Jürgen Hehlert (born 15 April 1941) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from East Germany.[1][2] He earned international caps for both the East Germany national speedway team and later the West Germany national speedway team, after he defected.
| Born | 15 April 1941 (age 83) Rostock, Germany |
|---|---|
| Nationality | German |
| Career history | |
| East Germany | |
| 1967 | Güstrow |
| West Germany | |
| ? | Rodenbach |
| 1980 | Cloppenburg |
| Great Britain | |
| 1974 | Hull Vikings |
| Individual honours | |
| 1962, 1966 | East German Champion |
Speedway career
editHehlert was a two times champion of East Germany, winning the East German Championship in 1962 (which was the first post-World War II) German championship)[3] and again in 1966.[4]
He only rode one season in the United Kingdom, riding for Hull Vikings, during the 1974 British League Division Two season.[5][1] He was released by Hull to be replaced by German rider Josef Angermüller.[6]
He was credited with being partly responsible for the renovation of the track at the Günter Harder Stadion and in 1970[2] and reached the Continental final of the 1970 Speedway World Team Cup with the East Germany national speedway team after winning both the quarter final and semi final.[7]
In 1972, he defected from the East to the West, settling in Hanau in Hesse and later rode for MSC Rodenbach in the German Team Speedway Championship[2] He would also represent the West German national team.
References
edit- ^ a b "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Jürgen Hehlert: The first German Speedway Champion". Speedweek.com. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Für den letzten DDR-Meistertitel gab es schon Westgeld". Nordkurier. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 87–91. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Vikings will be strengthened by German Star". Hull Daily Mail. 16 April 1974. Retrieved 24 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway World Cup". International Speedway. Retrieved 1 February 2024.