# Shawn Moran

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American speedway rider

Shawn Moran Born (1961-11-19) November 19, 1961 (age 64) Lakewood, California, U.S. Nationality American Career history Great Britain 1980 Hull Vikings 1980-1988, 1994 Sheffield Tigers 1989-1993 Belle Vue Aces Sweden 1990-1991 Rospiggarna Individual honours 1982 North American Champion 1983 Long Track World Champion 1981 European Under-21 Champion 1982, 1985 Northern Riders' Champion 1984, 1985, 1990 Intercontinental Champion 1985 Overseas Champion 1989 British League Riders Champion 1989 Peter Craven Memorial Team honours 1982, 1990 World Team Cup

**Shawn Moran** (born November 19, 1961, in [Lakewood, California](/source/Lakewood%2C_California))[1] is an American former professional [motorcycle speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for [Sheffield Tigers](/source/Sheffield_Tigers).[2] He earned 74 caps for the [United States national speedway team](/source/United_States_national_speedway_team).[3]

## Career

Moran first rode in British speedway for [Hull Vikings](/source/Hull_Vikings) in 1979 under the alias 'David East', before riding under his real identity in 1980.[4] He had been subject to a bid to sign him by Cradley Heath before[5] he joined Sheffield from Hull in 1980 for £8,000 and established himself as a fans' favourite who topped the clubs [averages](/source/Calculated_Match_Average) every year he was with them.

After finishing 15th at the [1980 European Under-21 Championship](/source/1980_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship), Moran won the [1981 Championship](/source/1981_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship) in [Slaný](/source/Slan%C3%BD), [Czechoslovakia](/source/Czechoslovakia), with a 15-point maximum.[6]

In [1982](/source/1982_Speedway_World_Team_Cup), along with [reigning](/source/1981_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) [World Champion](/source/Speedway_World_Championship) [Bruce Penhall](/source/Bruce_Penhall), [Bobby Schwartz](/source/Bobby_Schwartz), [Scott Autrey](/source/Scott_Autrey), and his older brother [Kelly Moran](/source/Kelly_Moran_(speedway_rider)), Shawn won the [Speedway World Team Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup) at the [White City Stadium](/source/White_City_Stadium) in London, England. He would later repeat this success with Team USA in [1990](/source/1990_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) at the [Svítkov Stadion](/source/Sv%C3%ADtkov_Stadion) in [Pardubice](/source/Pardubice), Czechoslovakia alongside [Sam Ermolenko](/source/Sam_Ermolenko), [Rick Miller](/source/Rick_Miller_(speedway_rider)), [Billy Hamill](/source/Billy_Hamill) and Kelly Moran.

Moran also helped the US team to second place in both [1985](/source/1985_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) and [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) at the [Veterans Memorial Stadium](/source/Veterans_Memorial_Stadium_(Long_Beach)) in [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California) (the only times that the World Team Cup Finals were held outside of Great Britain or Europe), while finishing third in [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) ([Leszno](/source/Leszno), Poland) and [1987](/source/1987_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) (three rounds held at [Fredericia](/source/Fredericia) in Denmark, [Coventry](/source/Coventry), England and [Prague](/source/Prague), Czechoslovakia).

In 1986 Moran was joined by his brother Kelly at Sheffield. Shawn amassed a total of 3,257 points for the Tigers at an [average](/source/Calculated_Match_Average) of 9.36. Although regarded as a world-class rider, the individual World Championship eluded him. Moran was first nicknamed 'Shooey' by Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz and it stuck throughout his career.[4]

He rode in three World Championships in [1984](/source/1984_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) ([Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg)) where he finished 8th, [1985](/source/1985_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) ([Bradford](/source/Bradford)) where he finished 5th and [1990](/source/1990_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) (Bradford). Arguably 1985 was his best season as he won both the Overseas and [Intercontinental Finals](/source/Intercontinental_Final) on his way to the World Final at Bradford. He finished the 1985 World Final at the [Odsal Stadium](/source/Odsal_Stadium) in fifth place with 10-points and two wins from his 5 rides. In the 1990 World Final at Odsal he lost a run-off to Sweden's [Per Jonsson](/source/Per_Jonsson) after both finished on 13 points, 1 point clear of Australia's [Todd Wiltshire](/source/Todd_Wiltshire).

Moran, though, remains America's only World Longtrack Champion. He won the crown in 1983 while still recovering from a broken leg. He is also a three time winner of the Intercontinental Final, winning in [1984](/source/1984_Intercontinental_Final) in [Vojens](/source/Vojens), Denmark, [1985](/source/1985_Intercontinental_Final) in [Vetlanda](/source/Vetlanda), Sweden, and [1990](/source/1990_Intercontinental_Final) at [Fjelsted Speedway Stadium](/source/Fjelsted_Speedway_Stadium) in Denmark.

In 1989, Moran won the [British League Riders' Championship](/source/British_League_Riders'_Championship), held at [Belle Vue Stadium](/source/Belle_Vue_Stadium) on 1 October[7] and the [Peter Craven](/source/Peter_Craven) Memorial Trophy, also at Belle Vue Stadium.

During his career, Shawn Moran was a regular visitor to Australia. He proved to be a popular rider 'Down Under' and enjoyed success on the often larger Australian tracks. In the 1989/90 Australian season Moran was a resident international rider at the tight [North Arm Speedway](/source/North_Arm_Speedway) in [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), and rode for a "Rest of the World" team in a series of test matches against the [Australians](/source/Australia_national_speedway_team) throughout the season.

In 1984 Moran released a cover version of the 1975 Chris Spedding single, "Motor Bikin'".[8]

## World Final Appearances

### Individual World Championship

- [1984](/source/1984_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Ullevi](/source/Ullevi) - 8th - 7pts

- [1985](/source/1985_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Bradford](/source/Bradford), [Odsal Stadium](/source/Odsal_Stadium) - 5th - 10pts

- [1990](/source/1990_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - ***2nd*** - *13pts* + *2pts**

** 1990 - Disqualified - Failed random drug and alcohol test at 1990 Overseas Final*

### World Pairs Championship

- [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) - [Lonigo](/source/Lonigo), [Santa Marina Stadium](/source/Santa_Marina_Stadium) (with [Bobby Schwartz](/source/Bobby_Schwartz)) – 4th – 19pts (8)

- [1985](/source/1985_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) - [Rybnik](/source/Rybnik), [Rybnik Municipal Stadium](/source/Rybnik_Municipal_Stadium) (with Bobby Schwartz) - **3rd** - 22pts (11)

- [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with [Sam Ermolenko](/source/Sam_Ermolenko)) - **3rd** - 39pts (23)

### World Team Cup

- [1982](/source/1982_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - London, [White City Stadium](/source/White_City_Stadium) (with [Bruce Penhall](/source/Bruce_Penhall) / Bobby Schwartz / [Kelly Moran](/source/Kelly_Moran_(speedway_rider)) / [Scott Autrey](/source/Scott_Autrey)) - **Winner** - 34pts (8)

- [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Leszno](/source/Leszno), [Alfred Smoczyk Stadium](/source/Alfred_Smoczyk_Stadium) (with Kelly Moran / Bobby Schwartz / [Lance King](/source/Lance_King_(speedway_rider)) / [John Cook](/source/John_Cook_(speedway_rider))) – **3rd** – 20pts (6)

- [1985](/source/1985_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California), [Veterans Memorial Stadium](/source/Veterans_Memorial_Stadium_(Long_Beach)) (with Bobby Schwartz / John Cook / Lance King / Sam Ermolenko) – **2nd** – 35pts (11)

- [1986](/source/1986_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - Göteborg, Ullevi, [Vojens](/source/Vojens), [Speedway Center](/source/Vojens_Speedway_Center), Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Bobby Schwartz / Sam Ermolenko / Lance King / [Rick Miller](/source/Rick_Miller_(speedway_rider))) - **2nd** - 76pts (27)

- [1987](/source/1987_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Fredericia](/source/Fredericia), [Fredericia Speedway](/source/Fredericia_Speedway), [Coventry](/source/Coventry), [Brandon Stadium](/source/Brandon_Stadium), [Prague](/source/Prague), [Marketa Stadium](/source/Marketa_Stadium) (with Sam Ermolenko / Lance King / Rick Miller / Kelly Moran / John Cook) - **3rd** - 93pts (23)

- [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Sam Ermolenko / Lance King / Kelly Moran / Rick Miller) - **2nd** - 32pts (8)

- [1990](/source/1990_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Pardubice](/source/Pardubice), [Svítkov Stadion](/source/Sv%C3%ADtkov_Stadion) - **Winner** - 37pts (10)

### Individual Under-21 World Championship

- [1980](/source/1980_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship) - [Pocking](/source/Pocking), [Rottalstadion](/source/Rottalstadion) - 15th - 2pts

- [1981](/source/1981_Individual_Speedway_Junior_European_Championship) - [Slaný](/source/Slan%C3%BD), [Slaný Speedway](/source/Slan%C3%BD_Speedway) - **Winner** - 15pts

*Between 1977 and 1987 the Under-21 Championship was known as the European Junior Championship.*

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Oakes, P.(2004). *British Speedway Who's Who*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948882-81-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948882-81-6)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Montague, Trevor (2004). *The A-Z of Sport*. Little, Brown. p. 525. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-316-72645-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-316-72645-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved September 1, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lanning_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lanning_4-1) Lanning, Russell (1985) "Rider Profile: Shawn Moran", *[Speedway Star](/source/Speedway_Star)*, April 20, 1985, p. 26-7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Cradley in star spangled chase"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19791030/164/0027). *Daily Mirror*. October 30, 1979. Retrieved September 1, 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Sports Summary"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19810720/184/0027). *Daily Mirror*. July 20, 1981. Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Sad day for Doncaster and Shirra"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19891002/240/0018). *Reading Evening Post*. October 2, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Speedway Star*, October 20, 1984, p. 8

## Further reading

- Burford, B (2002) *The Moran Brothers* [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7524-2424-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7524-2424-6)

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