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Gordon Kennett

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Gordon Kennett
Kennett in 1976
Born(1953-09-02)2 September 1953
Bromley, England
Died11 September 2023(2023-09-11) (aged 70)
Canary Islands
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1970–1972, 1979–1982, 1985–1990Eastbourne Eagles
1970, 1984Wimbledon Dons
1971Hackney Hawks
1972–1975Oxford Rebels
1976–1978White City Rebels
1971, 1983King's Lynn Stars
1991–1992Milton Keynes Knights
1993Exeter Falcons
1993–1994Wolverhampton Wolves
Individual honours
1976London Riders' Champion
1977Pride of the Midlands
1978Olympique
Team honours
1971British League Division Two Champion
1975Midland Cup Winner
1977British League Champion
1978World Pairs Champion
1986, 1987National League Champion
1985, 1986, 1987National League KO Cup Winner

Gordon William Kennett (2 September 1953 – 11 September 2023) was an English motorcycle speedway rider.[1] In 1978, he won the World Pairs Championship and finished runner-up to Ole Olsen in the 1978 Individual Speedway World Championship, at Wembley.[2][3] He earned 53 international caps for the England national speedway team.[4]

Career

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Kennett began his speedway career during the 1970 British League Division Two season, after he joined the Eastbourne Eagles. He soon established himself as a heat leader and the following season in 1971, was instrumental in helping Eastbourne win the league title.[5] Kennett,[6] along with Malcolm Ballard and his brother Dave Kennett formed a strong trio of riders at the top of the Eastbourne averages.[4]

In 1972, he continued to ride for Eastbourne and made his first Oxford appearance in the higher league, riding for the rebranded Oxford Rebels.[7] Oxford paid a National League record fee of £1,500 at the time for his services.[8] He stayed with Oxford for the next three seasons, scoring solidly but the team underperformed until 1975, when they won the Midland Cup in a dramatic competition that saw home and away draws with Swindon Robins, requiring reruns and a home and away victory over Wolverhampton Wolves to secure the trophy.[9] On an individual basis he reached the British Speedway Championship final for the first time in 1975.

In 1976, he moved with the team known as the White City Rebels,[10][11] that switched from Oxford to White City. He was captain and impressed averaging 9.69 and topping the team's averages and was now regarded as one of the sport's leading riders.[12] In 1977, he averaged 10.41 and helped White City Rebels win the British League.[13] He had one final season with White City, during the 1978 British League season before the team folded. However, it was during this season that Kennett recorded his greatest achievements, becoming a World Pairs champion with Malcolm Simmons and finishing second in the World Championship on 2 September 1978.[2]

In 1979, he returned to his first club Eastbourne, topping the team averages for the next four years. He was a regular rider for England and would go on to earn 53 caps during his career.[4]

The next couple of seasons, he rode for King's Lynn Stars and Wimbledon Dons before returning to Eastbourne again in 1985. He was now riding National League speedway and finished top of the league averages and won the Knockout Cup in the 1985 National League season.[4] The success at Eastbourne continued, as he won the "double double" of league and cup in 1986 and 1987. He continued to be the number one rider at Eastbourne until the end of the 1990 season. His final season was his 25th, when he appeared for Wolverhampton Wolves in the 1994 British League.[4]

Personal life and death

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Brothers Dave Kennett and Barney Kennett also rode, as did his nephew Edward Kennett (son of Dave) and also represented Great Britain in the Speedway World Cup.

After retiring in 1995, he worked as a car mechanic.[citation needed] He was later a team manager for the Oxford Cheetahs, during the years that they had no home.[14]

Kennett lived in Bexhill with his wife, Susan.[citation needed] He died 11 September 2023, at the age of 70, while in the Canary Islands.[15][16]

World Final appearances

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Individual World Championship

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World Pairs Championship

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World Team Cup

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References

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  1. ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. ^ a b Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
  3. ^ "Gordon Kennett". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  5. ^ Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 39. ISBN 978-0904584509.
  6. ^ "Over 4,000 thrill to Louis-kennett duel". Eastbourne Gazette. 4 August 1971. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Lawson,K (2018) "Rebels 1975 – The Last Season". ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0
  8. ^ "Barney Fee A Record". Kent Evening Post. 27 April 1973. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Gordon Kennett". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Gordon Kennett". Acton Gazette. 18 March 1976. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Steve joins the Rebels and hopes to wow fans". Southall Gazette. 23 April 1976. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ Lawson,K (2018) "Riders, Teams and Stadiums". ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
  13. ^ "Season 1977" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Oxford Speedway legend Gordon Kennett dies aged 70". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Oxford Speedway legend dies aged 70". Witney Gazette. 12 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Eastbourne Eagles speedway star Gordon Kennett dies". The Argus. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
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