# Dave Jessup

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dave_Jessup
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dave_Jessup.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Jessup
> Source revision: 1326072464
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

British motorcycle speedway rider

Dave Jessup Born (1953-03-07) 7 March 1953 (age 73) 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 1980 British Champion 1980 Commonwealth Champion 1981, 1982 Overseas Champion 1970 British League Div 2 Riders Champion 1974 Midland Riders' Championship 1974 The Laurels 1974, 1980 Littlechild Trophy 1975, 1983 London Riders' Championship 1976 Yorkshire Television Trophy 1976, 1981 Spring Classic 1976, 1980 Superama 1979, 1980 Pride of the East 1979 Brandonapolis 1980 Blue Riband 1980 Internationale 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

**David John Jessup** (born 7 March 1953) is an English former [motorcycle speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) rider. He was a world championship runner-up, world pairs champion, world cup winner and British champion.[1][2] He earned 97 international caps for the [England national speedway team](/source/England_national_speedway_team).[3]

## Career

Jessup commenced his speedway career in 1969, when he rode for [Eastbourne Eagles](/source/Eastbourne_Eagles) recording 6.62 average during the [1969 British League Division Two season](/source/1969_British_League_Division_Two_season). The following season, he won the [British League Division Two Riders Championship](/source/British_League_Division_Two_Riders_Championship), held at [Hackney Wick Stadium](/source/Hackney_Wick_Stadium) on 25 September 1970. Jessup was aged just 17 at the time.[4] He also rode for [Wembley Lions](/source/Wembley_Lions_(speedway)) in the [British League](/source/1970_British_League_season).[5]

In 1972, he joined [Leicester Lions](/source/Leicester_Lions) and spent four years with the Midlands club. In 1974, he won the first of three [World Team Cups](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup) with the [England national speedway team](/source/England_national_speedway_team)[6] and in 1975, he won the [London Riders' Championship](/source/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.[1]

In 1976, he joined [Reading Racers](/source/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.[7] In 1977 and 1978, Jessup finished second in the [British Speedway Championship](/source/British_Speedway_Championship) to [Michael Lee](/source/Michael_Lee_(speedway_rider)) and the following year finished third behind [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider)) and Michael Lee.[8]

In 1979, he switched to [King's Lynn Stars](/source/King's_Lynn_Stars) after rejecting a new deal with Reading and joined up with Michael Lee as a teammate.[1] The transfer to King's Lynn set a new British transfer record of £20,000 at the time.[9]

In 1980, Jessup completed his best ever season. He finished runner-up in the [Speedway World Championship](/source/Speedway_World_Championship) to fellow countryman Michael Lee.[10] The same season he won the [World Pairs Championship](/source/Speedway_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](/source/Wimbledon_Dons) for the [1982 British League season](/source/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](/source/1984_British_League_season) but struggled to retain the form he had for the previous decade.[1]

In 1986, he dropped a division to join the [Mildenhall Fen Tigers](/source/Mildenhall_Fen_Tigers) after leaving the Stars.[12] The following year in 1987, he won the [National League Pairs](/source/British_League_Division_Two_Pairs_Championship), partnering [Melvyn Taylor](/source/Melvyn_Taylor) for Mildenhall, during the [1987 National League season](/source/1987_National_League_season).[13] He also helped Mildenhall win the [Fours Championship](/source/List_of_United_Kingdom_Speedway_Fours_Champions) during the 1987 season.[14]

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](/source/1974_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Ullevi](/source/Ullevi) - 13th - 5pts

- [1978](/source/1978_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – London, [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)) - 4th - 11pts + 2pts

- [1979](/source/1979_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Chorzów](/source/Chorz%C3%B3w), [Silesian Stadium](/source/Silesian_Stadium) - 8th - 8pts

- [1980](/source/1980_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – Gothenburg, Ullevi - **2nd** - 12pts + 3pts

- [1981](/source/1981_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 7pts

- [1982](/source/1982_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – Los Angeles, [Memorial Coliseum](/source/Los_Angeles_Memorial_Coliseum) - 6th - 8pts

### World Pairs Championship

- [1974](/source/1974_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Manchester](/source/Manchester), [Hyde Road](/source/Hyde_Road_(speedway)) (with [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider))) - 4th - 20pts (8)

- [1980](/source/1980_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Krško](/source/Kr%C5%A1ko), [Matija Gubec Stadium](/source/Matija_Gubec_Stadium) (with Peter Collins) - **Winner** - 29pts (15)

- [1981](/source/1981_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with [Chris Morton](/source/Chris_Morton)) - 6th - 17pts (7)

### World Team Cup

- [1974](/source/1974_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Peter Collins / [John Louis](/source/John_Louis_(speedway_rider)) / [Malcolm Simmons](/source/Malcolm_Simmons_(speedway_racer))) - **Winner** - 42pts (10)

- [1977](/source/1977_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Wrocław](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Wroc%C5%82aw)) (with Peter Collins / [Michael Lee](/source/Michael_Lee_(speedway_rider)) / [John Davis](/source/John_Davis_(speedway_rider)) / Malcolm Simmons) - **Winner** - 37pts (9)

- [1978](/source/1978_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Landshut](/source/Landshut), [Stadion Ellermühle](/source/Stadion_Ellerm%C3%BChle) (with Malcolm Simmons / Peter Collins / [Gordon Kennett](/source/Gordon_Kennett) / Michael Lee) - **2nd** - 27pts (5)

- [1980](/source/1980_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Wrocław](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Wroc%C5%82aw)) (with Peter Collins / Chris Morton / Michael Lee]) - **Winner** - 40pts (8)

- [1981](/source/1981_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Olching](/source/Olching), [Olching Speedwaybahn](/source/Olching_Speedwaybahn) (with [Chris Morton](/source/Chris_Morton) / [Kenny Carter](/source/Kenny_Carter) / John Davis / Gordon Kennett) - **2nd** - 29pts (3)

- [1983](/source/1983_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Vojens](/source/Vojens), [Speedway Center](/source/Vojens_Speedway_Center) (with Kenny Carter / Michael Lee / Chris Morton / Peter Collins) - **2nd** 29pts (2)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-URI_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-URI_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-URI_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-URI_1-3) ["Dave Jessup"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 11 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Oakes, Peter (1981). *1981 Speedway Yearbook, rider profile Dave Jessup*. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-86215-017-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-86215-017-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 20 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Jessup roars in"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19700926/305/0026). *Daily Mirror*. 26 September 1970. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Dave Jessup"](https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1433/dave-jessup). *WWOS Backup*. Retrieved 11 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["1974 WORLD TEAM CUP"](http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/wtc74.htm). *International Speedway*. Retrieved 12 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Matthews/Morrison, Peter/Ian (1987). *The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results*. Guinness Superlatives. p. 290. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85112-492-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85112-492-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["British Final Roll of Honour"](http://www.speedwaygb.co/rollofhonourbritishfinal). BSPA. Retrieved 31 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Jessup to smash transfer fee records"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790118/525/0024). *Reading Evening Post*. 18 January 1979. Retrieved 26 March 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). *A History of the World Speedway Championship*. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7524-2402-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7524-2402-5)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Bott, Richard (1980). *The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4*. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-09-141751-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-09-141751-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["jessup and Jolly may quit stars"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19860214/589/0038). *Lynn Advertiser*. 14 February 1986. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Tigers triumph"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19870727/023/0023). *Cambridge Daily News*. 27 July 1987. Retrieved 25 May 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Fantastic Fours!"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19871031/023/0023). *Cambridge Daily News*. 31 October 1987. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dave Jessup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Jessup) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Jessup?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.