Summary
David John Jessup (born 7 March 1953 in Ipswich, England) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1] He was a world championship runner-up, world pairs champion, world cup winner and British champion.[2][3] He earned 97 international caps for the England national speedway team.[4]
 | |
| Born | 7 March 1953 Ipswich, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1969 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| 1970 | West Ham Hammers |
| 1970-1971 | Wembley Lions |
| 1972-1975 | Leicester Lions |
| 1976-1978 | Reading Racers |
| 1979-1981,1984-1985 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1982-1983 | Wimbledon Dons |
| 1986-1987 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
| Individual honours | |
| 1970 | British League Div 2 Riders Champion |
| 1974 | Midland Riders' Championship |
| 1974 | The Laurels |
| 1975 | London Riders' Championship |
| 1976 | Yorkshire Television Trophy |
| 1976, 1981 | Spring Classic |
| 1979, 1980 | Pride of the East |
| 1979 | Brandonapolis |
| 1980 | Blue Riband |
| 1980 | Internationale |
| 1980 | British Champion |
| 1980 | Commonwealth Champion |
| 1981, 1982 | Overseas Champion |
| 1976, 1980 | Superama |
| 1974, 1980 | Littlechild Trophy |
| 1983, 1984 | South African Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1980 | Speedway World Pairs Championship |
| 1974, 1977, 1980 | World Team Cup |
| 1972, 1974 | Midland Cup |
| 1977 | Spring Gold Cup |
| 1980 | Gauntlet Gold Cup |
| 1987 | Pairs Championship winner |
| 1987 | Fours Championship winner |
Career edit
Jessup commenced his speedway career in 1969, when he rode for Eastbourne Eagles recording 6.62 average during the 1969 British League Division Two season. The following season, he won the British League Division Two Riders Championship, held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 25 September 1970. Jessup was aged just 17 at the time.[5] He also rode for Wembley Lions in the British League.[6]
In 1972, he joined Leicester Lions and spent four years with the Midlands club. In 1974, he won the first of three World Team Cups with the England national speedway team[7] and in 1975, he won the London Riders' Championship in 1975, despite being in his fourth and final season with Leicester. He recorded an average of 10.45 in his last season with Leicester.[2]
In 1976, he joined Reading Racers and was their top rider for three seasons. In 1977, he helped England win the World Cup to earn a second winners medal.[8] In 1977 and 1978, Jessup finished second in the British Speedway Championship to Michael Lee and the following year finished third behind Peter Collins and Michael Lee.[9] In 1979, he switched to King's Lynn Stars, where he would join Michael Lee as a teammate.[2]
In 1980, Jessup completed his best ever season. He finished runner-up in the Speedway World Championship to fellow countryman Michael Lee.[10] The same season he won the World Pairs Championship with Peter Collins, the World Cup with England and became British Speedway champion.[11]
He continued to perform at the highest level in 1981 and moved to join Wimbledon Dons for the 1982 British League season, where he topped the London team's averages for both 1982 and 1983. He returned to King's Lynn for the 1984 British League season but struggled to retain the form he had for the previous decade.[2]
In 1986, he dropped a division to join the Mildenhall Fen Tigers. The following year in 1987, he won the National League Pairs, partnering Melvyn Taylor for Mildenhall, during the 1987 National League season.[12] He also helped Mildenhall win the Fours Championship during the 1987 season.[13]
When Jessup retired in 1988 he had earned a remarkable 97 England caps and had reached six world finals.
World final appearances edit
Individual World Championship edit
- 1974 -
Göteborg, Ullevi - 13th - 5pts - 1978 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 4th - 11pts + 2pts - 1979 -
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 8th - 8pts - 1980 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 2nd - 12pts + 3pts
- 1981 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 7pts
- 1982 -
Los Angeles, Memorial Coliseum - 6th - 8pts
World Pairs Championship edit
- 1974 - Manchester, Hyde Road (with Peter Collins) - 4th - 20pts (8)
- 1980 -
Krsko, Matija Gubec Stadium (with Peter Collins) - Winner - 29pts (15) - 1981 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Chris Morton) - 6th - 17pts (7)
World Team Cup edit
- 1974 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Peter Collins / John Louis / Malcolm Simmons) - Winner - 42pts (10)
- 1977 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Peter Collins / Michael Lee / John Davis / Malcolm Simmons) - Winner - 37pts (9)
- 1978 -
Landshut, Stadion Ellermühle (with Malcolm Simmons / Peter Collins / Gordon Kennett / Michael Lee) - 2nd - 27pts (5) - 1980 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Peter Collins / Chris Morton / Michael Lee]) - Winner - 40pts (8)
- 1981 - Olching, Olching Speedwaybahn (with Chris Morton / Kenny Carter / John Davis / Gordon Kennett) - 2nd - 29pts (3)
- 1983 -
Vojens, Speedway Center (with Kenny Carter / Michael Lee / Chris Morton / Peter Collins) - 2nd 29pts (2)
References edit
- ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
- ^ a b c d "Dave Jessup" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook, rider profile Dave Jessup. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Jessup roars in". Daily Mirror. 26 September 1970. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Dave Jessup". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "1974 WORLD TEAM CUP". International Speedway. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ Matthews/Morrison, Peter/Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results. Guinness Superlatives. p. 290. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
- ^ "British Final Roll of Honour". BSPA. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
- ^ "Tigers triumph". Cambridge Daily News. 27 July 1987. Retrieved 25 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Fantastic Fours!". Cambridge Daily News. 31 October 1987. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.