Iiro Markku Verner Helminen (16 October 1946 – March 2016),[1] better known simply as Markku Helminen, was a Finnish former motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 3 caps for the Finland national speedway team.[2]

Markku Helminen
Born(1946-10-16)16 October 1946
Lahti, Finland
Died(2016-03-00)March 2016
NationalityFinnish
Career history
Finland
197?-1976Salpausselan
Great Britain
1977Wolverhampton Wolves
1977Leicester Lions

Career

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Born in Lahti, Helminen began his career in the early 1970s in Finland with the Salpausselan team, and also represented Finland in international competition.[3]

In 1977 he signed for British League team Wolverhampton Wolves[4] and then Leicester Lions.[5][6] He rode in 22 matches for the Lions, averaging just over three points per match, before being released.[6] He rode in one match for Wolverhampton Wolves the same year.

References

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  1. ^ "WELCOME - Leicester Lions Speedway - Official Website". Archived from the original on 5 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. ^ Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 155
  4. ^ "We can't afford a slip - Dave". Birmingham Mail. 6 April 1977. Retrieved 22 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Lions have Finn signing bid foiled". Leicester Daily Mercury. 16 May 1977. Retrieved 22 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 157