Craig Boyce
Encyclopedia
Craig Boyce was a motorcycle speedway
rider who primarily rode for the Poole Pirates
in the British Elite League
. He is currently manager of the Australian national team.
in western Sydney during the mid-1980s and established himself as one of not only the most promising young riders from New South Wales
but in Australia. He won his first NSW State Championship
at the Newcastle Motordrome
with a 15 point maximum from defending champion and World #3 Todd Wiltshire
on December 26, 1990 before going on to win the 1991 Australian Championship
at the Arunga Park Speedway in Alice Springs, again with a 15 point maximum defeating two time defending champion Glenn Doyle of Western Australia
. Boyce inflicted Doyle's only defeat of the night when the pair clashed in Heat 18 with each going into the race unbeaten. Boyce beat Doyle out of the gate and was never headed to win his first national championship while Dolye had to be content with second in both the race and on the night.
As reigning Australian Champion, Boyce was seeded to the 1992 Australian Championship
at North Arm
in Adelaide
after he finished in third place in the NSW championship (under the old single meeting format, only the top two from each state or territories title were automatic qualifiers for the Australian championship) but his lackluster form continued when he could only manage 8th place in defense of his Australian title, scoring 8 points with only one win on the night.
Boyce would win the NSW title another three times during his career (1993, 1994 and 1995) while also winning the Australian Championship twice more in 1996 at the Motordrome and 1997 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
.
in 1988 and rode for the Pirates until 1990 before moving to the Oxford Cheetahs
in 1991. He returned to Poole in 1992 and stayed until 1994 when he again moved, this time to the Swindon Robins
. After being at Swindon for only a season he moved back to Poole in 1996 and stayed until 1998. In 1999 he re-signed with Oxford before moving to King's Lynn
for 2000. Boyce was on the move again in 2001, this time to the Ipswich Witches
where he stayed until 2003, following which he signed with the Isle of Wight Islanders
for 2004 and 2005 before moving one last time, back to Poole for 2006 and 2007.
During his time in the United Kingdom
, Boyce won the National League
with Poole in 1989 and 1990
as well as the National League Knockout Cup
in 1990. He also won the British League Championship in 1994
With Poole. Boyce also won the British League Cup with Oxford in 2003.
While racing in the British leagues during his career, Craig Boyce also rode for Västervik Speedway
in the Swedish Elite League
starting in 1991, also riding for the team in 1992, 1994 and from 1996 until his last year in Sweden
in 2004. Boyce also rode in Poland
for various teams during his career including Stal Rzeszów
(1996), Unia Leszno
(1997), Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski
(2000), Polonia Piła (2001) and WKM Warszawa in his last year in Poland, 2002.
in numerous Test Matches against teams such as Great Britain
, England and Sweden
as well as representing his home state of NSW against the first ever USSR team
to tour Australia in 1990.
Boyce was also a member of the Australian team that won the 2001 Speedway World Cup Final
in Wrocław, Poland. Boyce scored 9 of Australia's 68 points to defeat host nation Poland
with Sweden finishing in third. He also rode for Australia in the 1992 World Pairs Championship
in Lonigo
, Italy
, finishing 7th (and last) with Leigh Adams
and reserve Shane Parker
and improving to 6th in 1993
as reserve to Adams and Jason Lyons
. The Pairs Championship was merged with the World Team Cup
from 1994 with Boyce once again reaching the final, finishing in 4th with Adams. Boyce was involved in a three rider a run-off to decide 3rd, 4th and 5th places at the final with Tommy Knudsen
of Denmark
winning from Boyce and 1993 World Champion
Sam Ermolenko
of the USA
. Boyce teamed with Adams and future World Champion Jason Crump
to finish 5th for Australia in the 1995 World Team Cup Final
before finishing 4th in 2000
.
Craig Boyce qualified for one World Championship Final
during his career in 1994
at Vojens
, Denmark
where he finished in a surprise 3rd place behind Sweden's Tony Rickardsson
and Denmark's Hans Nielsen
. All three riders tied on 13 points for the Final and a run-off was needed to decide the podium places with Rickardsson winning the run-off from Neilsen and Boyce.
Boyce also rode in the Speedway Grand Prix
series during his career. He finished 11th in 1995
, 14th in 1996
with 30 points and 20th in 1998
which was his last year riding the series.
company. He ended his career as the Poole's highest ever points scorer after amassing 4,490 points in all competitions for the Pirates.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider who primarily rode for the Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
in the British Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
. He is currently manager of the Australian national team.
Australia
Craig Boyce started riding at the now defunct Liverpool SpeedwayLiverpool Speedway
Liverpool Speedway was located in Green Valley, Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool was opened by Frank Oliveri, the mayor of Liverpool at the time, and ran until its sudden and unexpected closure in 1989...
in western Sydney during the mid-1980s and established himself as one of not only the most promising young riders from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
but in Australia. He won his first NSW State Championship
New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship
The New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held annually in New South Wales to determine the NSW State champion...
at the Newcastle Motordrome
Newcastle Motordrome
Newcastle Motordrome was a Dirt track racing venue located on the Old Punt Road in Tomago, New South Wales, just north of the Hunter River and north of the city of Newcastle. The ¼ Mile speedway operated from its opening in 1977 until it was sold in 2002...
with a 15 point maximum from defending champion and World #3 Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire is a retired Australian motorcycle speedway rider who competed at the highest level of the sport, finishing a career best third in the 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England.-Australia:Todd Wiltshire started racing in 1979 at the Lake...
on December 26, 1990 before going on to win the 1991 Australian Championship
1991 Australian Individual Speedway Championship
The 1991 Australian Individual Speedway Championship was the 1991 version of the Australian Individual Speedway Championship organised by Motorcycling Australia. The final took place on January 27 at the Arunga Park Speedway in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory...
at the Arunga Park Speedway in Alice Springs, again with a 15 point maximum defeating two time defending champion Glenn Doyle of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Boyce inflicted Doyle's only defeat of the night when the pair clashed in Heat 18 with each going into the race unbeaten. Boyce beat Doyle out of the gate and was never headed to win his first national championship while Dolye had to be content with second in both the race and on the night.
As reigning Australian Champion, Boyce was seeded to the 1992 Australian Championship
1992 Australian Individual Speedway Championship
The 1992 Australian Individual Speedway Championship was the 1992 version of the Australian Individual Speedway Championship organised by Motorcycling Australia. The final took place on January 26, 1992 at the North Arm Speedway in Adelaide, South Australia. The championship was won by Mildura's...
at North Arm
North Arm Speedway
North Arm Speedway was the first dedicated motorcycle speedway ever built in Adelaide, South Australia and was located in the industrial suburb of Gillman...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
after he finished in third place in the NSW championship (under the old single meeting format, only the top two from each state or territories title were automatic qualifiers for the Australian championship) but his lackluster form continued when he could only manage 8th place in defense of his Australian title, scoring 8 points with only one win on the night.
Boyce would win the NSW title another three times during his career (1993, 1994 and 1995) while also winning the Australian Championship twice more in 1996 at the Motordrome and 1997 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
.
UK, Poland and Sweden
Boyce made his debut for the Poole PiratesPoole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
in 1988 and rode for the Pirates until 1990 before moving to the Oxford Cheetahs
Oxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs...
in 1991. He returned to Poole in 1992 and stayed until 1994 when he again moved, this time to the Swindon Robins
Swindon Robins
The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League....
. After being at Swindon for only a season he moved back to Poole in 1996 and stayed until 1998. In 1999 he re-signed with Oxford before moving to King's Lynn
King's Lynn Stars
King's Lynn Stars are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Elite League. The nickname "Stars" comes from the defunct Norwich Stars team...
for 2000. Boyce was on the move again in 2001, this time to the Ipswich Witches
Ipswich Witches
The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm....
where he stayed until 2003, following which he signed with the Isle of Wight Islanders
Isle of Wight Islanders
The Isle of Wight Wightlink Islanders are a British Speedway team. They currently compete in the National League and ride at the Smallbrook Stadium....
for 2004 and 2005 before moving one last time, back to Poole for 2006 and 2007.
During his time in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Boyce won the National League
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
with Poole in 1989 and 1990
1990 Speedway National League
The 1990 National League was the 16th since its establishment as a second tier in 1975, a re-named British League Division Two, and the last before it was again re-named British League Division Two....
as well as the National League Knockout Cup
Premier League Knockout Cup
The Premier League Knockout Cup is a motorcycle speedway competition in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The teams from the second tier of league racing, the Premier League, take part...
in 1990. He also won the British League Championship in 1994
1994 British Speedway League
-Final table:M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points...
With Poole. Boyce also won the British League Cup with Oxford in 2003.
While racing in the British leagues during his career, Craig Boyce also rode for Västervik Speedway
Västervik Speedway
Västervik Speedway are a motorcycle speedway team from Västervik in Sweden. Västervik were established in 1966 and have raced in the Elitserien, the top league division of Swedish speedway, since 1991. They were Elitserien Champions in 2005 and in 2007 they finished runners-up to Dackarna. The team...
in the Swedish Elite League
Elitserien (speedway)
Elitserien is the highest league in the league system of speedway in Sweden and currently comprises the top 9 Swedish speedway teams. The first season began in 1982...
starting in 1991, also riding for the team in 1992, 1994 and from 1996 until his last year in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 2004. Boyce also rode in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
for various teams during his career including Stal Rzeszów
Stal Rzeszów
Stal Rzeszów is a Polish football and speedway club based in Rzeszów, Poland.- Address :*ZKS STAL Rzeszów*ul.Hetmańska 69*35-078 Rzeszów*tel./fax 8548-048, 854-65-45, 854-15-92-Current squad :- See also :...
(1996), Unia Leszno
Unia Leszno
Unia Leszno are a motorcycle speedway team established in 1938 and based in Leszno, Poland. They compete in the Polish Ekstraliga and are the league champions from the 2010 Speedway Ekstraliga season. The team's home track is at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium....
(1997), Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski
Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski
- Famous riders :- External links :*...
(2000), Polonia Piła (2001) and WKM Warszawa in his last year in Poland, 2002.
International
Craig Boyce represented AustraliaAustralia national speedway team
Australia are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by former rider, three time Australian Champion and 1994 World #3 Craig Boyce and captained by three time Speedway World Champion Jason Crump...
in numerous Test Matches against teams such as Great Britain
Great Britain national speedway team
The Great Britain national speedway team are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by Poole Pirates manager Neil Middleditch and the captain is Chris Harris of the Belle Vue Aces....
, England and Sweden
Sweden national speedway team
Sweden are one of the major teams in international speedway. They have been managed by Mats Olsson, who is currently in his 2nd spell, since 2005 after he quit in 2000...
as well as representing his home state of NSW against the first ever USSR team
Russia national speedway team
Russia are an international speedway team who compete in the major international competition, the Speedway World Cup. They are managed by Andrey Savin and the current captain is Rybnik's Denis Gizatullin.- 2009 Squad :* Denis Gizatullin* Grigory Laguta...
to tour Australia in 1990.
Boyce was also a member of the Australian team that won the 2001 Speedway World Cup Final
2001 Speedway World Cup Final
The 2001 Speedway World Cup Final was the fifth and last race of the 2001 Speedway World Cup season. It took place on July 7, 2001 in the Olympic Stadium in Wrocław, Poland.- Results :- Heat details :- Heat after heat :...
in Wrocław, Poland. Boyce scored 9 of Australia's 68 points to defeat host nation Poland
Poland national speedway team
The Poland national speedway team is the national motorcycle speedway team of Poland and is controlled by the Polish Motor Union . The team is one of the major teams in international speedway and they won the Team World Championship nine times . The team has won 1971 Speedway World Pairs...
with Sweden finishing in third. He also rode for Australia in the 1992 World Pairs Championship
1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship was the twenty-third FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship. The final took place in Lonigo, Italy. The championship was won by United States who beat England in Run-Off and Sweden ....
in Lonigo
Lonigo
Lonigo is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, northern Italy, its population counts around 16.000 inhabitants.In its frazione of Bagnolo is the Villa Pisani, a Renaissance patrician villa designed by Andrea Palladio, which is part of a World Heritage Site...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, finishing 7th (and last) with Leigh Adams
Leigh Adams
Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion...
and reserve Shane Parker
Shane Parker (speedway rider)
Shane Andrew Parker is a speedway rider, currently riding with the Sheffield Tigers in the British Premier League in what will be his last season in Britain....
and improving to 6th in 1993
1993 Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship was the twenty-fourth and last FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship. The final took place in Vojens, Denmark...
as reserve to Adams and Jason Lyons
Jason Lyons
Jason Rodney Lyons is an Australian international Motorcycle speedway rider currently riding for the Redcar Bears in the British Premier League. Jason is the son of former rider Rod Lyons...
. The Pairs Championship was merged with the World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
from 1994 with Boyce once again reaching the final, finishing in 4th with Adams. Boyce was involved in a three rider a run-off to decide 3rd, 4th and 5th places at the final with Tommy Knudsen
Tommy Knudsen
Tommy Knudsen is a former Speedway rider who became Speedway World Pairs Champion in 1995 with Erik Gundersen. Tommy was also World Under-21 Champion in 1980...
of Denmark
Denmark national speedway team
Denmark are one of the major teams in international speedway. They are managed by former rider Jan Stæchmann and the current captain is Peterborough Panthers' Hans Andersen...
winning from Boyce and 1993 World Champion
1993 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1993 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*August 29, 1993 Pocking, Rottalstadion...
Sam Ermolenko
Sam Ermolenko
Guy Allen 'Sudden Sam' Ermolenko is a former Speedway rider. In 1993 he won the Speedway World Championship in Pocking, Germany. He is the older brother of Charles 'Dukie' Ermolenko who also rode in the UK....
of the USA
United States national speedway team
The United States national speedway team are an international speedway team from the United States who compete in the annual major international speedway competition, the Speedway World Cup. They are managed by David Joiner and the current captain is 1997 World Champion Greg Hancock...
. Boyce teamed with Adams and future World Champion Jason Crump
Jason Crump
Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:...
to finish 5th for Australia in the 1995 World Team Cup Final
1995 Speedway World Team Cup
-Group C - Venue : Togliatti, Russia:Ukraine and Latvia to Group B-Group B - Venue : Krsko, Slovenia:Norway and Ukraine to Group A. Igor Marko beat Gerhard Lekse in a race off for second place.-Group A - Venue : Pocking , Germany:...
before finishing 4th in 2000
2000 Speedway World Team Cup
-Venue : Blijham, Holland:Norway to Semi-Final-Venue : Lonigo, Italy:Italy to Semi-Final-Venue : Częstochowa, Poland:Sweden to World Final-Venue : Landshut, Germany:USA to World Final-Venue : Coventry, England:...
.
Craig Boyce qualified for one World Championship Final
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
during his career in 1994
1994 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1994 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Scandinavian Series:Riders from Scandinavia, i.e. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland competed. The top 8 in Swedish Semi Finals advanced to the Swedish Final. The top 5 in the Swedish Final advanced to the Scandinavian Final. The Danish Final was...
at Vojens
Vojens
Vojens Municipality , was a municipality in the former South Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality, which existed from 1970 to 2006, covered an area of 298 km², and had a total population of 16,792...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
where he finished in a surprise 3rd place behind Sweden's Tony Rickardsson
Tony Rickardsson
Tony Rickardsson is a retired Swedish motorcycle speedway rider. He is widely acknowledged as being the most successful speedway rider of the current era, having won six Speedway World Championship titles in 15 attempts. He has two daughters, Michelle and Natalie with his wife Anna...
and Denmark's Hans Nielsen
Hans Nielsen (speedway rider)
Hans Hollen Nielsen - a prominent speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s; a former World Champion....
. All three riders tied on 13 points for the Final and a run-off was needed to decide the podium places with Rickardsson winning the run-off from Neilsen and Boyce.
Boyce also rode in the Speedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. As of 2008, all of the events take place in Europe.- Event format :...
series during his career. He finished 11th in 1995
1995 Speedway Grand Prix
The 1995 Speedway Grand Prix season was the first season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion. Grand Prix series was won by Hans Nielsen; it was his fourth World Champion title.- Event format :...
, 14th in 1996
1996 Speedway Grand Prix
The 1996 Speedway Grand Prix season was the second season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion. Grand Prix series was won by Billy Hamill; it was his first and only World Champion title.- Event format :...
with 30 points and 20th in 1998
1998 Speedway Grand Prix
The 1998 Speedway Grand Prix season was the fourth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system used was a new one for the 4th SGP season with 24 riders, divided into two classes...
which was his last year riding the series.
Retirement
In November 2007, Boyce announced his retirement from racing and has since continued running his own speedway engine tuningEngine tuning
Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine's power output, economy, or durability....
company. He ended his career as the Poole's highest ever points scorer after amassing 4,490 points in all competitions for the Pirates.
Other honours
- Poole Blue Riband Trophy 1997
- Australian OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 2001
World Final Appearances
- 19941994 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1994 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Scandinavian Series:Riders from Scandinavia, i.e. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland competed. The top 8 in Swedish Semi Finals advanced to the Swedish Final. The top 5 in the Swedish Final advanced to the Scandinavian Final. The Danish Final was...
-
VojensVojensVojens Municipality , was a municipality in the former South Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality, which existed from 1970 to 2006, covered an area of 298 km², and had a total population of 16,792...
, Speedway Center - 3rd - 12pts + 1pt
Speedway Grand Prix results
| Year | Position | Points | Best Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 1995 Speedway Grand Prix The 1995 Speedway Grand Prix season was the first season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion. Grand Prix series was won by Hans Nielsen; it was his fourth World Champion title.- Event format :... |
11th | 60 | 6th | |
| 1996 1996 Speedway Grand Prix The 1996 Speedway Grand Prix season was the second season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion. Grand Prix series was won by Billy Hamill; it was his first and only World Champion title.- Event format :... |
14th | 30 | 7th | |
| 1998 1998 Speedway Grand Prix The 1998 Speedway Grand Prix season was the fourth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system used was a new one for the 4th SGP season with 24 riders, divided into two classes... |
20th | 18 | 16th |