As the English football team have managed to exit the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the earliest opportunity, we felt we should make an effort to cheer up the nation. We might be fairly crap at football, but when it comes to motorsport, and motorcycling, we’re really rather successful.
Since the last time England won a major football tournament back in 1966, they’ve managed a 4th in the World Cup in 1990, and two third places in the European Championships. Meanwhile on two wheels, English riders have been a bit more successful.
Grand Prix:
- 1966: Mike Hailwood 250cc, 350cc world champion.
- 1967: Mike Hailwood, 250cc, 350cc world champion. Bill Ivy 125cc world champion.
- 1968: Phil Read, 250cc world champion, 125cc world champion.
- 1969: Dave Simmonds, 125cc world champion.
- 1970: Rodney Gould, 250cc world champion.
- 1971: Phil Read, 250cc world champion.
- 1973: Phil Read, 500cc world champion.
- 1974: Phil Read, 500cc world champion.
- 1976: Barry Sheene, 500cc world champion.
- 1977: Barry Sheene, 500cc world champion.
Since 1977, British riders have won plenty of individual races and most recently Scott Redding was runner-up in the 2013 Moto2 championship. The United Kingdom is still the second most successful country for Grand Prix motorcycle champions since racing was introduced in 1949, with a total of 44 champions, behind Italy’s 75, and ahead of Spain with 41 and Germany with 18.
World Superbikes:
- 1994: Carl Fogarty
- 1995: Carl Fogarty
- 1998: Carl Fogarty
- 1999: Carl Fogarty
- 2003: Neil Hodgson
- 2004: James Toseland
- 2007: James Toseland
- 2013: Tom Sykes
The UK are again the second most successful nationality, this time trailing the United States and beating Australia, Italy, France and Spain. If you include World Supersport, then you can add Cal Crutchlow (2009), Chaz Davies (2011), and Sam Lowes (2013).
Football vs Motorcycling:
So the totals are 1 world title for the English football team in 48 years, versus 25 titles for English motorcyclists. And while the big football tournaments only happen every two years, we haven’t even started on the champions in sidecars, road racing, motocross, trials etc.
Put simply, if you want to see British sportspeople win on a fairly regular basis, give them a petrol engine and some wheels…
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