Kai Niemi

Kai Niemi

Born	15 September 1955 Pori, Finland
Nationality	Finland
Current club information
Career status	Retired
Career history
1976-1978	White City Rebels
1979-1981	Eastbourne Eagles
1981	Birmingham Brummies
1982-1983	Wimbledon Dons
1984-1985	Ipswich Witches
1986	Swindon Robins
1987-1988	Örnarna (SWE)
Individual honours
1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990	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 a 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.

Niemi won the Finnish National Championship a record nine times during his career (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1990)

Niemi rode for the White City Rebels in the British League from 1976 to 1978, winning the league championship with the team in 1977. He continued riding in Britain until 1986 for other teams including: Eastbourne Eagles (1979–81), 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.

Niemi 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