Lars Gunnestad
Encyclopedia
Lars Gunnestad is a former Norwegian international motorcycle speedway
rider. He won the Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship
a record ten times.
His son, Lars Daniel, is speedway rider also. Lars Daniel finished fifth in the 2009 Norwegian Championship
.
in 1991, who competed in the British League Division Two
. Gunnestad missed the British speedway season in 1992, but returned in 1993 when he was signed by British League
team the Poole Pirates
with whom he would spend this rest of his British career. Gunnestad became a popular rider at Poole and eventually received a testimonial
meeting there in 2001. He appeared in five Speedway Grand Prix
meetings as a wild card
.
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. He won the Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship
Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship
The Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the Norges Motorsportforbund . The first championship was held in 1938 in Trondheim and saw Ragnar C. Erichsen as winner. Lars Gunnestad has won the highest number of championships with ten...
a record ten times.
His son, Lars Daniel, is speedway rider also. Lars Daniel finished fifth in the 2009 Norwegian Championship
Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship
The Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the Norges Motorsportforbund . The first championship was held in 1938 in Trondheim and saw Ragnar C. Erichsen as winner. Lars Gunnestad has won the highest number of championships with ten...
.
Career summary
Gunnestad first came to prominence in 1988 when he won his first Norwegian title at the age of 17. His first British club was SheffieldSheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
in 1991, who competed in the British League Division Two
Speedway British League Division Two
The British League Division Two was created in 1968 and was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom up until 1975, and then from 1991 to 1995. After the formation of the British League in 1965, riders wanting to break into teams found it more difficult to do so...
. Gunnestad missed the British speedway season in 1992, but returned in 1993 when he was signed by British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
team the Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates
Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League...
with whom he would spend this rest of his British career. Gunnestad became a popular rider at Poole and eventually received a testimonial
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
meeting there in 2001. He appeared in five 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 :...
meetings as a wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
.