1961 Individual Speedway World Championship

{{Short description|Motorcycle speedway world championship season}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use British English|date=December 2023}} {{Motorsport season |title = [[Individual Speedway World Championship]] |link = Individual Speedway World Championship |year = 1961 }}

The '''1961 Individual Speedway World Championship''' was the 16th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.<ref>{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|pages=20–21|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/04/world-speedway-championships.html|title=World Championship 1936-1994|website=Edinburgh Speedway|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/worldchamps1936to94.pdf|title=World Finals 1936-1994|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedway.org/history/|title=History Speedway and Longtrack|website=Speedway.org|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/board/89/world|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/worldfinalindex|title=World Individual Final – Rider Index|website=British Speedway|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref>

The final was held outside of Wembley and England for the first time when on the 15 September [[Ove Fundin]] retained his title in his home country of Sweden. It was the first time a rider had won three titles and Sweden produced a clean sweep of podium places with [[Björn Knutson]] and [[Göte Nordin]] finishing second and third.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ove Fundin Retains Speedway Title |work=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=16 September 1961 |access-date=7 July 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19610916/261/0025| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==First round== Qualification results.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dlprezes.pl.tl/61_World-Speedway-Championship-_-1961.htm |title=1961 World Championship |website=Metal Speedway |access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/61.htm#1961 |title=1961 World Championship |website=Speedway.org |access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref>

{| width=100% |width=50% valign=top|

=== Norwegian qualifying === *25 June 1960 *{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Idda Idrettsplassen]], [[Kristiansand]] *Top 5 to Nordic qualification 1961 {| class=wikitable !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|Aage Hansen ||15 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|Oystein Mellerud ||13+3 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Sverre Harrfledt]]||13+2 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left| [[Rolf Westerberg]]||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|Oddvar Kristiansen ||9 |-align=center |6 ||align=left|Gunnar Skvetne ||8 |-align=center |7 ||align=left|Jon Odegaard ||8 |-align=center |8 ||align=left|Arne Kristiansen ||7 |-align=center |9 ||align=left| Bjarne Sörenbye ||7 |-align=center |10 ||align=left| Fred Roger Steen ||7 |-align=center |11 ||align=left| Reidar Bakken ||6 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|Egil H. Kruke ||4 |-align=center |13 ||align=left| Egil Bratvold||4 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|Ole Rostad ||3 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|[[Reidar Eide]] ||2 |-align=center |16 ||align=left| Egil Otto Tobiasen||1 |} |width=50% valign=top|

=== Finnish qualifying === *25 September 1960 *{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Eteläpuisto]], [[Tampere]] * First 5 (+seeded riders) to Nordic qualification 1961 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-{ {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left| Kalevi Lahtinen || 15 |- {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left| Olavi Turunen || 13 |- {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left| [[Timo Laine]]|| 11 |- {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|Yrjö Vuorio || 11 |- {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left| [[Antti Pajari]] || 10 |- |6 ||align=left| Antero Salasto || 10 |- |7 ||align=left| Ilkka Helminen || 8 |- |8 ||align=left|Esko Koponen || 7 |- |9 ||align=left|Pertti Petersohn || 6 |- |10 ||align=left|Martti Assinen || 6 |- |11 ||align=left|Raimo Orastie || 5 |- |12 ||align=left| Nils Staaf || 5 |- |13 ||align=left|Jan Ulfingman || 4 |- |14 ||align=left| Valle Seliverstov || 4 |- |15 ||align=left|Heikki Yli Orvola || 3 |- |16 ||align=left| Osmo Hokkanen || 2 |} |}

===Swedish qualifying=== *Top 15 to Nordic qualifying {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !width=100|Date !width=280|Venue !width=180|Winner !width=180|2nd !width=180|3rd |- |30 April || [[Vetlanda Motorstadion]], [[Vetlanda]] || Ove Fundin||Rune Sörmander||Göran Norlen |- |1 May || [[Visby#Sports|Gamla Speedway Track]], [[Visby]] || Ove Fundin||Björn Knutson ||Arne Carlsson |- |4 May || [[Nya Ullevi]], [[Gothenburg]] || Sören Sjösten||Rune Sörmander||Evert Andersson |} {| width=100% |width=50% valign=top| {| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|[[Ove Fundin]] ||30 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|[[Rune Sörmander]] ||26 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Björn Knutson]] ||22 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|[[Evert Andersson]] ||21 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|[[Arne Carlsson (speedway rider)|Arne Carlsson]] ||21 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|[[Göran Norlén]] ||19 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|[[Per-Tage Svensson]] ||19 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|[[Sören Sjösten]] ||19 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |9 ||align=left|[[Bert Lindarw]] ||19 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |10 ||align=left| [[Joel Jansson]] ||18 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |11 ||align=left|[[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]] ||18 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |12 ||align=left|[[Göte Nordin]] ||17 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |13 ||align=left|[[Bernt Nilsson (speedway rider)|Bernt Nilsson]] ||16 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |14 ||align=left|[[Åke Andersson (speedway rider)|Åke Andersson]] ||15 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |15 ||align=left|[[Curt Eldh]] ||15 |}

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{| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center |16 ||align=left|[[Olle Segerström]] ||13 |-align=center |17 ||align=left|Inge Gustafsson ||9 |-align=center |18 ||align=left|Göran Carlsson ||7 |-align=center |19 ||align=left|Kjell Lutteman ||7 |-align=center |20 ||align=left|Thore Kindstrand ||6 |-align=center |21 ||align=left|Thorvald Karlsson ||5 |-align=center |22 ||align=left|Curt Nyqvist ||4 |-align=center |23 ||align=left|Kjell Svensson ||3 |-align=center |24 ||align=left|Bo Magnusson ||1 |-align=center |25 ||align=left|Per-Åke Lundgren ||1 |-align=center |26 ||align=left|Hans Hallberg ||0 |-align=center |27 ||align=left|[[Bengt Brannefors]] ||0 |-align=center |28 ||align=left|Olle Andersson IV ||0 |} |}

===British & Commonwealth qualifying === *Top 64 riders to British & Commonwealth 2nd Round {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !width=100|Date !width=280|Venue !width=180|Winner !width=180|2nd !width=180|3rd |- |align=center| 22 May||[[County Ground Stadium|County Ground]], [[Exeter]] ||[[Eric Hockaday]] ||[[Jim Lightfoot (speedway rider)|Jim Lightfoot]] ||[[Pete Lansdale]] |- |align=center| 24 May||[[Wimborne Road]], [[Poole]] ||[[Maury Mattingley]] ||[[Tony Lewis (speedway rider)|Tony Lewis]] || [[Ken Middleditch]] |- |align=center| 25 May||[[Cleveland Park Stadium]], [[Middlesbrough]] ||[[Dick Campbell (speedway rider)|Dick Campbell]] ||Peter Vandenberg || [[Geoff Mudge]] |- |align=center| 26 May||[[Monmore Green Stadium]], [[Wolverhampton]] ||[[Graham Warren]] ||[[Harry Edwards (speedway rider)|Harry Edwards]] ||[[Eric Hockaday]] |- |align=center| 26 May||[[Rayleigh Weir Stadium]], [[Rayleigh, Essex|Rayleigh]] ||[[Johnny Fitzpatrick (speedway rider)|Johnny Fitzpatrick]] ||[[Gil Goldfinch]] ||[[Ken Adams (speedway rider)|Ken Adams]] |- |align=center| 26 May||[[Pennycross Stadium]], [[Plymouth]] ||[[Jack Scott (speedway rider)|Jack Scott]] ||[[Tony Lewis (speedway rider)|Tony Lewis]] ||[[Chris Julian (speedway rider)|Chris Julian]] |- |align=center| 27 May|| [[Old Meadowbank]], [[Edinburgh]] ||[[Jim Lightfoot (speedway rider)|Jim Lightfoot]] ||[[Doug Templeton]] ||[[Dick Campbell (speedway rider)|Dick Campbell]] |- |align=center| 27 May||[[Dudley Wood Stadium]], [[Dudley]] || [[Harry Bastable]] ||[[Ivor Brown (speedway rider)|Ivor Brown]] || Peter Vandenberg |- |align=center| 1 June|||[[Owlerton Stadium]], [[Sheffield]] || [[Clive Featherby]] || [[Clive Cox]] ||[[George Hunter (speedway rider)|George Hunter]] |- |align=center| 3 June||[[Hanley Greyhound Stadium]], [[Hanley]]||[[Maury Mattingley]] ||[[Ken Adams (speedway rider)|Ken Adams]] ||[[Stan Stevens (speedway rider)|Stan Stevens]] |}

===Continental qualifying=== *Top 32 to Continental semi-finals {| class=wikitable |- !width=100|Date !width=280|Venue !width=200|Winner !width=200|2nd !width=200|3rd |- |align=center| 28 May |{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gwardia Sports Club Stadium]], [[Poznań]] ||{{flagicon|CSK}} [[Bohumír Bartoněk]] ||{{flagicon|CSK}} Bedřich Slaný ||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Stanisław Tkocz]] |- |align=center| 28 May |{{flagicon|CSK}} [[Liberec#Sport|Pavlovičky Stadion]], [[Liberec]] ||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Bronislaw Idzikowski]] ||{{flagicon|USSR}} [[Farid Szajnurov]] ||{{flagicon|USSR}} [[Igor Plekhanov]] |- |align=center| 28 May |{{flagicon|YUG}} [[Matija Gubec Stadium]], [[Krško]] ||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Konstanty Pociejkewicz]] ||{{flagicon|CSK}} [[Bohumil Rednek]] ||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Henryk Żyto]] |- |align=center| 28 May |{{flagicon|FRG}}[[Abensberger Stadion]], [[Abensberg]] ||{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Josef Hofmeister]] ||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Marian Kaiser]] ||{{flagicon|CSK}} [[Antonín Kasper Sr.]] |}

==Second round== ===British & Commonwealth 2nd round=== *Top 32 riders to British & Commonwealth semi-finals {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !width=100|Date !width=280|Venue !width=180|Winner !width=180|2nd !width=180|3rd |- |align=center| 3 July||[[Wimbledon Stadium]], London ||[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]] ||[[Ron How]] || [[Jim Tebby]] |- |align=center| 4 July||[[Banister Court Stadium]], [[Southampton]] ||[[Peter Craven]] || [[Barry Briggs]] ||[[Ray Cresp]] |- |align=center| 5 July||[[New Cross Stadium]], London ||[[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]] ||[[Split Waterman]] ||[[Ken McKinlay]] |- |align=center| 6 July||[[Oxford Stadium]], [[Oxford]] ||[[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]] ||[[Ronnie Genz]] ||[[Mike Broadbanks]] |- |align=center| 6 July||[[Foxhall Stadium]], [[Ipswich]] || [[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]] || [[Johnny Chamberlain]] ||[[Ray Cresp]] |- |align=center| 7 July||[[Leicester Stadium]], [[Leicester]] || [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]] || [[Ken McKinlay]] ||[[Danny Dunton]] |- |align=center| 8 July||[[Abbey Stadium (Swindon)|Abbey Stadium]], [[Swindon]] ||[[Cyril Maidment]] ||[[Tadeusz Teodorowicz]] ||[[Neil Street]] |- |align=center| 8 July||[[Brandon Stadium]], [[Coventry]] ||[[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]] || [[Bob Duckworth (speedway rider)|Bob Duckworth]] || [[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]] |- |align=center| 8 July||[[The Firs Stadium]], [[Norwich]] ||[[Billy Bales]] ||[[Mike Broadbanks]] ||[[Split Waterman]] |- |align=center| 8 July||[[Hyde Road (speedway)|Hyde Road]], [[Manchester]] || [[Peter Craven]] || [[Gerald Jackson (speedway rider)|Gerald Jackson]] ||[[Eric Williams (speedway rider)|Eric Williams]] |}

===Nordic Qualifying=== {| width=100% |width=50% valign=top|

*26 May *{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Dælenenga idrettspark]], [[Oslo]] *Top 8 to Nordic final {| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left| [[Ove Fundin]] ||15 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left| [[Björn Knutson]] ||14 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Aage Hansen]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|[[Arne Carlsson (speedway rider)|Arne Carlsson]] ||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|[[Bernt Nilsson (speedway rider)|Bernt Nilsson]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|[[Göran Norlén]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|[[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]] || |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|[[Joel Jansson]] ||7 |-align=center |9 ||align=left|[[Reidar Kristoffersen]] ||6 |-align=center |10 ||align=left|[[Kurt W Petersen]] ||6 |-align=center |11 ||align=left|[[Sverre Harrfeldt]] ||5 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|[[Torbjörn Nygaard]] ||5 |-align=center |13 ||align=left|[[Paul Wissing]] ||2 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|[[Nils Paulsen]] ||2 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|Gunnar Skjetne ||2 |-align=center |16 ||align=left|Jon Ödegaard ||1 |}

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*28 May *{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Helsinki Velodrome]], [[Helsinki]] *Top 8 to Nordic final {| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|[[Per-Tage Svensson]] ||14 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|[[Rune Sörmander]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Arne Pander]] ||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|[[Evert Andersson]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|[[Göte Nordin]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|[[Kalevi Lahtinen]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|[[Sören Sjösten]] ||9 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|[[Rolf Westerberg]] ||8 |-align=center |9 ||align=left|[[Timo Laine]] ||7 |-align=center |10 ||align=left|[[Yrjö Vuorio]] ||7 |-align=center |11 ||align=left|[[Antti Pajari]] ||6 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|[[Åke Andersson (speedway rider)|Åke Andersson]] ||3 |-align=center |13 ||align=left|[[Curt Eldh]] ||3 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|[[Bert Lindarw]] ||3 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|Olavi Turunen ||2 |-align=center |16 ||align=left|Esko Koponen ||1 |} |}

===Continental semi-finals=== {| width=100% |width=50% valign=top|

*17 June *{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Linzer Stadion]], [[Linz]] *Top 8 to Continental final {| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|[[Josef Hofmeister]] ||15 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|[[Antonín Kasper Sr.]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Marian Kaiser]] ||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|[[Konstanty Pociejkewicz]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|[[Stanislaw Rurarz]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|[[Bernard Kacperak]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|[[Henryk Zyto]] ||8 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|[[Kazimierz Bentke]] ||8 |-align=center |9 ||align=left|[[Valent Medved]] ||7 |-align=center |10 ||align=left|[[Pawel Waloszek]] ||6 |-align=center |11 ||align=left|[[Jan Malinowski]] ||6 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|[[Bohumil Rendek]] ||5 |-align=center |13 ||align=left|Zdeněk Dominik ||4 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|Jaroslav Volf Jr. ||4 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|Johan Hartl ||1 |-align=center |16 ||align=left|Jaroslav Volf Sr. ||0 |}

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*18 June *{{flagicon|POL}} [[Army Stadium Warsaw|Army Stadium]], [[Warsaw]] *Top 8 to Continental final {| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|[[Stanislaw Tkocz]] ||14 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|[[Mieczyslaw Polukard]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|[[Florian Kapala]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|[[Joachim Maj]] ||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|[[Bronislaw Idzikowski]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|[[Igor Plekhanov]] ||11 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|[[Bohumír Bartoněk]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|Bedřich Slaný ||8 |-align=center |9 ||align=left|[[Stefan Kepa]] ||7 |-align=center |10 ||align=left|Adolf Słaboń ||4 |-align=center |11 ||align=left|[[Milan Špinka]] ||4 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|Libor Dušánek ||4 |-align=center |13 ||align=left|Jan Kusiak ||2 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|Miloslav Ráliš ||2 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|Stanislav Kubíček ||2 |-align=center |16 ||align=left|[[Farid Szajnurov]] ||2 |} |}

==Third round== ===British & Commonwealth Semi finals=== *Top 16 to British final {| class=wikitable |- !width=100|Date !width=280|Venue !width=180|Winner !width=180|2nd !width=180|3rd |- |align=center| 31 July |[[Wimbledon Stadium]], London ||Ronnie Moore ||Barry Briggs ||Bob Andrews |- |align=center| 1 August |[[Banister Court Stadium]], [[Southampton]] ||Ron How ||Peter Craven || Cyril Maidment |- |align=center| 5 August |[[Hyde Road (speedway)|Hyde Road]], [[Manchester]] ||Ronnie Moore || Doug Davies ||Nigel Boocock |- |align=center| 5 August |[[The Firs Stadium]], [[Norwich]] ||Barry Briggs ||Peter Craven ||Billy Bales |} {| width=100% |- |width=50% valign=top| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |-{{speedway color|7}} |1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]] ||29 |-{{speedway color|7}} |2 ||align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Barry Briggs]]|| 29 |-{{speedway color|7}} |3 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Craven]] || 28 |-{{speedway color|7}} |4 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Cyril Maidment]] || 24 |-{{speedway color|7}} |5 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]]|| 22 |-{{speedway color|7}} |6 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]] ||21 |-{{speedway color|7}} |7 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ken McKinlay]] || 21 |-{{speedway color|7}} |8 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mike Broadbank]] ||21 |-{{speedway color|7}} |9 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ron How]] || 20 |-{{speedway color|7}} |10 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nigel Boocock]] || 19 |-{{speedway color|7}} |11 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Scott (speedway rider)|Jack Scott]]|| 19 |-{{speedway color|7}} |12 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SAF|1928}} [[Doug Davies (speedway rider)|Doug Davies]]|| 18 |-{{speedway color|7}} |13 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Neil Street]] || 18 |-{{speedway color|7}} |14 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]] || 18 |-{{speedway color|7}} |15 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie Genz]] || 18 |-{{speedway color|7}} |16 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ray Cresp]] || 17 |} |width=50% valign=top| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=40px|Points |- |17 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Johnny Chamberlain]] || 16 |- |18 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Chum Taylor]] || 16 |- |19 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Billy Bales]] || 15 |- |20 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Split Waterman]]|| 15 |- |21 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy Squibb]] || 9 |- |22 ||align=left|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Tadeusz Teodorowicz]] ||8 |- |23 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dick Fisher (speedway rider)|Dick Fisher]]|| 8 |- |24 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Biggs]] ||7 |- |25 ||align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jack Geran]] || 7 |- |26 ||align=left|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Eric Williams (speedway rider)|Eric Williams]] || 7 |- |27 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jim Tebby]] || 5 |- |28 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alby Golden]] ||5 |- |29 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony Lewis (speedway rider)|Tony Lewis]] ||4 |- |30 ||align=left|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ian Williams (speedway rider)|Ian Williams]] ||4 |- |31 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Nicholls]] || 4 |- |32 ||align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Bob Duckworth (speedway rider)|Bob Duckworth]] ||0 |} |}

===Nordic Final=== *11 June 1961 *{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Gislaved Motorbana]], [[Gislaved]] * First 8 to European Final {| class=wikitable !width=25px|Pos. ||width=200px|Rider ||width=50px|Total |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Ove Fundin]] ||14 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |2 ||align=left|{{flagicon|DNK}} [[Arne Pander]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |3 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Björn Knutson]] ||13 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |4 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Per Tage Svensson]] ||12 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |5 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Evert Andersson]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |6 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Göte Nordin]] ||10 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |7 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]] ||8 |-align=center {{speedway color|g}} |8 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Rune Sörmander]] ||8 |-align=center |9 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Göran Norlén]] ||7 |-align=center |10 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Arne Carlsson (speedway rider)|Arne Carlsson]] ||7 |-align=center |11 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Soren Sjosten]] ||6 |-align=center |12 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Joel Jansson]] ||5 |-align=center |13 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Bernt Nilsson (speedway rider)|Bernt Nilsson]] ||3 |-align=center |14 ||align=left|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Timo Laine]] ||2 |-align=center |15 ||align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Rolf Westerberg]] ||1 |-align=center |16 ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Curt Eldh]] ||2 |-align=center |R1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Aage Hansen]] || dnr |-align=center |R1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kalevi Lahtinen]] || dnr |-align=center |}

===Continental Final=== * 23 July 1961 *{{flagicon|CSK}} [[Slaný Speedway Stadium]], [[Slaný]] * First 7 to European Final, Josef Bössner seeded to European final

{{Speedway event 20heats|x|RIDERS= {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P1|2|POL|[[Florian Kapała]]| |3|3|3|2|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P2|1|USSR|[[Igor Plekhanov]]| |2|3|3|3|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P3|6|POL|[[Stanisław Tkocz]]| |2|2|2|3|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|4|8|POL|[[Henryk Żyto]]| |3|1|3|1|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|5|7|FRG|[[Josef Hofmeister]]| |1|3|3|0|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|6|12|POL|[[Konstanty Pociejkewicz]]| |2|2|1|2|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|7|4|POL|[[Kaziemirz Bentke]]| |1||2|2|3| |x| |8i=X }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|8|15|POL|[[Marian Kaiser]]| |3|2|2||| |x| |16i=X |17i=- }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|9|11|POL|[[Mieczysław Połukard]]| ||1|1|3|2| |x| |3i=X }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|10|14|POL|[[Joachim Maj]]| |2|1|2|1|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|11|16|CSK|[[Antonín Kasper Sr.]]| |1|3|0|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|12|10|CSK|Bedřich Slaný| |3|0|1|1|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|13|9|POL|[[Stanislaw Rurarz]]| |1|2|1|1|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|14|3|POL|[[Bronislaw Idzikowski]]| |0|0|0|3|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|15|13|CSK|[[Bohumír Bartoněk]]| ||0|0||1| |x| |4i=X |14i=E }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|16|5|POL|[[Bernard Kacperak]]| |0|1||0|0| |x| |10i=E }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R1|R1|POL|[[Stefan Kepa]]| }} }}

==Fourth round== ===European Final=== *26 August 1961 *{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Praterstadion]], [[Vienna]] * First 7 to World Final plus 1 reserve {{Speedway event 20heats|x|RIDERS= {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P1|8|SWE|[[Ove Fundin]]| |3|3|3|3|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P2|11|SWE|[[Björn Knutson]]| |3|3|3|2|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P3|3|USSR|[[Igor Plekhanov]]| |3|2|1|3|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|4|4|SWE|[[Rune Sörmander]]| |2|1|3|3|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|5|6|POL|[[Florian Kapała]]| |2|3|2|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|6|12|POL|[[Stanisław Tkocz]]| |1|0|3|3|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|7|15|SWE|[[Göte Nordin]]| |3|1|2|1|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|8|16|FRG|[[Josef Hofmeister]]| |2|2|1|1|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|9|5|SWE|[[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]]| |1|2|1|2|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|10|9|POL|[[Henryk Żyto]]| |2|3|2||| |x| |16i=F |18i=- }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|11|2|SWE|[[Evert Andersson]]| |1|2|0|1|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|12|10|SWE|[[Per Tage Svensson]]| |0|1|2|0|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|13|14|SWE|[[Göran Norlén]]| |0|0|0|2|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|14|7|POL|[[Mieczysław Połukard]]| |0|0|1||| |x| |13i=- |18i=- }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|15|13|POL|[[Marian Kaiser]]| |1||||0| |x| |5i=F |12i=E |14i=E }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|16|1|POL|[[Kaziemirz Bentke]]| |||||| |x| |1i=NS |5i=NS |9i=NS |13i=NS |17i=NS }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R1|R1|AUT|[[Josef Bössner]]| |5h=b |5p=1 |13h=r |13p=1 |18h=w |18p=1 }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R2|R2|AUT|[[Johan Hartl]]| |1h=r |1p=0 }} }}

===British Final=== *2 September 1961 *{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London * First 9 to World final plus 1 reserve

{{Speedway event 20heats|x|RIDERS= {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P1|7|NZL|[[Barry Briggs]]| |3|3|3|3|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P2|3|ENG|[[Peter Craven]]| |3|2|3|3|3| |x| |}} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P3|12|NZL|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]| |3|3|3|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|4|5|SCO|[[Ken McKinlay]]| |0|3|2|1|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|5|1|ENG|[[Ron How]]| |2|2|2|0|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|6|4|ENG|[[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]]| |1|2|2|3|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|7|16|AUS|[[Ray Cresp]]| |1|1|3|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|8|15|ENG|[[Mike Broadbanks]]| |3|1|1|0|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|9|14|ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]| |2|3|1|1|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|10|9|ENG|[[Ronnie Genz]]| |1|1|2|1|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|11|6|AUS|[[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]| |1|1|1|2|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|12|11|SAF|[[Doug Davies (speedway rider)|Doug Davies]]| |0|0|0|3|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|13|8|AUS|[[Neil Street]]| |2|0|0|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|14|2|AUS|[[Peter Moore (speedway rider)|Peter Moore]]| |0|2|1|0|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|15|10|AUS|[[Jack Scott (speedway rider)|Jack Scott]]| |2|0|0|0|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|16|13|ENG|[[Nigel Boocock]]| |0|0|1|0|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R1|R1|AUS|[[Chum Taylor]]| |21h=x }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R2|R2|ENG|[[Split Waterman]]| |21h=x }} }}

==World Final== *15 September 1961 *{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö Stadion]], [[Malmö]]<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref>

{{Speedway event 20heats|x|RIDERS= {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P1|6|SWE|[[Ove Fundin]]| |3|3|3|3|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P2|4|SWE|[[Björn Knutson]]| |3|3|3||3| |x|3 |16i=F }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|P3|13|SWE|[[Göte Nordin]]| |2|2|2|3|3| |x|2 }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|4|15|NZL|[[Barry Briggs]]| |1|3|3|2|3| |x|1 }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|5|2|ENG|[[Bob Andrews (speedway rider)|Bob Andrews]]| |2|2|2|1|3| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|6|16|NZL|[[Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)|Ronnie Moore]]| |3|1|2|2|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|7|3|POL|[[Florian Kapała]]| |0|2|2|3|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|8|7|SWE|[[Rune Sörmander]]| |2|1|0|3|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|9|9|ENG|[[Ron How]]| |2|3|1|1|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|10|8|ENG|[[Peter Craven]]| ||2|3|0|1| |x| |2i=F }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|11|10|SCO|[[Ken McKinlay]]| |3||1|1|| |x| |6i=F |17i=E }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|12|12|ENG|[[Cyril Maidment]]| |1|0|1|2|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|13|1|USSR|[[Igor Plekhanov]]| |1|0|1|0|2| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|14|5|AUS|[[Ray Cresp]]| ||1|0||2| |x| |2i=F |15i=F }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|15|11|POL|[[Stanisław Tkocz]]| |0|0|0|2|1| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/rider|16|14|ENG|[[Mike Broadbank]]| |0|1|0|1|0| |x| }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R1|R1|AUS|[[Jack Young (speedway rider)|Jack Young]]| |21h=x }} {{Speedway event 20heats/reserve|R2|R2|SWE|[[Leif Larsson (speedway rider)|Leif Larsson]]| |21h=x }} }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Speedway Grand Prix seasons}}

[[Category:Individual Speedway World Championship|1961]] [[Category:1961 in speedway|World Individual]] [[Category:1961 in Swedish motorsport]] [[Category:Speedway competitions in Sweden]]