{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use British English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox speedway rider | name = Dave Jessup | image = Dave Jessup.jpg | nationality = British (English) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1953|3|7}} | birth_place = [[Ipswich]], England
| years1 = 1969 | career1 = [[Eastbourne Eagles]] | years2 = 1970 | career2 = [[West Ham Hammers]] | years3 = 1970-1971 | career3 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] | years4 = 1972-1975 | career4 = [[Leicester Lions]] | years5 = 1976-1978 | career5 = [[Reading Racers]] | years6 = 1979-1981, 1984-1985 | career6 = [[King's Lynn Stars]] | years7 = 1982-1983 | career7 = [[Wimbledon Dons]] | years8 = 1986-1987 | career8 = [[Mildenhall Fen Tigers]] | indivhonour1 = [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]] | indivyear1 = 1980 | indivhonour2 = [[Commonwealth Final|Commonwealth Champion]] | indivyear2 = 1980 | indivhonour3 = [[Overseas Final|Overseas Champion]] | indivyear3 = 1981, 1982 | indivhonour4 = [[British_League_Division_Two_Riders_Championship|British League Div 2 Riders Champion]] | indivyear4 = 1970 | indivhonour5 = [[Midland Riders' Championship]] | indivyear5 = 1974 | indivhonour6 = The Laurels | indivyear6 = 1974 | indivhonour7 = Littlechild Trophy | indivyear7 = 1974, 1980 | indivhonour8 = [[London Riders' Championship]] | indivyear8 = 1975, 1983 | indivhonour9 = Yorkshire Television Trophy | indivyear9 = 1976 | indivhonour10 = Spring Classic | indivyear10 = 1976, 1981 | indivhonour11 = Superama | indivyear11 = 1976, 1980 | indivhonour12 = Pride of the East | indivyear12 = 1979, 1980 | indivhonour13 = Brandonapolis | indivyear13 = 1979 | indivhonour14 = Blue Riband | indivyear14 = 1980 | indivhonour15 = [[Wimbledon Internationale|Internationale]] | indivyear15 = 1980 | indivhonour16 = South African Champion | indivyear16 = 1983, 1984 | teamhonour1 = [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]]
| teamyear1 = 1980 | teamhonour2 = [[Speedway World Team Cup|World Team Cup]] | teamyear2 = 1974, 1977, 1980 | teamhonour3 = [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]] | teamyear3 = 1972, 1974 | teamhonour4 = Spring Gold Cup | teamyear4 = 1977 | teamhonour5 = Gauntlet Gold Cup | teamyear5 = 1980 | teamyear6 = 1987 | teamhonour6 = [[British League Division Two Pairs Championship|Pairs Championship]] winner | teamyear7 = 1987 | teamhonour7 = [[List of United Kingdom Speedway Fours Champions|Fours Championship]] winner }}
'''David John Jessup''' (born 7 March 1953) is an English former [[motorcycle speedway]] rider. He was a world championship runner-up, world pairs champion, world cup winner and British champion.<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Dave Jessup |website=British Speedway |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook, rider profile Dave Jessup |year=1981 |page= |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}</ref> He earned 97 international caps for the [[England national speedway team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=20 December 2023}}</ref>
== Career == 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jessup roars in |work=Daily Mirror |date=26 September 1970 |access-date=14 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19700926/305/0026 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He also rode for [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] in the [[1970 British League season|British League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1433/dave-jessup |title=Dave Jessup |website=WWOS Backup |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>
In 1972, he joined [[Leicester Lions]] and spent four years with the Midlands club. In 1974, he won the first of three [[Speedway World Team Cup|World Team Cup]]s with the [[England national speedway team]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/wtc74.htm|title=1974 WORLD TEAM CUP|website=International Speedway|access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name=URI/>
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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Matthews/Morrison|first=Peter/Ian|title=The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results|year=1987|page=290|publisher=Guinness Superlatives|isbn=0-85112-492-5}}</ref> In 1977 and 1978, Jessup finished second in the [[British Speedway Championship]] to [[Michael Lee (speedway rider)|Michael Lee]] and the following year finished third behind [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]] and Michael Lee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwaygb.co/rollofhonourbritishfinal|title=British Final Roll of Honour|publisher=BSPA|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>
In 1979, he switched to [[King's Lynn Stars]] after rejecting a new deal with Reading and joined up with Michael Lee as a teammate.<ref name=URI/> The transfer to King's Lynn set a new British transfer record of £20,000 at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790118/525/0024 |title=Jessup to smash transfer fee records |website=Reading Evening Post |date=18 January 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 March 2025 }}</ref>
In 1980, Jessup completed his best ever season. He finished runner-up in the [[Speedway World Championship]] to fellow countryman Michael Lee.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref> The same season he won the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Championship]] with Peter Collins, the World Cup with England and became British Speedway champion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard |title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|pages=|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd |isbn=0-09-141751-1}}</ref>
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.<ref name=URI/>
In 1986, he dropped a division to join the [[Mildenhall Fen Tigers]] after leaving the Stars.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19860214/589/0038 |title=jessup and Jolly may quit stars|website=Lynn Advertiser |date=14 February 1986 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> The following year in 1987, he won the [[British League Division Two Pairs Championship|National League Pairs]], partnering [[Melvyn Taylor]] for Mildenhall, during the [[1987 National League season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tigers triumph |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=27 July 1987 |access-date=25 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19870727/023/0023 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He also helped Mildenhall win the [[List of United Kingdom Speedway Fours Champions|Fours Championship]] during the 1987 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fantastic Fours! |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=31 October 1987 |access-date=8 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19871031/023/0023 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
When Jessup retired in 1988 he had earned a remarkable 97 England caps and had reached six world finals.
==World final appearances== ===Individual World Championship=== * [[1974 Individual Speedway World Championship|1974]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Ullevi]] - 13th - 5pts * [[1978 Individual Speedway World Championship|1978]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 4th - 11pts + 2pts * [[1979 Individual Speedway World Championship|1979]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Chorzów]], [[Silesian Stadium]] - 8th - 8pts * [[1980 Individual Speedway World Championship|1980]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} Gothenburg, Ullevi - '''2nd''' - 12pts + 3pts * [[1981 Individual Speedway World Championship|1981]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 7pts * [[1982 Individual Speedway World Championship|1982]] – {{Flagicon|USA}} Los Angeles, [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Memorial Coliseum]] - 6th - 8pts
===World Pairs Championship=== * [[1974 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1974]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Manchester]], [[Hyde Road (speedway)|Hyde Road]] (with [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]) - 4th - 20pts (8) * [[1980 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1980]] – {{Flagicon|YUG}} [[Krško]], [[Matija Gubec Stadium]] (with Peter Collins) - '''Winner''' - 29pts (15) * [[1981 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1981]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with [[Chris Morton]]) - 6th - 17pts (7)
===World Team Cup=== * [[1974 Speedway World Team Cup|1974]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Peter Collins / [[John Louis (speedway rider)|John Louis]] / [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]]) - '''Winner''' - 42pts (10) * [[1977 Speedway World Team Cup|1977]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with Peter Collins / [[Michael Lee (speedway rider)|Michael Lee]] / [[John Davis (speedway rider)|John Davis]] / Malcolm Simmons) - '''Winner''' - 37pts (9) * [[1978 Speedway World Team Cup|1978]] – {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Landshut]], [[Stadion Ellermühle]] (with Malcolm Simmons / Peter Collins / [[Gordon Kennett]] / Michael Lee) - '''2nd''' - 27pts (5) * [[1980 Speedway World Team Cup|1980]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with Peter Collins / Chris Morton / Michael Lee]) - '''Winner''' - 40pts (8) * [[1981 Speedway World Team Cup|1981]] – {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Olching]], [[Olching Speedwaybahn]] (with [[Chris Morton]] / [[Kenny Carter]] / John Davis / Gordon Kennett) - '''2nd''' - 29pts (3) * [[1983 Speedway World Team Cup|1983]] – {{Flagicon|DEN}} [[Vojens]], [[Vojens Speedway Center|Speedway Center]] (with Kenny Carter / Michael Lee / Chris Morton / Peter Collins) - '''2nd''' 29pts (2)
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jessup, Dave}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:British speedway riders]] [[Category:English motorcycle racers]] [[Category:British Speedway Championship winners]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Ipswich]] [[Category:Eastbourne Eagles riders]] [[Category:King's Lynn Stars riders]] [[Category:Leicester Lions riders]] [[Category:Mildenhall Fen Tigers riders]] [[Category:Reading Racers riders]] [[Category:Wembley Lions riders]] [[Category:Wimbledon Dons riders]] [[Category:Speedway World Pairs Champions]] [[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]