Erik Gundersen
Erik Gundersen (born 8 October 1959 in Esbjerg, Denmark) is a former motorcycle speedway rider. Gundersen is one of the most successful speedway riders of all time, having won the Speedway World Champion on three occasions, the Long Track World Championship twice and the World Pairs Championship five times. He is also a seven-time World Team Cup winner with Denmark, and earned 91 international caps for the country.
| Born | 8 October 1959 Esbjerg, Denmark |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Danish |
| Career history | |
| Denmark | |
| 1979–1989 | Esbjerg |
| Great Britain | |
| 1979–1989 | Cradley Heathens |
| Sweden | |
| 1987–1989 | Vargarna |
| Individual honours | |
| 1984, 1985, 1988 | World Speedway Champion |
| 1984, 1986 | Long Track World Champion |
| 1983, 1985 | British League Riders Speedway Champion |
| 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989 | Danish Speedway Champion |
| 1983, 1985, 1986 | Danish Under-21 Speedway Champion |
| 1985, 1986 | Denmark Longtrack Champion |
| 1985, 1986 | Golden Helmet of Pardubice |
| 1986, 1987 | Intercontinental Speedway Champion |
| 1987 | Nordic Speedway Champion |
| 1981, 1982, 1986 | Danish Gold Bar |
| 1981, 1982, 1983 | Midland Riders Champion |
| 1982, 1986 | Golden Gala Italy |
| 1986, 1987 | Golden Hammer |
| 1983 | Blue Riband |
| 1983 | Second City Trophy |
| Team honours | |
| 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | World Team Cup winner |
| 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 | World Pairs Champion |
| 1981, 1983 | British League Champion |
| 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 | British League KO Cup Winner |
| 1982, 1984 | British League Cup |
| 1980, 1983, 1984 | Midland Cup |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Denmark | ||
| Speedway World Championship | ||
| 1984 | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| Speedway World Team Cup | ||
| 1981 | ||
| 1983 | ||
| 1984 | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1979 | ||
| 1982 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| Speedway World Pairs Championship | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1984 | ||
| 1982 | ||
| 1983 | ||
| Intercontinental Championship | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1981 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| Golden Helmet | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1995 | ||
| Long Track World Championship | ||
| 1984 | ||
| 1986 | ||
Gundersen won the World Pairs Championship a record five years in succession from 1985 to 1989, and won the World Team Cup a record six years in succession from 1983 to 1988. His 17 World Championship wins see him sit second for the most World Championships won behind fellow Dane and Gundersen's long time Danish teammate and rival Hans Nielsen.