John Titman

John Charles Titman (born 26 January 1951) is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider who was Australian Champion in 1977.

John Titman
Born (1951-01-26) 26 January 1951
Brisbane, Queensland
Nationality Australia
Current club information
Career statusRetired
Career history
1972–1973Halifax Dukes
1975–1977Exeter Falcons
1978–1981Leicester Lions
1982–1983Hackney Hawks
1984Wimbledon Dons
Individual honours
1977Australian Champion
1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983,
1984, 1986		Queensland State Champion
Team honours
1986Australian Best Pairs Champion

Biography

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Titman initially worked as a mechanic, making his speedway debut at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground in April 1968.[1] He made his British League debut with Halifax Dukes in 1972, and also made his international debut for Australia that year against the British Lions.[1] In 1973 he averaged 6.92 from 38 matches, and became a regular member of the Australian team.[1] In 1973 he finished in 7th place (with John Boulger) in the Australian qualifying round of the World Pairs championship. He also raced in Poland and New Zealand. He moved on to the Exeter Falcons in 1975.[1]

Titman won the Australian Solo Championship in 1977 on his home track, the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. He also finished runner-up in the Australian championship to Phil Crump in 1975 at the Sydney Showground Speedway, and again in 1986 at the Pioneer Park Speedway in Ayr behind fellow Queenslander Troy Butler.

He signed for the Leicester Lions in 1978, becoming club captain in 1979.[2] After falling to third in the Lions averages in 1981 and being stripped of the captaincy, he was transfer listed at the end of the season, and moved on to the Hackney Hawks in 1982.[3] He moved on again in 1984 to the Wimbledon Dons, and this was his final season in British speedway.

During his career, Titman made the World Final on two occasions, finishing 8th in 1978 and 9th in 1979. Titman also rode in longtrack speedway, reaching the world final in 1983 and 1984.

After returning home at the end of 1984, Titman continued to ride, captaining the Australian national team for a further three years.

Career record

All figures relate to the British League.

Year Team Matches Rides Points Bonus Total Average Full
Maximum		 Paid
Maximum
1972Halifax Dukes34119101191204.03
1973Halifax Dukes38167274152896.92
1975Exeter Falcons32127165221875.891
1976Exeter Falcons37155251202716.99
1977Exeter Falcons40177327383658.2514
1978Leicester Lions40175375163918.9462
1979Leicester Lions35163326193458.4711
1980Leicester Lions31129227212487.691
1981Leicester Lions47227376464227.4411
1982Hackney Hawks36145215242396.59
1983Hackney Hawks41167233282516.2511
1984Wimbledon Dons47187238342725.82

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

World Pairs Championship

World Longtrack Championship

Finalist

References
  1. Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 136-7
  2. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 179
  3. Oakes, Peter (1982) 1982 Speedway Yearbook, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-86215-072-8, p. 173
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