Per Jonsson

{{About|Swedish speedway rider|Swedish singer, songwriter, guitar player and author Per Jonsson|Plura Jonsson|Swedish athlete Per Jonsson|Per Jonsson (athletics)}} {{Short description|Swedish speedway rider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use British English|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | name= Per Jonsson | image = Per Jonsson 2013-02-01 001.jpg | caption =Per Jonsson in February 2013 | nationality = Swedish | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|3|21|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Stockholm]], Sweden

| indivyear1 = [[1990 Individual Speedway World Championship|1990]] | indivhonour1 = [[Speedway World Championship|World Champion]] | indivyear2 = [[1985 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship|1985]] | indivhonour2 = [[Individual Speedway Junior World Championship|European Under 21 Champion]] | indivyear3 = 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993 | indivhonour3 = [[Speedway Swedish Individual Championship|Swedish Champion]] | indivyear4 = 1988 | indivhonour4 = [[Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE)|Golden Helmet of Pardubice]] | indivyear5 = 1993 | indivhonour5 = [[British League Riders' Championship|British League Riders Champion]] | indivyear6 = 1988 | indivhonour6 = Golden Gala (Italy) | indivyear7 = 1988 | indivhonour7 = Golden Bar (Denmark) | teamyear1 = 1993 | teamhonour1 = [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Champion]] | teamhonour2 = [[Swedish Speedway Team Championship|Swedish League]] Champion | teamyear2 = 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 | teamyear3= 1990, 1992 | teamhonour3 = [[British League]] Champion | teamyear4 = 1990 | teamhonour4 = [[British League Knockout Cup|British League KO Cup]] Winner | teamyear5 = 1991, 1993 | teamhonour5 = Premiership Winner | teamyear6 = 1992 | teamhonour6 = BSPA Cup Winner | teamyear7 = 1993 | teamhonour7 = [[British League]] Fours Champion | teamyear8 = 1994 | teamhonour8 = [[Allsvenskan (speedway)|Allsvenskan Winner]] }}

'''Per Christer Jonsson''' (born 21 March 1966 in [[Stockholm]], Sweden) is a former [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] rider who won the [[Speedway World Championship]] in 1990, and finished runner-up in 1992.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Montague|first=Trevor|title=The A-Z of Sport|year=2004|page=522|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0-316-72645-1}}</ref> He earned 65 international caps for the [[Sweden national speedway team]] and also represented Sweden in the [[Speedway World Team Cup|World Team Cup]] on seven occasions between 1985 and 1993.<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

== Career == Jonsson came to prominence after helping his first club [[Getingarna]] win the [[Swedish Speedway Team Championship]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/dmszwecji.php |title=HISTORICAL RESULTS 1948-2015 |website=Speedway History |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref> He signed for his first British club the [[Reading Racers]] in 1984 and began racing for them during the [[1984 British League season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1984record.pdf |title=1984 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

His career took off after he won the [[1985 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship]] at [[Abensberg]], West Germany.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rain is a welcome relief for Racers |work=Reading Evening Post |date=16 July 1985 |access-date=9 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19850716/127/0013 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He would also represent Sweden in the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]] and the [[Speedway World Team Cup]] for the first time,<ref name=URI/> in addition to winning a second league title with Getingarna.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elitspeedway.com/statistik |title=Statistik |website=Elit Speedway Sverige |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

He became the [[Speedway Swedish Individual Championship|Swedish Champion]] for the first time in 1986 and the following season won it again before making his first appearance in a World Final, in the [[1987 Individual Speedway World Championship]], held at Amsterdam's [[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]]. The final was held over two days and the 22-year-old finished 5th on both days and was classed as 5th overall. He was now considered one of the leading riders in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Per one for the future |work=Reading Evening Post |date=7 September 1987 |access-date=9 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19870907/192/0013 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 1988, he had a remarkable season, moving to [[Bysarna]] from Getingarna during the [[1988 Swedish speedway season]], where he won a third consecutive individual Swedish title and won the league with the club. Additionally, in Europe he won the [[Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE)|Golden Helmet of Pardubice]], the Golden Bar and Golden Gala events. He qualified for the [[1988 Individual Speedway World Championship|1988 World Final]] at [[Vojens]], Denmark and equalled his 1987 result by finishing in 5th place and won a bronze medal at the [[1988 Speedway World Team Cup]].

Following the end of the 1988 season he returned to Getingarna, now known as [[Stockholm United]] and won a fifth Swedish league championship. Jonsson missed the [[1989 British League season]], preferring instead to enjoy the joys of fatherhood. On th einternational front he finished second with [[Jimmy Nilsen]] in [[1989 Speedway World Pairs Championship]] in [[Leszno]], Poland and won a second consecutive bronze medal at the [[1989 Speedway World Team Cup]].

He achieved the ultimate aim of all riders by winning the [[1990 Individual Speedway World Championship|1990 World Championship]] at the [[Odsal Stadium]] in [[Bradford]], England,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004974/19900903/023/0023 |title=Speedway |website=Western Daily Press |date=3 September 1990 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref> becoming Sweden's first Speedway World Champion since [[Anders Michanek]]. He made his third World Final by qualifying finishing 2nd in both the Scandinavian and [[Intercontinental Final]]s. He also returned to Reading Racers, winning both the [[1990 British Speedway League|1990 British League Championship]] and the [[British League Knockout Cup]]. Following this, Jonsson captained the Swedish team on a short tour of Australia in January 1991, the first time since 1971/72 that a Swedish speedway team had toured down under. Sweden, whose lineup was Jonsson, [[Henrik Gustafsson]], Jimmy Nilsen, [[Tony Rickardsson]], [[Conny Ivarsson]], [[Erik Stenlund]] and [[Peter Nahlin]] defeated the [[Phil Crump]] captained [[Australia national speedway team|Australia]] (who fielded 14 riders over the series) 3–2 in the five match series with Jonsson topping the averages for both teams with 16.4 per test. The Swede's proved a popular draw card in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/ausvswe.htm|title = International Speedway}}</ref>

In 1991, he was second again, with Nilsen and [[Henrik Gustafsson]] in the [[1991 Speedway World Pairs Championship]] in [[Poznań]], Poland and won the silver medal at the [[1991 Speedway World Team Cup]]. Jonsson failed to place in the [[1991 Individual Speedway World Championship|1991 World Final]] at the [[Ullevi]] Stadium in Göteborg, finishing in 9th place.

The elusive World Cup victory continued in 1992, when he won silver again at the [[1992 Speedway World Team Cup]]. His [[1992 Individual Speedway World Championship]] got off to a bad start in Wrocław, Poland, when he failed to score in his first ride. He then came back to win three of his last four rides to finish in a clear 2nd place behind England's [[Gary Havelock]]. In the [[1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship|world pairs]], he finished third with Gustafsson and Rickardsson in [[Lonigo]], Italy.

He finally won the World Pairs Championship (which was the last to be run) with Rickardsson and Gustafsson in [[1993 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1993]] in Vojens and won another bronze medal at the [[1993 Speedway World Team Cup]]. In Britain, he won the [[British League Riders' Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway results |work=Newcastle Journal |date=1 November 1993 |access-date=6 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19931101/367/0036 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[File:Toruńska Aleja Sportu Żużlowego3.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Street sign in Toruń]] His career was cut short when a crash during a league meeting in Poland in 1994 left him using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In recognition of his contribution to the city of Toruń, in April 2010 one of the streets was named after him.

== World final appearances == === Individual World Championship === * [[1987 Individual Speedway World Championship|1987]] – {{flagicon|NED}} [[Amsterdam]], [[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]] – 5th – 22pts * [[1988 Individual Speedway World Championship|1988]] – {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Vojens]], [[Vojens Speedway Center|Speedway Center]] – 5th – 9pts * [[1990 Individual Speedway World Championship|1990]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bradford]], [[Odsal Stadium]] – '''Winner''' – 13pts+3pts * [[1991 Individual Speedway World Championship|1991]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Ullevi]] – 9th – 7pts * [[1992 Individual Speedway World Championship|1992]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] – '''2nd''' – 11pts * [[1993 Individual Speedway World Championship|1993]] – {{flagicon|GER}} [[Pocking]], [[Rottalstadion]] – 9th – 7pts

===World Pairs Championship=== * [[1985 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1985]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Rybnik]], [[Rybnik Municipal Stadium]] (with [[Jan Andersson (speedway rider)|Jan Andersson]]) – 5th – 14pts (4) * [[1988 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1988]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with [[Jimmy Nilsen]]) – 5th – 29pts (12) * [[1989 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1989]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Leszno]], [[Alfred Smoczyk Stadium]] (with Jimmy Nilsen) – '''2nd''' – 44pts (21) * [[1990 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1990]] – {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Landshut]], [[Ellermühle Stadium]] (with Jimmy Nilsen) – 4th – 33pts (16) * [[1991 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1991]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Poznań]], [[Olimpia Poznań Stadium]] (with [[Henrik Gustafsson]] / Jimmy Nilsen) – '''2nd''' – 24pts (7) * [[1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1992]] – {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Lonigo]], [[Santa Marina Stadium]] (with Henrik Gustafsson / [[Tony Rickardsson]]) – '''3rd''' – 22pts (14) * [[1993 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1993]] – {{flagicon|DEN}} Vojens, Speedway Center (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson) – '''Winner''' – 26pts (5)

===World Team Cup=== * [[1985 Speedway World Team Cup|1985]] – {{flag|USA}} [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], [[Veterans Memorial Stadium (Long Beach)|Veterans Memorial Stadium]] (with [[Jan Andersson (speedway rider)|Jan Andersson]] / [[Jimmy Nilsen]] / [[Tommy Nilsson (speedway rider)|Tommy Nilsson]] / [[Pierre Brannefors]]) – 4th – 10pts (0) * [[1986 Speedway World Team Cup|1986]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} Göteborg, Ullevi, {{Flagicon|DEN}} Vojens, Speedway Center and {{Flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Jan Andersson / Jimmy Nilsen / Tommy Nilsson / [[Erik Stenlund]] / [[Tony Olsson]]) – 4th – 73pts (21) * [[1988 Speedway World Team Cup|1988]] – {{flag|USA}} Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with [[Conny Ivarsson]] / Tony Olsson / Jimmy Nilsen / [[Henrik Gustafsson]]) – '''3rd''' – 22+3pts (9+3) * [[1989 Speedway World Team Cup|1989]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with [[Mikael Blixt]] / Tony Olsson / Erik Stenlund / Jimmy Nilsen) – '''3rd''' – 30pts (8) * [[1991 Speedway World Team Cup|1991]] – {{flagicon|DEN}} Vojens, Speedway Center (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson / Jimmy Nilsen / [[Peter Nahlin]]) – '''2nd''' – 30pts (9) * [[1992 Speedway World Team Cup|1992]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Kumla]], [[Kumla Speedway]] (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson / Jimmy Nilsen / Peter Nahlin) – '''2nd''' – 33pts (11) * [[1993 Speedway World Team Cup|1993]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Coventry]], [[Brandon Stadium]] (with [[Peter Karlsson (speedway rider)|Peter Karlsson]] / Henrik Gustafsson / Tony Rickardsson / [[Peter Nahlin]]) – '''3rd''' – 28pts (7)

=== Individual Under-21 World Championship === * [[1985 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship|1985]] – {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Abensberg]], [[Abensberg Motorstadion]] – '''Winner''' – 15pts

== Family == His son [[Dennis Jonsson (speedway rider)|Dennis Jonsson]] rode for [[Lakeside Hammers]] in the [[2016 Elite League]] but retired from speedway following a serious accident when riding for Marsana in Sweden.<ref name=SGB>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/riderindex16_j|title=Jonsson, Dennis|website=British Speedway|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lakeside-speedway.com/dennis-jonsson/|title=Dennis Jonsson|website=Lakeside Speedway|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonsson, Per}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Swedish speedway riders]] [[Category:Individual Speedway World Champions]] [[Category:Speedway World Pairs Champions]] [[Category:Reading Racers riders]] [[Category:Swedish expatriate speedway riders in England]] [[Category:Motorcycle racers from Stockholm]] [[Category:Rospiggarna riders]] [[Category:Bysarna riders]] [[Category:Getingarna riders]]