Barry Briggs

Who is Barry Briggs?

Barry Briggs MBE from Christchurch, New Zealand is a former Speedway rider.

He won the World Individual Championship title four times – in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. He appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals, and a record 18 in all, during which he scored a record 201 points. He also won the London Riders' Championship in 1955 whilst riding for the Wimbledon Dons. He is also a six-time winner of the British Championship. He won the first final in 1961 and then dominated the sixties titles by winning in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1969. Briggs also won his home title, the New Zealand Championship, twice winning in 1959 and again in 1963.

Briggs also created a domestic record by winning the British League Riders Championship for six consecutive years from 1965–1970, representing the Swindon Robins.

Briggs retired from British league racing in 1972 after an accident during Heat 5 of the World Final at Wembley Stadium with Soviet rider Grigory Khlinovsky. As a result of the accident, Briggs lost the index finger of his left hand, but returned in 1974, retiring for a final time in 1976.