Shawn Moran
Encyclopedia
Shawn Moran is a retired former professional speedway
rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers
who also represented USA.
Moran joined Sheffield from Hull in 1980 for £8,000 and established himself as a fans favourite who topped the clubs average
s every year he was with them. He was a spectacular crowd-pleaser and was a popular rider everywhere he went. In 1986 Shawn was joined by his elder brother Kelly
at the Sheffield Tigers
. Shawn amassed a total of 3257 points for the Tigers at a great average
of 9.36. He represented his country on several occasions and it was his partnership with Kelly that helped USA to the 1982 and 1990 World Cups
, in addition to Shawn winning the USA National Championship, the Long Track World Championship and also the World U21 Championship with a 15 point maximum. Although regarded as a world-class rider, the World Championship eluded Shawn.
He rode in three World Championships in 1984
, 1985
and 1990
. Arguably 1985 was his best season as he won both the Overseas and Inter-continental Finals on his way to the World Final at Bradford. He finished in fifth place with 10-points. In 1990 he lost a run-off to Sweden
's Per Jonsson
. Moran was later stripped of the silver medal after it was revealed that he had failed a random drug and alcohol test at the 1990 Overseas Final. It was reported that the drug was a pain killer prescribed by a Swedish doctor but despite this the FIM
stuck to their ruling and did not upgrade the standings so the official records show no second place rider.
Moran, though, remains America's only World Longtrack Champion. He won the crown in 1983 while still recovering from a broken leg. Though Moran hasn't rode for many years he was stated to saying a return to British speedway may be in the works.
* 1990 - Disqualified - Failed random drug and alcohol test at 1990 Overseas Final
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 was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield 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...
who also represented USA.
Moran joined Sheffield from Hull in 1980 for £8,000 and established himself as a fans favourite who topped the clubs average
Calculated Match Average
Calculated Match Averages are calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.The CMA is calculated from the following:\left \times4...
s every year he was with them. He was a spectacular crowd-pleaser and was a popular rider everywhere he went. In 1986 Shawn was joined by his elder brother Kelly
Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran was a professional speedway rider who rode for a number of British clubs and also represented USA....
at the Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield 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...
. Shawn amassed a total of 3257 points for the Tigers at a great average
Calculated Match Average
Calculated Match Averages are calculated for every motorcycle speedway rider.The CMA is calculated from the following:\left \times4...
of 9.36. He represented his country on several occasions and it was his partnership with Kelly that helped USA to the 1982 and 1990 World Cups
Speedway World Cup
The Speedway World Cup is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first edition of the competition in the current format was in 2001 and it replaced the old World Team Cup competition.-Format:...
, in addition to Shawn winning the USA National Championship, the Long Track World Championship and also the World U21 Championship with a 15 point maximum. Although regarded as a world-class rider, the World Championship eluded Shawn.
He rode in three World Championships in 1984
1984 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1984 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1984 Göteborg, Ullevi...
, 1985
1985 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*August 31, 1985 Bradford, Odsal Stadium...
and 1990
1990 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Continental Final:*August 12, 1990 Norden, Motodrom Halbemond-North American Final:*June 2, 1990 Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium-Scandinavian Final:*June 9, 1990 Linköping, Motorstadium...
. Arguably 1985 was his best season as he won both the Overseas and Inter-continental Finals on his way to the World Final at Bradford. He finished in fifth place with 10-points. In 1990 he lost a run-off to 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....
's Per Jonsson
Per Jonsson
Per Jonsson is a former speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1990, and finished runner-up in 1992.In 1985, his second season with the Reading Racers, the team won six major trophies...
. Moran was later stripped of the silver medal after it was revealed that he had failed a random drug and alcohol test at the 1990 Overseas Final. It was reported that the drug was a pain killer prescribed by a Swedish doctor but despite this the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
stuck to their ruling and did not upgrade the standings so the official records show no second place rider.
Moran, though, remains America's only World Longtrack Champion. He won the crown in 1983 while still recovering from a broken leg. Though Moran hasn't rode for many years he was stated to saying a return to British speedway may be in the works.
World Final Appearances
- 19841984 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1984 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1984 Göteborg, Ullevi...
-
Göteborg, UlleviUlleviUllevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
- 8th - 7pts - 19851985 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*August 31, 1985 Bradford, Odsal Stadium...
-
BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Odsal StadiumOdsal StadiumOdsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
- 5th - 10pts - 19901990 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Continental Final:*August 12, 1990 Norden, Motodrom Halbemond-North American Final:*June 2, 1990 Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium-Scandinavian Final:*June 9, 1990 Linköping, Motorstadium...
- BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Odsal StadiumOdsal StadiumOdsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
- 2nd - 13pts + 2pts*
* 1990 - Disqualified - Failed random drug and alcohol test at 1990 Overseas Final