The Dukes in the World Championship 1982

When the 1982 season began, there was little to suggest the excitement, drama, controversy and acrimony that the World Championship campaign would raise. The Dukes' Number 1 Carter had become embroiled in a personal vendetta against the Americans - and Bruce Penhall in particular, after their clashes in 1981 - and this fuelled events throughout the 1982 campaign...

Merv Janke: Scored 9 points in the Northern Zone final to qualify for the Australian Final, but failed to take his place in the final. As he retired from the sport at the end of 1982, this proved to be the end of his world title chase.

Steve Baker: Did not originally participate in the qualifying rounds for the Australian Final, but after the original meeting in January was declared void, and some riders declined to participate in the re-staging, Baker lined up in the re-staged final in March - but finished 16th and last, scoring only 2 points.

Martin Dixon: The Dukes number 8 rode in the British Preliminary round at Boston, but scored only 3 points to finish 13th.

Doug Wyer: Was drawn in the Preliminary round at Weymouth, and scored 8 points to finish 8th, but with only 3 riders guaranteed to go through to the Quarter Final, Wyer's chase ended there.

Ian Cartwright: His last season saw him bow out of the World Championship at the first hurdle, scoring only 5 points in the British Semi Final at Birmingham to finish 12th.

John Louis: Scored an impressive 12 points in the British Semi Final at Hackney, to finish second behind Les Collins. After nearly winning the title 12 months earlier, Louis was fancied to do well in the Final at Coventry, but suffered mechanical problems all night, and failed to score.

Kenny Carter: Started his campaign with 2nd place (12 points) in the British Semi Final at Birmingham behind Alan Grahame. Went to the British Final at Brandon as favourite, but ended up 3rd on 12 points, behind the Grahame brothers, Andy and Alan. The Overseas Final at White City proved to be one of the most controversial meetings ever, as the Americans "team rode" in heat 20 to ensure as many qualifiers as possible - the tactics of Penhall riding around at the back was largely booed by the crowd, condemned by everyone non-American, and saw the end of the road for Ivan Mauger, Billy Sanders, Chris Morton and Alan Grahame. Carter was clear of trouble however, scoring 12 points to finish in second behind Dave Jessup, with Penhall turning his back to the fans in 3rd. Carter again finished 2nd (11 points) in the Intercontinental Final at Vetlanda, Sweden behind surprise winner Les Collins, and qualified for the Final, to be held in the Colliseum in Los Angeles. Although receiving serious injuries in the Star of Anglia fixture at Ipswich 4 weeks before the final, Carter lined up in America as one of the favourites, and looked set to take the crown, after 3 wins put him on 9 points and first place at the interval. What happened next has been replayed on video, and argued about ever since. Carter and rival Penhall were trailing Peter Collins in heat 14 and clashed - first banging elbows down the straight, and then going into the first bend of lap 3. Carter drifted wide, allowing Penhall to come through on the inside, but as they came out of bend 2, Penhall appeared to take Carter's front wheel, sending Carter under the fence, with the race stopped. After a delay, Carter made his way back to the pits to the news he had been excluded from the re-run. Despite protests both from Carter and mentor Ivan Mauger, Carter was out - Penhall won the re-run and went on to retain his title. Carter was left stranded on 10 points, and 5th place, and with thoughts of what might have been. Penhall had already announced his retirement from the sport, and his defection from the British League 2 weeks earlier undoubtedly cost Cradley Heath the league title.