Nigel Boocock

Nigel Boocock (17 September 1937 – 3 April 2015) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England. who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals. He holds the record number of caps for Great Britain (64) and the record for total number of caps, when including England. Boocock started his career with the Bradford Tudors during the 1955 season and stayed there until the end of the 1957 season (Bradford replaced Birmingham Brummies during August of the 1957 season).

After spending the 1958 season with the Ipswich Witches, he moved in 1959 to the Coventry Bees. He found a permanent home with the Bees and spent the next eighteen seasons with them. His career also took off in terms of success and was regularly called up to represent his country. and won the Midland Cup in 1960.

As one of Coventry's leading riders he was called up by England for the 1960 Speedway World Team Cup, taking a silver medal at the event. He would reach multiple Speedway World Championship finals from 1963 to 1972 and was the World Pairs bronze medal winner in 1969 and 1970, the latter with his brother Eric. Two further bronze medals came in the World Team Cup (1964 and 1965) before his career best achievement, winning the World Cup with Great Britain in 1968 at Wembley.

On the domestic front he won the British League Championship in 1968 and five more Midland Cup wins.

He was known for the blue leathers he raced in, when most other riders wore black leathers – he was nicknamed "Little Boy Blue". He appeared with brother Eric Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place.

At retirement he had earned 90 international caps for the England national speedway team and 64 caps for Great Britain (a record) for a combined total of 154 caps (also a record).

World final appearances

Individual World Championship 1956 – London, Wembley Stadium – Reserve, did not ride 1962 – London, Wembley Stadium – Reserve, did not ride 1963 – London, Wembley Stadium – 7th – 8pts 1964 – Gothenburg, Ullevi – 9th – 6pts 1965 – London, Wembley Stadium – 8th – 8pts 1966 – Göteborg, Ullevi – 15th – 2pt 1968 – Göteborg, Ullevi – 16th – 1pt 1969 – London, Wembley Stadium – 4th – 10pts 1971 – Göteborg, Ullevi – 9th – 6pts 1972 – London, Wembley Stadium – 10th – 6pts

World Pairs Championship 1969*- Stockholm, Gubbängens IP (with Martin Ashby) – 3rd – 21pts (11) 1970 – Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Eric Boocock) – 3rd – 19pts (6) Unofficial World Championships.

World Team Cup 1960*- Göteborg, Ullevi (with Peter Craven / Ron How / Ken McKinlay / George White) – 2nd – 30pts (1) 1964 – Abensberg, Abensberg Stadion (with Barry Briggs / Ron How / Ken McKinlay / Brian Brett) – 3rd – 21pts (3) 1965 – Kempten (with Barry Briggs / Charlie Monk / Ken McKinlay / Jimmy Gooch) – 3rd – 18pts (6) 1966 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Barry Briggs / Terry Betts / Ivan Mauger / Colin Pratt) – 4th – 8pts (4) 1968 – London, Wembley Stadium (with Ivan Mauger / Barry Briggs / Martin Ashby / Norman Hunter) – Winner – 40pts (10) 1969 – Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Martin Ashby / Ivan Mauger / Barry Briggs) – 2nd – 27pts (5) 1970 – London, Wembley Stadium (with Ivan Mauger / Barry Briggs / Eric Boocock / Ray Wilson) – 2nd – 31pts (2) 1960 for England. All others for Great Britain.