1985 Individual Speedway World Championship


The 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 40th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.
Odsal Stadium, the new home of international speedway in England after the demise of the Wembley Stadium and White City Stadium tracks, was chosen by the FIM to host the 1985 Final on 31 August 1985; the first time that the final had been held in England at a venue other than Wembley.
A crowd of around 30,000 attended the 1985 Final, which was won by defending champion Erik Gundersen from fellow Dane Hans Nielsen and surprise third placing Sam Ermolenko of the United States. All three riders finished the meeting on 13 points and were forced into a run-off to decide the podium placings. The only English rider in the field, 21-year-old Kelvin Tatum, finished 8th with 8 points in his first World Final. He won his first race, but later admitted that he let the occasion get to him which affected his riding.

First round

British qualification

  • Riders progress to British semi-finals

Swedish qualification

  • Top 6 in each heat to Swedish final

Second round

Continental preliminary round

  • Riders progress to Continental quarter-finals
DateVenueWinner2nd3rd
21 April

Third round

Continental quarter-finals

  • Top 32 to Continental semi-finals
DateVenueWinner2nd3rd
1 May

American Final

New Zealand Final

  • - No final, David Bargh seeded direct to Overseas final

Australian Final

Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1Billy Sanders15
2Phil Crump11
3Stan Bear11
4Mark Fiora11
5Steve Regeling10
6Alan Rivett10
7Gary Guglielmi8
8Rod Hunter8
9Steve Koppe7
10Ray Palmer6
11David Jackson6
12Steve Baker4
13Rudy Muts3
14Brent Nott2
15Darryl Branfort2
16Bill Barett0
R1Craig Drennan4
18Mal Bedkoper1

British Final

Norwegian Final

Pos.RiderTotal
1Einar Kyllingstad15
2Roy Otto14
3Dag Haaland11
4Ingvar Skogland11
5Erlend Skretting10
6Kjel Arvid Gimre10
7Per Leveng9
8Arnt Forland9
9Willi Tjessem7
10Robert Langaland7
11Gjermund Aas4
12Aasger Bjerga3
13Jan Slaatter3
14Kurt Ueland3
15Geir Aasland3
16Gunnar Tunaem1

Finland Final

Pos.RiderTotal
1Kai Niemi15
2Ari Koponen14
3Juha Moksunen11+3
4Pekka Hautamaki11+2
5Olli Tyrvainen10
6Markku Haapala9
7Henry Kivela9
8Hannu Lehtonen8
9Mikael Back6
10Seppo Keskinen6
11Heimo Kaikko6
12Aarre Soivuori4
13Roy Malminheimo3
14Aki Ala Riihimaki3
15Esa Mattila2
16Ismo Kivela2
17Ari Heinonen 1

Swedish Finals

  • Top 5 to Nordic final
  • R1
  • R2
  • R3
Pos.RiderR1R2R3Total
1Tommy Nilsson12151340
2Jimmy Nilsen11131236
3Richard Hellsén12101335
4Per Jonsson8101533
5Erik Stenlund1410832
6Christer Rohlén710825
7Pierre Brannefors912223
8Lars Andersson95721
9Patrik Karlsson49619
10Hans Wahlström93416
11Börje Ring34815
12Bengt Jansson43714
13Jimmie Magnusson14813
14Anders Kling36413
15Ake Fridell82-10
16Tony Olsson5308
17Conny Ivarsson0044
18Jan Lundgren0111
19Alf Trofast-1-1
20Lars Mammarberg1--1

Danish Final

Pos.RiderTotal
1Hans Nielsen15
2Erik Gundersen13+3
3Preben Eriksen13+2
4Tommy Knudsen11
5Finn Rune Jensen10
6Jan O. Pedersen10
7John Jørgensen10
8Jens Rasmussen9
9Fleming Pedersen6
10John Eskildsen6
11Bo Petersen6
12Sam Nikolajsen3
13Brian Jacobsen2
14Aksel Jepsen2
15Per Sorensen2
16Frank Andersen1
R1Helge Hansen1

Fourth round

Overseas Final

Nordic Final

Fifth round

Continental Final

Intercontinental Final

World Final