Ari Koponen (20 July 1959 – 28 April 2018) was a Finnish motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2][3] He earned 17 caps for the Finland national speedway team.[4]
| Born | 20 July 1959 Lahti, Finland |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Career
editIn 1978, Koponen joined the Birmingham Brummies for the 1978 British League season,[5] 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[6] and joined Wimbledon Dons in 1983.[7][1] It was in 1983, that Koponen became the national champion of Finland after winning the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship.[8]
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.[8] In 1987, he won his third and final Finnish national championship.[9]
He was also a long track rider and reached the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship final in 1988.[10]
See also
editReferences
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.
- ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "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.