# Per Jonsson

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This article is about Swedish speedway rider. For Swedish singer, songwriter, guitar player and author Per Jonsson, see [Plura Jonsson](/source/Plura_Jonsson). For Swedish athlete Per Jonsson, see [Per Jonsson (athletics)](/source/Per_Jonsson_(athletics)).

Swedish speedway rider

Per Jonsson Per Jonsson in February 2013 Born (1966-03-21) 21 March 1966 (age 60) Stockholm, Sweden Nationality Swedish Career history Sweden 1982–1987, 1989–1993 Getingarna/Stockholm United 1988 Bysarna 1994 Rospiggarna Great Britain 1984–1988, 1990, 1992–1994 Reading Racers Poland 1991–1994 Toruń Individual honours 1990 World Champion 1985 European Under 21 Champion 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993 Swedish Champion 1988 Golden Helmet of Pardubice 1993 British League Riders Champion 1988 Golden Gala (Italy) 1988 Golden Bar (Denmark) Team honours 1993 World Pairs Champion 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 Swedish League Champion 1990, 1992 British League Champion 1990 British League KO Cup Winner 1991, 1993 Premiership Winner 1992 BSPA Cup Winner 1993 British League Fours Champion 1994 Allsvenskan Winner

**Per Christer Jonsson** (born 21 March 1966 in [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), Sweden) is a former [speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) rider who won the [Speedway World Championship](/source/Speedway_World_Championship) in 1990, and finished runner-up in 1992.[1][2] He earned 65 international caps for the [Sweden national speedway team](/source/Sweden_national_speedway_team) and also represented Sweden in the [World Team Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup) on seven occasions between 1985 and 1993.[3]

## Career

Jonsson came to prominence after helping his first club [Getingarna](/source/Getingarna) win the [Swedish Speedway Team Championship](/source/Swedish_Speedway_Team_Championship) in 1982.[4] He signed for his first British club the [Reading Racers](/source/Reading_Racers) in 1984 and began racing for them during the [1984 British League season](/source/1984_British_League_season).[5]

His career took off after he won the [1985 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship](/source/1985_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship) at [Abensberg](/source/Abensberg), West Germany.[6] He would also represent Sweden in the [Speedway World Pairs Championship](/source/Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) and the [Speedway World Team Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup) for the first time,[3] in addition to winning a second league title with Getingarna.[7]

He became the [Swedish Champion](/source/Speedway_Swedish_Individual_Championship) 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](/source/1987_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship), held at Amsterdam's [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Amsterdam)). 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.[8]

In 1988, he had a remarkable season, moving to [Bysarna](/source/Bysarna) from Getingarna during the [1988 Swedish speedway season](/source/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](/source/Golden_Helmet_of_Pardubice_(CZE)), the Golden Bar and Golden Gala events. He qualified for the [1988 World Final](/source/1988_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) at [Vojens](/source/Vojens), Denmark and equalled his 1987 result by finishing in 5th place and won a bronze medal at the [1988 Speedway World Team Cup](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Team_Cup).

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

He achieved the ultimate aim of all riders by winning the [1990 World Championship](/source/1990_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) at the [Odsal Stadium](/source/Odsal_Stadium) in [Bradford](/source/Bradford), England,[9] becoming Sweden's first Speedway World Champion since [Anders Michanek](/source/Anders_Michanek). He made his third World Final by qualifying finishing 2nd in both the Scandinavian and [Intercontinental Finals](/source/Intercontinental_Final). He also returned to Reading Racers, winning both the [1990 British League Championship](/source/1990_British_Speedway_League) and the [British League Knockout Cup](/source/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](/source/Henrik_Gustafsson), Jimmy Nilsen, [Tony Rickardsson](/source/Tony_Rickardsson), [Conny Ivarsson](/source/Conny_Ivarsson), [Erik Stenlund](/source/Erik_Stenlund) and [Peter Nahlin](/source/Peter_Nahlin) defeated the [Phil Crump](/source/Phil_Crump) captained [Australia](/source/Australia_national_speedway_team) (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.[10]

In 1991, he was second again, with Nilsen and [Henrik Gustafsson](/source/Henrik_Gustafsson) in the [1991 Speedway World Pairs Championship](/source/1991_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) in [Poznań](/source/Pozna%C5%84), Poland and won the silver medal at the [1991 Speedway World Team Cup](/source/1991_Speedway_World_Team_Cup). Jonsson failed to place in the [1991 World Final](/source/1991_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) at the [Ullevi](/source/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](/source/1992_Speedway_World_Team_Cup). His [1992 Individual Speedway World Championship](/source/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](/source/Gary_Havelock). In the [world pairs](/source/1992_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship), he finished third with Gustafsson and Rickardsson in [Lonigo](/source/Lonigo), Italy.

He finally won the World Pairs Championship (which was the last to be run) with Rickardsson and Gustafsson in [1993](/source/1993_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) in Vojens and won another bronze medal at the [1993 Speedway World Team Cup](/source/1993_Speedway_World_Team_Cup). In Britain, he won the [British League Riders' Championship](/source/British_League_Riders'_Championship).[11]

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](/source/1987_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Amsterdam)) – 5th – 22pts

- [1988](/source/1988_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Vojens](/source/Vojens), [Speedway Center](/source/Vojens_Speedway_Center) – 5th – 9pts

- [1990](/source/1990_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Bradford](/source/Bradford), [Odsal Stadium](/source/Odsal_Stadium) – **Winner** – 13pts+3pts

- [1991](/source/1991_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Ullevi](/source/Ullevi) – 9th – 7pts

- [1992](/source/1992_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Wrocław](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Wroc%C5%82aw)) – **2nd** – 11pts

- [1993](/source/1993_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) – [Pocking](/source/Pocking), [Rottalstadion](/source/Rottalstadion) – 9th – 7pts

### World Pairs Championship

- [1985](/source/1985_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Rybnik](/source/Rybnik), [Rybnik Municipal Stadium](/source/Rybnik_Municipal_Stadium) (with [Jan Andersson](/source/Jan_Andersson_(speedway_rider))) – 5th – 14pts (4)

- [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with [Jimmy Nilsen](/source/Jimmy_Nilsen)) – 5th – 29pts (12)

- [1989](/source/1989_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Leszno](/source/Leszno), [Alfred Smoczyk Stadium](/source/Alfred_Smoczyk_Stadium) (with Jimmy Nilsen) – **2nd** – 44pts (21)

- [1990](/source/1990_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Landshut](/source/Landshut), [Ellermühle Stadium](/source/Ellerm%C3%BChle_Stadium) (with Jimmy Nilsen) – 4th – 33pts (16)

- [1991](/source/1991_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Poznań](/source/Pozna%C5%84), [Olimpia Poznań Stadium](/source/Olimpia_Pozna%C5%84_Stadium) (with [Henrik Gustafsson](/source/Henrik_Gustafsson) / Jimmy Nilsen) – **2nd** – 24pts (7)

- [1992](/source/1992_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – [Lonigo](/source/Lonigo), [Santa Marina Stadium](/source/Santa_Marina_Stadium) (with Henrik Gustafsson / [Tony Rickardsson](/source/Tony_Rickardsson)) – **3rd** – 22pts (14)

- [1993](/source/1993_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) – Vojens, Speedway Center (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson) – **Winner** – 26pts (5)

### World Team Cup

- [1985](/source/1985_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [USA](/source/United_States) [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California), [Veterans Memorial Stadium](/source/Veterans_Memorial_Stadium_(Long_Beach)) (with [Jan Andersson](/source/Jan_Andersson_(speedway_rider)) / [Jimmy Nilsen](/source/Jimmy_Nilsen) / [Tommy Nilsson](/source/Tommy_Nilsson_(speedway_rider)) / [Pierre Brannefors](/source/Pierre_Brannefors)) – 4th – 10pts (0)

- [1986](/source/1986_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – Göteborg, Ullevi, Vojens, Speedway Center and Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Jan Andersson / Jimmy Nilsen / Tommy Nilsson / [Erik Stenlund](/source/Erik_Stenlund) / [Tony Olsson](/source/Tony_Olsson)) – 4th – 73pts (21)

- [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [USA](/source/United_States) Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with [Conny Ivarsson](/source/Conny_Ivarsson) / Tony Olsson / Jimmy Nilsen / [Henrik Gustafsson](/source/Henrik_Gustafsson)) – **3rd** – 22+3pts (9+3)

- [1989](/source/1989_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with [Mikael Blixt](/source/Mikael_Blixt) / Tony Olsson / Erik Stenlund / Jimmy Nilsen) – **3rd** – 30pts (8)

- [1991](/source/1991_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – Vojens, Speedway Center (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson / Jimmy Nilsen / [Peter Nahlin](/source/Peter_Nahlin)) – **2nd** – 30pts (9)

- [1992](/source/1992_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Kumla](/source/Kumla), [Kumla Speedway](/source/Kumla_Speedway) (with Tony Rickardsson / Henrik Gustafsson / Jimmy Nilsen / Peter Nahlin) – **2nd** – 33pts (11)

- [1993](/source/1993_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) – [Coventry](/source/Coventry), [Brandon Stadium](/source/Brandon_Stadium) (with [Peter Karlsson](/source/Peter_Karlsson_(speedway_rider)) / Henrik Gustafsson / Tony Rickardsson / [Peter Nahlin](/source/Peter_Nahlin)) – **3rd** – 28pts (7)

### Individual Under-21 World Championship

- [1985](/source/1985_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship) – [Abensberg](/source/Abensberg), [Abensberg Motorstadion](/source/Abensberg_Motorstadion) – **Winner** – 15pts

## Family

His son [Dennis Jonsson](/source/Dennis_Jonsson_(speedway_rider)) rode for [Lakeside Hammers](/source/Lakeside_Hammers) in the [2016 Elite League](/source/2016_Elite_League) but retired from speedway following a serious accident when riding for Marsana in Sweden.[12][13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** 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-2)** Montague, Trevor (2004). *The A-Z of Sport*. Little, Brown. p. 522. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-316-72645-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-316-72645-1).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-URI_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-URI_3-1) ["Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 9 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["HISTORICAL RESULTS 1948-2015"](http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/dmszwecji.php). *Speedway History*. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["1984 season"](https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1984record.pdf) (PDF). *Speedway Researcher*. Retrieved 9 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rain is a welcome relief for Racers"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19850716/127/0013). *Reading Evening Post*. 16 July 1985. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Statistik"](https://www.elitspeedway.com/statistik). *Elit Speedway Sverige*. Retrieved 9 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Per one for the future"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19870907/192/0013). *Reading Evening Post*. 7 September 1987. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Speedway"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004974/19900903/023/0023). *Western Daily Press*. 3 September 1990. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["International Speedway"](http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/ausvswe.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Speedway results"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19931101/367/0036). *Newcastle Journal*. 1 November 1993. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SGB_12-0)** ["Jonsson, Dennis"](https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/riderindex16_j). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Dennis Jonsson"](http://www.lakeside-speedway.com/dennis-jonsson/). *Lakeside Speedway*. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

v t e Speedway World Champions 1936 - L. Van Praag 1937 - J Milne 1938 - B. Wilkinson 1949 - T. Price 1950 - F. Williams 1951 - J. Young 1952 - J. Young 1953 - F. Williams 1954 - R. Moore 1955 - P. Craven 1956 - O. Fundin 1957 - B. Briggs 1958 - B. Briggs 1959 - R. Moore 1960 - O. Fundin 1961 - O. Fundin 1962 - P. Craven 1963 - O. Fundin 1964 - B. Briggs 1965 - B. Knutson 1966 - B. Briggs 1967 - O. Fundin 1968 - I. Mauger 1969 - I. Mauger 1970 - I. Mauger 1971 - O. Olsen 1972 - I. Mauger 1973 - J. Szczakiel 1974 - A. Michanek 1975 - O. Olsen 1976 - P. Collins 1977 - I. Mauger 1978 - O. Olsen 1979 - I. Mauger 1980 - M. Lee 1981 - B. Penhall 1982 - B. Penhall 1983 - E. Müller 1984 - E. Gundersen 1985 - E. Gundersen 1986 - H. Nielsen 1987 - H. Nielsen 1988 - E. Gundersen 1989 - H. Nielsen 1990 - P. Jonsson 1991 - J. Pedersen 1992 - G. Havelock 1993 - S. Ermolenko 1994 - T. Rickardsson 1995 - H. Nielsen 1996 - B. Hamill 1997 - G. Hancock 1998 - T. Rickardsson 1999 - T. Rickardsson 2000 - M. Loram 2001 - T. Rickardsson 2002 - T. Rickardsson 2003 - N. Pedersen 2004 - J. Crump 2005 - T. Rickardsson 2006 - J. Crump 2007 - N. Pedersen 2008 - N. Pedersen 2009 - J. Crump 2010 - T. Gollob 2011 - G. Hancock 2012 - C. Holder 2013 - T. Woffinden 2014 - G. Hancock 2015 - T. Woffinden 2016 - G. Hancock 2017 - J. Doyle 2018 - T. Woffinden 2019 - B. Zmarzlik 2020 - B. Zmarzlik 2021 - A. Laguta 2022 - B. Zmarzlik 2023 - B. Zmarzlik 2024 - B. Zmarzlik 2025 - B. Zmarzlik

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National Sweden Poland

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