Peter Karlsson (speedway rider)

Peter Karlsson
Born	18 December 1969 (age 54); Gullspång, Sweden
Nickname	PK
Nationality	Swedish
Career history
Sweden
1983-1999, 2011-2016	Örnarna
1999-2003	Kaparna
2004, 2008-2010	Dackarna
2012	Vargarna
2013–2015	Smederna
2016	Lejonen
Great Britain
1990, 1992-1997, 1999, 2002-2005,; 2006-2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016	Wolverhampton Wolves
2000, 2005	Peterborough Panthers
2001	King's Lynn Stars
2001, 2010	Belle Vue Aces
2012-2014	Lakeside Hammers
Poland
1991	Bydgoszcz
1996-1997, 2001	Piła
1998, 2002	Rybni
1999-2000	Toruń
2003	Tarnów
2004	TŻ Lublin
2005-2007	Ostrów
2008	Gorzów
Individual honours
1989, 1991	Swedish Champion
2000	GP Challenge
1989	Nordic Under-21 Champion
Team honours
2000, 2003, 2004	Speedway World Cup
1996	Premier League
2002, 2009, 2016	Elite League
1996	Premier League KO Cup winner
1992, 1997	Premiership Winner
1992	Gold Cup Winner
1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2007	Swedish Elitserien Champion
1992, 1996	Swedish Pairs Champion

Peter Gunnar Karlsson (born 18 December 1969)^[1] is a Swedish former motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice Swedish champion and a three times World Cup winner.^[2]^[3] He earned 40 caps for the Sweden national speedway team.^[4]

Career

Karlsson first rode for Wolverhampton Wolves in Britain during the 1990 season.^[5]

He won the Swedish Pairs Championship twice with brother Mikael Max, in 1992 and 1996 and was the Swedish Individual Champion in 1989 and 1991.

In October 2000, during the Speedway Grand Prix Qualification he won the GP Challenge, which ensured that he claimed a permanent slot for the 2001 Grand Prix.^[6]

He is regarded as a legend at parent club Wolverhampton^[7] where he helped them win the 2009 Elite League title despite suffering with a broken collarbone two weeks prior to the play off final. Due to the average points limit, PK had to move on in 2010 and joined Belle Vue Aces on loan. For the 2012 season he signed for Lakeside Hammers, where he spent three seasons.^[8]

In 2016, PK wasn't originally in Wolverhampton's plans but after Mikel Beck pulled out of the team leaving the door open for PK to join back. He accepted and joined for the remainder of the season. He would later play a huge role as the 2016 team beat Belle Vue over 2 legs in the Elite League final. After the Belle Vue meeting he announced his retirement from British Speedway.^[9]

Family

His two younger brothers, Mikael Max and Magnus Karlsson were both motorcycle speedway riders. All three brothers represented Sweden in the 2007 Speedway World Cup, with Magnus riding at reserve.

Career Achievements

World Under-21 Finalist (1989, 1990)
Swedish Champion (1989, 1991)
World Finalist (1993)
Speedway Grand Prix Rider (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Swedish GP Wildcard (1998, 2002, 2003)
Polish GP Wildcard (2003)
Speedway World Team Cup Champion (2000)
Speedway World Cup Champion (2003, 2004)
Slovenian GP Wildcard (2003)
Czech GP Wildcard (2003)
European GP Wildcard (2003)
Norwegian GP Wildcard (2003)
Scandinavian GP Wildcard (2004, 2007)
German GP Wildcard (2007)
Swedish Finalist (2008)

World Final Appearances

1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 8th - 8pts

Speedway Grand Prix results

Year	Position	Points	Best Finish	Notes
1996	6th	62	2nd	2nd in German Grand Prix
1997	12th	37	6th
1998	17th	27	3rd	3rd in Swedish Grand Prix
1999	13th	45	6th
2000	15th	35	9th
2001	15th	39	5th	Missed British Grand Prix through injury
2002	23rd	21	9th	Rode in four Grand Prix out of ten
2003	21st	28	13th	Missed Swedish Grand Prix through injury
2004	28th	7		One meeting as Swedish Grand Prix Wildcard

References

^ Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0
^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 522. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.
^ "Peter Gunnar Karlsson Szwecja". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
^ "HISTORICAL LIST OF RESULTS 1995-2013 Speedway Grand Prix - Qualifications". Speedway History. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^ "Wolves Legend Peter Karlsson on future at Monmore Green: "There's something special about that place"". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ "Speedway: Lakeside Hammers land Peter Karlsson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ "Peter Karlsson: Wolves speedway legend brings curtain down on career". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[1] Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0

[2] Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 522. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.

[3] "Peter Gunnar Karlsson Szwecja". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 12 March 2023.

[4] "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[5] "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 March 2023.

[6] "HISTORICAL LIST OF RESULTS 1995-2013 Speedway Grand Prix - Qualifications". Speedway History. Retrieved 8 January 2023.

[7] "Wolves Legend Peter Karlsson on future at Monmore Green: "There's something special about that place"". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[8] "Speedway: Lakeside Hammers land Peter Karlsson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[9] "Peter Karlsson: Wolves speedway legend brings curtain down on career". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

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