Jens Rasmussen
Encyclopedia
Jens Rasmussen is a former speedway
rider who rode in the United Kingdom
,who made history when he signed for the Rye House Rockets
in the National League. He was the first non-Commonwealth
rider to be allowed to ride at that level.
in 1981 and moved to the Oxford Cheetahs
after the Hawks closed at the end of the 1983 season.
He rode for Ipswich Witches
in 1986 and 1987.
Then in 1988 the Rye House Rockets
announced they wished to use him in the National League. After much debate he was allowed to race due to the fact he had already been living in the UK for the previous five years and that he had an English wife and child.
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 rode 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...
,who made history when he signed for the Rye House Rockets
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets are a Speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They currently compete in the British Premier League.The club is promoted by Len Silver who previously ran the Hackney Hawks promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium....
in the National League. He was the first non-Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
rider to be allowed to ride at that level.
Career summary
He started his UK career in the British League with the Hackney HawksHackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks speedway opened in 1963 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London and operated until 1983.-Early days:Originally opened by Mike Parker, the promotion was then sold to Len Silver who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons....
in 1981 and moved 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...
after the Hawks closed at the end of the 1983 season.
He rode for 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....
in 1986 and 1987.
Then in 1988 the Rye House Rockets
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets are a Speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They currently compete in the British Premier League.The club is promoted by Len Silver who previously ran the Hackney Hawks promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium....
announced they wished to use him in the National League. After much debate he was allowed to race due to the fact he had already been living in the UK for the previous five years and that he had an English wife and child.