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| Lionel Van Praag |
The 1936 Individual Speedway World Championship was the first ever Speedway World Championship and was won by Lionel Van Praag of Australia. It was the first of a record 26 times that London's Wembley Stadium would host the World Final with the last being in 1981.
Despite being unbeaten in the Final, Australian Bluey Wilkinson only finished third as the Championship was decided by bonus points accumulated in previous rounds plus the score from the final. Van Praag defeated England's Eric Langton in a runoff to be declared the inaugural Speedway World Champion.
As they lined up at the tapes for the runoff, Langton broke them which would ordinarily lead to disqualification. However, Van Praag stated he did not want to win the title by default and insisted that a race should take place. At the restart Langton made it to the first bend in front and led until the final bend on the last lap when Van Praag darted through the smallest of gaps to win by less than wheel length.
Afterwards, controversial allegations were abound that the two riders had 'fixed' the match race, deciding between them that the first person to the first bend would win the race and the Championship and split the prize money; Langton led into the first bend but was overtaken by Van Praag. Van Praag reportedly paid Langton £50 "conscience money" after the race for going back on the agreement. |
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| Championship Rounds |
26 May 1936 West Ham
30 May 1936 Belle Vue, Manchester
6 June 1936 Harringay
19 June 1936 Hackney
20 June 1936 Wimbledon
25 June 1936 Wembley, London
1 July 1936 New Cross, London |
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| Qualifying Rounds |
11 July 1936 Harringay, London
14 July 1936 West Ham, London
23 July 1936 Wembley Stadium, London
29 July 1936 New Cross, London
8 August 1936 Belle Vue, Manchester
10 August 1936 Wimbledon, London
14 August 1936 Hackney, London |
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