Larry Ross (speedway rider)

Larry Ross (born 15 June 1954 in Christchurch, New Zealand)^[1] is a former motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand. He earned 26 caps for the New Zealand national speedway team.^[2]

Ross began riding at the Templeton track in Christchurch in 1972. He moved to England in 1975 and joined the Wimbledon Dons, where he spent six seasons from 1975 until 1980. He was a protege of the legendary Ivan Mauger.^[3] While riding at Plough Lane, he won the London Riders' Championship in 1977 and the London Cup three times. He also topped the team averages twice.^[4]

In 1979, he was a member of the New Zealand national speedway team, which won the World Team Cup.^[5][6] He was also a non-riding reserve for the 1979 World Final (won for a record 6th time by fellow Kiwi rider Ivan Mauger).

In 1980, he was third in the British League Riders' Championship and the following year he rode in the World Championship final at Wembley. In 1981, he switched from Wimbledon to join Belle Vue Aces and helped win the league title during the 1982 British League season.^[4] He left Belle Vue to join Halifax Dukes on loan for the 1985 British League season.^[7]

From 1977 to 1986, he rode in eight finals of the World Pairs Championship with Ivan Mauger and Mitch Shirra. Riding with Mauger he was runner-up in 1978 and in 1981.

During his long career, Larry Ross won the New Zealand Championship a record nine times.^[8]

In 2006, he came out of retirement to win the New Zealand long track championship.