The Dukes in the World Championship 1984
At times, the 1984 World Championship trail was as controversial and acrimonious as had ever been seen. The events of the British Final at Coventry on the 20th June 1984 are now written in speedway folklore for numerous reasons - none least the heroics of Dukes number 1 Kenny Carter - but the meeting was shrouded in bitterness and controversy that would taint British Speedway for a long time...
Steve Baker: The European Under-21 Champion had a creditable Australian final, scoring 8 points to finish in 7th place in a quality field. Unfortunately, due to the current system, only 2 places were available for qualification for the Overseas Final - these were taken by Phil Crump (15) and Billy Sanders (13) - so Baker's pursuit was over.
Kurt Hansen: Was to participate in the Danish qualifying rounds early in the season - but his leg injuries suffered at Newcastle kept him out of the saddle for 2 months, and prevented him taking part. Hansen focussed his efforts upon his return on the European Under-21 Championship, eventually qualifying for the fated King's Lynn final in July as reserve, where he scored 1 point from 2 outings.
Eric Monaghan: Like several of his team-mates, Bootsy started his 1984 trail in the British qualifying rounds - at Boston on the 8th April. Monaghan only managed to score 5 points, finishing in 11th, and was eliminated.
Craig Pendlebury: Lined up alongside Monaghan at Boston - but like his team-mate failed to make the cut, scoring only 4 points to end up 12th.
Doug Wyer: Was scheduled to ride in the Edinburgh qualifying round - but opted not to take part.
Steve Finch: Was the final Duke to set off in the qualifying rounds, and scored 7 points to take 8th in the Milton Keynes round. But with only the top 3 guaranteed a place in the Quarter Final - at Halifax - the Dukes would have no home representation.
Neil Evitts: Made the headlines in late May by storming to a win in the British Semi-Final at Oxford to qualify for his first British Final - but his heroics that night are still overshadowed by the return to the track of the injured Carter. In the British Final, Evitts looked to have emerged from all the accusations and anger in the early stages and had 7 points after 3 races - but in an open meeting, he failed to add to the total in his last 2 rides and saw qualification slip away. One more point would have seen him in a run-off for the final qualification place with Simon Wigg and Jeremy Doncaster, but those two moved onto Belle Vue. Evitts would have success later in the season when he finished second in the European Under-21 Final.
Kenny Carter: Carter's 1984 heroics to try and make a 4th successive World Final are the stuff of legend. Struck down by a badly broken leg in April, KC's chances were over - until he lined up at Oxford in the British Semi Final. Despite having to be lifted on and off the bike, and crashing in one heat, Carter defied the odds to finish 3rd behind team-mate Evitts and Andy Grahame. And better was to follow in the British Final, where Carter overcame dreadful conditions to become British Champion for 1984 with 13 points. That final was memorable for Carter's determination to race - when most clearly didn't want to, but also for subsequent allegations of race-fixing involving the late withdrawal of Malcolm Simmons, to be replaced by Simon Wigg, who had failed to negotiate the Oxford semi. Carter managed to progress through the Overseas Final at Belle Vue, finishing 7th on 8 points, leaving him just 5 rides away from the World Final. But the Intercontinental Final at Vojens proved a step too far - 6 points and 13th place saw the end of the road of his Championship hopes. Ironically, Simon Wigg became the only British rider to qualify for the 84 World Final - ultimately won by Denmark's Erik Gundersen.
1984 British Champion - Kenny Carter.
Erik Gundersen, Hans Nielsen and Lance King - the 1-2-3 in Gothenburg at the 1984 World Final.