Bert Harkins

Robert Pearson Harkins (born 15 April 1940) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Scotland. He earned 2 caps for the Scotland national speedway team, 4 caps for the Great Britain national speedway team and 7 caps for the England national speedway team.

Biography His father was a fireman and he was born in the Govan Fire Station in 1940. Harkins was initially a star of cycle speedway who represented Scotland and reached two World Finals. He competed on motorcycles in road racing and first rode a speedway bike in 1961. In 1968, he travelled to Australia where he won the Victorian Individual Speedway Championship. He moved on to Wimbledon Dons in 1973, where he rode for three seasons and won the London Cup with them in 1974. He rode in the United States in 1976 with the Bakersfield Bandits. staying until the end of the 1979 season. Harkins was also known to take his pre-meeting parade lap (on his bike) while wearing his tartan hat and kilt.

In 1977, Harkins won the Scottish Open Championship in Blantyre.

After speedway he concentrated on his motorcycle spares and accessories business, Bert Harkins Racing, and later managed the Scotland national team. In 2008 he became President of the World Speedway Riders Association, taking over the position from Ivan Mauger.

World Final appearances World Pairs Championship 1970 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Jim McMillan) - 4th - 18pts (8)