Kai Niemi
| Born |
September 15, 1955 Pori, Finland |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 Finland |
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Retired |
| Career history | |
| 1976-1978 | White City Rebels |
| 1979-1980 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| 1981 | Birmingham Brummies |
| 1982-1983 | Wimbledon Dons |
| 1984-1985 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1986 | Swindon Robins |
| Individual honours | |
| 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 | Finland National Champion |
| 1982 | London Riders' Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1977 | British League Champion |
| 1984 | British League KO Cup winner |
Kai Juhani Niemi (born 15 September 1955 in Pori, Finland)[1] is former international motorcycle speedway rider who represented Finland.
Career
He reached four World Championship finals, finishing a career best fourth in 1985 at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England.
Neimi won the Finnish National Championship a record nine times during his career (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1990)
Neimi rode for the White City Rebels in the British League from 1976-1978, winning the league championship with the team in 1977. He continued riding in Britain until 1986 for other teams including: Eastbourne Eagles (1979-80), Birmingham Brummies (1981), Wimbledon Dons (1982-83), Ipswich Witches (1984-85) and the Swindon Robins (1986)
In 1982 he won the London Riders' Championship with Wimbledon. He also won the British League Knockout Cup in 1984 with Ipswich.
Kai Neimi also rode for Finland in the World Pairs Final on five occasions with a best finish of 5th in Australia in 1982 with his brother-in-law Ari Koponen, and again in 1989 in Poland with Olli Tyrvainen. He also represented Finland in the World Team Cup, though the Fins never progressed past the Semi-final stage during his career.
World Final Appearances
Individual World Championship
- 1980 -
Göteborg, Ullevi - 8th - 8pts - 1982 -
Los Angeles, Memorial Coliseum - 12th - 5pts - 1984 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 13th - 4pts
- 1985 -
Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 4th - 10pts
World Pairs Championship
- 1977 - Manchester, Hyde Road (with Ila Teromaa) - 6th - 14pts (7)
- 1979 -
Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center (with Ila Teromaa) - 7th - 7pts (7) - 1980 -
Krsko, Matija Gubec Stadium (with Ila Teromaa) - 6th - 14pts (6) - 1982 -
Sydney, Liverpool City Raceway (with Ari Koponen) - 5th - 16pts (12) - 1989 -
Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium (with Olli Tyrvainen) - 5th - 31pts (18)
References
- ↑ Oakes, P & Rising, P (1986). 1986 Speedway Yearbook. ISBN 0-948882-00-X