- Kelvin Tatum
Infobox Speedway rider
ridername= Kelvin TatumMBE
nationality = flagicon|EnglandEngland
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|2|8
cityofbirth =Epsom
countryofbirth =England
website =
retired = Retired
polishleague =
swedishleague =
years = 1983-1984
1985-1990
1991
1992-1993
1994, 2002-2004
1995, 1998
1996
1997
career =Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees Berwick Bandits Bradford Dukes Arena Essex Hammers Poole Pirates
London LionsPeterborough Panthers
indivhonour = Inter-Continental Champion
Overseas Champion
Commonwealth Champion
British Champion
World Longtrack Champion
indivyear = 1989
1991, 1997
1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
1987, 1990
1995, 1998, 2000
teamhonour = World Team Cup Winner
British League Champion
British League KO Cup Winner
teamyear = 1989
1987, 1988, 1995
1992, 1993Kelvin Martin Tatum
MBE (born 8 February 1964Epsom ,England ) is a former Speedway rider. [Oakes, P.(2004). "British Speedway Who's Who". ISBN 0-948882-81-6]Early life
Tatum attended Brighton College from 1977 to 1980. [cite web | title =Kelvin Tatum MBE (B. 1977-80) | work =Hall of Fame | publisher =Old Brightonian Association | url =http://www.oldbrightonians.com/tatum_01.htm| accessdate =2008-07-19 ]
Career
Kelvin started riding speedway bikes at Hackney Training School at the
Hackney Wick Stadium in the winter of 1982-83. He was given his first team place at rivals theWimbledon Dons riding in the top flight British League in 1983, finishing the season with an average of over six points per meeting.In 1985 he signed for the
Coventry Bees , staying there for the next six seasons. Stints then followed at theBerwick Bandits ,Bradford Dukes ,Arena Essex Hammers ,Poole Pirates ,Peterborough Panthers , and the ill-fated London Lions, with brother Neville among his team-mates.He became British Champion twice, in 1987 and 1990.
World Final Appearances
*
1985 - Flag|GBR Bradford - 8th - 8pts
*1986 - Flag|POLChorzów - 3rd - 12pts
*1988 - Flag|DENVojens - 8th - 8pts
*1989 - Flag|GERMunich - 5th - 10pts
*1990 - Flag|GBR Bradford - 7th - 9pts
*1991 - Flag|SWEGothenburg - 8th - 8pts
*1992 - Flag|POLWroclaw - 10th - 6pts [Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). "A History of the World Speedway Championship". Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5]Longtrack
Kelvin has been World Longtrack Champion three times, in 1995, 1998 and 2000 and was very unlucky not to win it again in 2004 when his bike broke down whilst leading the final.
Grasstrack
Kelvin was European Grasstrack Champion in 1995 and British Grasstrack Champion four times, in 1996, 1999, 2000 and jointly in 2001.
After Retirement
Kelvin is now a TV presenter, appearing on
Sky Sports speedway programmes as a presenter and expert commentator. He began commentating when taking a break from the sport but continued when he returned to ride for theArena Essex Hammers in 2002. He was awarded theMBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours list.References
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