The first ever speedway programme from the night the sport was born at Maitland Showground in New South Wales, Australia on December 15, 1923.

The Harley Davidson Peashooter becomes the speedway bike of choice as Aussie riders begin to export speedway to the world.

The first British speedway meeting takes place at High Beech, North London (pictured), with fans packing both the inside and outside of the track.

Wembley Lions became the first-ever British National League champions.

Australian rider Lionel Van Praag is crowned the sport’s first-ever world champion at Wembley as the FIM Speedway World Championship is launched.

Jack Milne leads an American one-two-three, as runner-up Wilbur Lamoreaux and brother Cordy Milne in third join him on the World Final podium at Wembley.

Australian racer Bluey Wilkinson wins the last pre-war World Final at Wembley.

1939-1948 : World War II cancels the 1939 World Final and forces the suspension of the event until 1949. Racing continued at some clubs despite the conflict, including at Manchester club Belle Vue, which has staged action every year since 1928 - through wars and pandemics.

The first post-war World Final was staged at Wembley. It saw Tommy Price become England’s first world champion with a 15-point maximum, before receiving the trophy from Violet Attlee, wife of then prime minister Clement Attlee.

Freddie Williams of Wales wins his first world title under Wembley’s twin towers.

Australia’s Jack Young lifts his first world title at Wembley.

Jack Young becomes the first rider to retain the FIM Speedway World Championship, topping the box again at Wembley.

Welshman Freddie Williams becomes Britain’s first double world champion at Wembley.

Ronnie Moore makes history as New Zealand’s first world champion with a 15-point maximum.

England’s Peter Craven wins his first world title at Wembley, with Kiwi duo Ronnie Moore and Barry Briggs joining him on the rostrum. Craven remains the sport’s youngest-ever world champion at 21 years and 86 days old.

Ove Fundin lifts Sweden’s first world title – his first of five and the first of his record-equalling 10 straight years in the world’s top three.

New Zealand’s Barry Briggs wins his maiden world title after beating Ove Fundin in a run-off at Wembley.

Barry Briggs becomes speedway’s second double world champion with a 15-point maximum at Wembley.

It’s another golden year for New Zealand as Ronnie Moore wins his second world title with a 15-point maximum at Wembley.

Swedish star Ove Fundin gets the bumps after beating Ronnie Moore and Peter Craven in an epic run-off for title No.2.

Swedish city Malmo stages the first World Final away from Wembley in the year home hero Ove Fundin becomes the sport’s first three-time world champion, leading a Swedish one-two-three with Bjorn Knutsson and Gote Nordin.

England’s Peter Craven ends his seven-year wait for title No.2 as the World Final returns to Wembley.

Ove Fundin regains the world title, winning No.4 to lead a Swedish one-two with Bjorn Knutsson at Wembley.

Barry Briggs wins his third World Final with a 15-point maximum in Gothenburg.

Swedish star Bjorn Knutsson celebrates after winning the sport’s biggest prize at Wembley.

Barry Briggs claims his fourth and final world title with his third 15-point maximum in a World Final.

Ove Fundin embraces fellow Swedish star Bengt Jansson after beating him in a run-off for his fifth and final world title.

New Zealand legend Ivan Mauger raced to a 15-point maximum for his first of his six world titles in Gothenburg.

The first World Pairs Final – the forerunner to the FIM Speedway of Nations – was staged at German track Kempten, won by Swedish duo Ove Fundin and Torbjörn Harrysson.

Ivan Mauger retained the world title at Wembley to step up his dominance of the sport, leading a Kiwi one-two with Barry Briggs for the second straight season.

Ivan Mauger races to a 15-point maximum in Wroclaw to become the first – and still the only – rider to win three world titles in a row. He was the first world champion crowned in Poland.

Danish racer Ole Olsen becomes his country’s first world champion with a 15-point maximum in Gothenburg.

Ivan Mauger celebrates title No.4 after he beat Swedish rider Bernt Persson in a run-off at Wembley.

Jerzy Szczakiel defeated Ivan Mauger in a run-off to become Poland’s first world champion at Chorzow’s Silesian Stadium.

Sweden’s Anders Michanek claims the famous winged wheel world title trophy in Gothenburg.

Ole Olsen phones home to tell Denmark he’s bringing back a second world title, winning with a 15-point max at Wembley in the year he opened the legendary Vojens Speedway Center.

England’s Peter Collins ends the country’s 14-year wait for a world champion at Chorzow’s Silesian Stadium.

Australia become the first non-European World Team Cup winners at London venue White City. Phil Crump – father of future triple world champion Jason – topped the scorechart with 11 points.

Ivan Mauger beats Peter Collins into second place to win title No.5 in Gothenburg.

Ole Olsen wins his third and final world title at Wembley.

The Danes win their first World Team Cup at German track Landshut, with a young Hans Nielsen leading the charge on 11 points and Ole Olsen scoring 10.

A month short of his 40th birthday, Ivan Mauger becomes the oldest World Final winner, lifting a record sixth world title in Chorzow.

British young gun Michael Lee wins the World Final in Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium.

Wembley stages its last-ever World Final, won by American star Bruce Penhall.

Bruce Penhall wins the first and only World Final staged outside of Europe at Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum and retires on the rostrum to pursue an acting career.

Egon Muller is mobbed by an elated home crowd as he becomes Germany’s first and only champion so far on home shale in Norden.

Erik Gundersen kicks off an era of Danish dominance by winning his first world title in Gothenburg, before sleeping with the trophy.

Gundersen beats Hans Nielsen and Sam Ermolenko in a run-off to retain the world title at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium.

Danish legend Nielsen lands his first world title in Chorzow.

Hans Nielsen retained his title after winning the first-ever two-day World Final at the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium.

Erik Gundersen lifted his final world title after winning a run-off with fellow home hero and arch-rival Hans Nielsen at Vojens.

Hans Nielsen maintained Denmark’s grip on the world title with a 15-point maximum to win in Munich’s Olympic Stadium.

England win the World Team Cup Final at British track Bradford in a meeting marred by tragedy as Erik Gundersen’s career is ended in a crash that leaves him with life-changing injuries.

Sweden’s Per Jonsson topped the World Final podium in Bradford for his country’s first world title in 16 years.

Jan O Pedersen joined the club of Danish world champions, winning the World Final in Gothenburg with a 15-point maximum.

English young gun Gary Havelock wrote his name in history, lifting the world title in Wroclaw.

American racer Sam Ermolenko in the middle of the action as he stormed to victory in the penultimate World Final at German track Pocking.

The last-ever World Final was staged in Vojens and saw Swedish shooting star Tony Rickardsson win his first world title after a three-man run-off with Denmark’s Hans Nielsen and Australia’s Craig Boyce.

The first-ever Speedway GP round was staged at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium on May 23, won by home favourite Tomasz Gollob with Hans Nielsen and Great Britain’s Chris Louis joining him on the first-ever SGP podium.

Lift-off for Tony Rickardsson in the year speedway machines with laydown engines begin to take over from the upright models as the modern-day bike evolves.

Hans Nielsen is crowned the first world champion of the Speedway GP era, topping the podium over six rounds for his fourth and last title, getting the better of Tony Rickardsson and Sam Ermolenko.

American ace Billy Hamill lifted the sport’s biggest prize to deny runner-up Hans Nielsen a fifth world title as fellow countryman Greg Hancock claimed his first medal in third.

Prague stages its first-ever Speedway GP on May 17, won by Greg Hancock on his way to his first world title. He beat Billy Hamill and Tomasz Gollob to top spot at Marketa Stadium in 1997’s opening round.

Tony Rickardsson claimed his second world title and his first of the Speedway GP era – winning in Prague, Pocking and Linkoping along the way.

Tony Rickardsson won Speedway GPs in Coventry and Vojens on his way to retaining the world title, denying Tomasz Gollob in second and Hans Nielsen in third. The Dane retired from the sport at the end of the season.

Polonia Bydgoszcz, led by hometown hero Tomasz Gollob, become the first winners of the newly-launched Polish Ekstraliga - now the world’s biggest speedway league.

Great Britain hero Mark Loram becomes the only Speedway GP champion to lift the sport’s biggest prize, despite not winning a round.

The modern-day FIM Speedway World Cup is launched, with Australia winning the first Final in Wroclaw. Their side featured Jason Crump, Leigh Adams, Ryan Sullivan, Craig Boyce and Todd Wiltshire.

Speedway GP debuts at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium – then known as the Millennium Stadium – on June 9, with Tony Rickardsson topping the podium on his way to world title No.4.

The first Speedway GP staged outside of Europe in Sydney’s Stadium Australia sees Tony Rickardsson collect his fifth world title.

Danish shooting star Nicki Pedersen stuns the competition to lift the Speedway GP world title - climbing from 12th place in 2002 all the way to the top.

Elated Aussie icon Jason Crump ended an agonising run of three straight silver medals to finally lift the Speedway GP world title in Hamar, Norway.

Tony Rickardsson celebrates after pulling off his legendary wall-of-death first turn to win the FIM British Speedway GP in Cardiff. It was the highlight of an historic season as he won an astonishing six Speedway GPs and a record 196 points to lift an historic sixth and final world title.

Swedish track Malilla hosts its first Speedway GP on August 13, won by Jason Crump.

Jason Crump celebrates with wife Mel, daughter Mia and son Seth after claiming four Speedway GP wins to seal title No.2.

Nicki Pedersen powered to four Speedway GP wins and a record-equalling 196 points to claim his second world title in dominant style.

British hero Chris Harris was raised aloft after shaking Principality Stadium to its foundations when he became Cardiff’s first home winner following an epic last-to-first charge, climaxing with his last-bend cutback to beat Greg Hancock.

German city Gelsenkirchen hosts the 100th Speedway GP round on October 13, won by Sweden’s Andreas Jonsson, who also scooped $100,000 for winning the Richest Minute in Motorsport race.

Nicki Pedersen topped the podium in Prague as he became only the second rider to retain the world title in the Speedway GP era.

Three Speedway GP wins – including a seven-ride maximum in Cardiff – saw Jason Crump claim his third and final world title. He was joined on the podium by runner-up Tomasz Gollob and Russian newcomer Emil Sayfutdinov in third.

Tomasz Gollob won the first ever FIM Torun Speedway GP with a seven-ride maximum to lead an historic Polish one-two-three on the rostrum with Rune Holta and Jaroslaw Hampel. It was the first time three riders representing one nation had packed the podium.

Tomasz Gollob is mobbed by the Polish media after ending the nation’s 37-year wait for world champion. The title was sealed on an unforgettable night at Italian circuit Terenzano.

Greg Hancock ends his 14-year quest for world title No.2, before celebrating with wife Jennie and eldest sons Wilbur and Bill as the new, permanent Speedway GP trophy is presented for the first time at the first-ever FIM Gorzow Speedway GP.

Speedway GP returns to the Southern Hemisphere as Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium stages the first of three FIM New Zealand Speedway GPs - the 2012 edition was won by Greg Hancock, who was given a traditional Māori welcome.

Aussie star Chris Holder takes to the air after winning a hard-fought title race with Nicki Pedersen to become his country’s fifth speedway world champion

Great Britain’s Tai Woffinden defies bookmakers’ odds of 500/1 to become the country’s first world champion in 13 years.

Greg Hancock leads the charge in Cardiff on his way to becoming a triple world champion.

Tai Woffinden becomes Britain’s third two-time world champion, collecting the trophy in Melbourne as Speedway GP returned to Australia for the first time since 2002.

Greg Hancock further cements his place among the all-time greats by celebrating title No.4 in Melbourne

Poland storm to FIM Speedway World Cup No.8 in Leszno – the last time the competition was staged. It returns at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium in 2023.

Aussie ace Jason Doyle raced half the season with a broken foot, but it didn’t stop him from sealing the Speedway GP world title with an epic win at his home round in Melbourne.

The FIM Speedway of Nations was launched in a bid to give more countries the chance to race on the world stage. Russian duo Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov beat Great Britain in the Grand Final in Wroclaw to seal the country’s first-ever speedway world title of any kind – and their first of three FIM SON gold medals.

Tai Woffinden becomes Great Britain’s first-ever triple world champion, sealing the title with back-to-back wins in Teterow and Torun, before celebrating with wife Faye and their first daughter Rylee Cru.

Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik turns silver into gold, landing his first Speedway GP world title after an epic battle with Leon Madsen and Emil Sayfutdinov.

Speedway GP defies the Covid-19 pandemic to stage an eight-round series, with Bartosz Zmarzlik retaining the sport’s top prize, becoming only the third rider to win back-to-back SGP titles

Artem Laguta makes history to become the first rider from Russia to be crowned world champion after a breathtaking battle with Bartosz Zmarzlik that saw both riders win five rounds each.

Great Britain wins the country’s first world title since 1989 with an epic FIM Speedway of Nations Grand Final win over Poland in Manchester. Despite Tai Woffinden crashing out on day one, Dan Bewley stepped up to partner Robert Lambert to a famous victory.

A new era of FIM Speedway is launched as new global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports began a 10-year partnership with the FIM.

Australian trio Jack Holder, Max Fricke and Jason Doyle end their country’s 20-year search for a world team title with victory at the FIM Speedway of Nations in Vojens – the first time all four rounds of the competition have been raced at one venue over four nights.

Bartosz Zmarzlik collects wins in Croatia, Vojens and Malilla to celebrate his third Speedway GP world title in four years.

In the year speedway celebrated its 100th birthday, a new SGP4 championship was launched for the sport’s youngest stars – the FIM Speedway Youth World Cup. Racing 190cc bikes designed by six-time world champion Tony Rickardsson, Denmark’s Elias Jamil topped the box, with Australia’s Cooper Antone second and Denmark’s Niklas Bager in third place.

The Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup returned for the first time in six years with a Final for the ages – and it was Wroclaw’s hometown hero Maciej Janowski who led Poland to their ninth FIM SWC gold medal, breaking British, Danish and Aussie hearts.

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik made more history as he held his nerve to seal his fourth Speedway GP World Championship in a tense final showdown with Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren.