampkin at the Red Bull factory

Enduro

Enduro combines elements of motocross and trials, and also riding on asphalt roads.  To be considered for a World Championship event (introduced in 1990), the course must be at least 200km in length.

250cc
1996 - Paul Edmondson

125cc
1990 - Paul Edmondson
1993 - Paul Edmondson
1994 - Paul Edmondson.