Ari Koponen (speedway rider)
Born | Lahti, Finland | 20 July 1959
---|---|
Died | 28 April 2018 | (aged 58)
Nationality | Finnish |
Career history | |
Great Britain | |
1978–1982 | Birmingham Brummies |
1983 | Wimbledon Dons |
1984–1985 | Swindon Robins |
Sweden | |
1987 | Getingarna |
1988–1989 | Rospiggarna |
Individual honours | |
1983, 1985, 1987 | Finnish national Champion |
1979 | World U21 Championship bronze |
Team honours | |
1988 | Sweden Division 1 |
Ari Koponen (20 July 1959 – 28 April 2018) was a Finnish motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2][3]
Career
[edit]In 1978, Koponen joined the Birmingham Brummies for the 1978 British League season,[4] this was his first season in the British leagues.[1] The following year he won a bronze medal at the 1979 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship.
He remained with Birmingham for five years, scoring over 800 points[3] until he requested a transfer[5] and joined Wimbledon Dons in 1983.[6][1] It was in 1983, that Koponen became the national champion of Finland after winning the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship.[7]
In 1984, Koponen switched from Wimbledon to join the Swindon Robins where he enjoyed two successful seasons in 1984 and 1985.[2] Also in 1985, he won a second Finnish national championship.[7] In 1987, he won his third and final Finnish national championship.[8]
He was also a long track rider and reached the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship final in 1988.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ari Koponen". WWOS backup. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ a b "ARI KOPONEN – RIP". Swindon Speedway. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ a b "ARI KOPONEN – RIP". Birmingham Speedway. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Cradley". Sports Argus. 1 February 1978. Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Koponen on move". Sandwell Evening Mail. 2 February 1983. Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Heathens look good". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 12 March 1983. Retrieved 30 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Individual Finnish Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Individual Championship of Finland". Speedway Fansite. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Ari Koponen". Grasstrack GB. Retrieved 12 January 2023.