24 Facts About Erik Gundersen

Erik Gundersen is a seven-time World Team Cup winner with Denmark, and earned 91 international caps for the country.

Erik Gundersen won the World Pairs Championship a record five years in succession from 1985 to 1989, and won the World Team Cup a record six years in succession from 1983 to 1988.

Erik Gundersen rode for his home town club Esbjerg and joined the British leagues with Cradley Heath Heathens during the 1979 British League season.

Erik Gundersen rode in the qualifying rounds of the 1979 Speedway World Team Cup and gained a silver medal despite not actually riding in the final.

Erik Gundersen enjoyed a solid season for Cradley Heath and helped them win the Knockout Cup.

Erik Gundersen first appeared in the Speedway World Championship Final in 1981 at Wembley Stadium where in front of 92,500 fans he finished 4th with 11 points.

Erik Gundersen won the World Cup with Denmark for the first time and was a league champion with Cradley.

Erik Gundersen made amends for his 1982 failure, easily qualifying for the 1983 World Final in West Germany where he would again finish in a strong 4th place.

Erik Gundersen won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 15 October 1983.

Erik Gundersen won a second World Cup gold medal with Denmark and a bronze in the World pairs, partnering Hans Nielsen.

Erik Gundersen won another World Cup with Denmark, the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship and a silver medal in the World Pairs.

Erik Gundersen successfully defended his World title, winning the 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford.

Erik Gundersen achieved the treble of World titles by winning the World Cup and World Pairs again, in arguably greatest ever season.

Erik Gundersen won the British League Riders' Championship for the second time.

Erik Gundersen won the World pairs with Hans Nielsen and a second Long Track World Championship.

Erik Gundersen was pipped by great rival Nielsen in the 2-day 1987 World Final at the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium.

Erik Gundersen made amends by winning the World Pairs and a sixth World Cup.

At a packed to capacity Vojens Speedway Center in what was the first ever World Individual Final held in his home country of Denmark, Erik Gundersen claimed his third World Championship in the 1988.

Erik Gundersen won his fourth consecutive World pairs and a seventh World Cup gold medal.

Erik Gundersen's career was ended just a few weeks after the 1989 World Final when he was involved in an accident whilst riding for Denmark at the Odsal Stadium on the 17 September 1989, in the World Team Cup final.

Erik Gundersen was then confined to a bed in hospital for the next month with grim prospects for resuming a normal life as doctors reported he had no neurological function below his neck.

Erik Gundersen defied the experts though and was determined to walk again.

Erik Gundersen had to learn to walk again and raised a large amount of money for the hospital which saved his life.

Erik Gundersen later went on to manage the Danish national speedway team.