Kelly Moran (speedway rider)

Kelly Moran (September 21, 1960 – April 4, 2010) was an American professional speedway rider who rode for a number of British clubs and also represented USA. Kelly's younger brother Shawn Moran was also a successful speedway rider who won the European (World) Under-21 World Championship in 1981 and the Long Track World Championship in 1983.

Career

Moran was known as "Jelly Man" and "the Wizard of Balance" for the way he would hang off his machine when cornering. He arrived in England to race for Hull in 1978 as a teenager, but his season was curtailed when he crashed heavily at the Hackney Wick Stadium and suffered multiple injuries. However, the following year he qualified for his first World Championship Final at the Silesian Stadium in Poland. After finishing equal third with 11 points from his five rides (two wins, two seconds and a third), Moran was involved in a four-way run-off for third and fourth places with England's Michael Lee, Australian Billy Sanders, and defending champion Ole Olsen from Denmark. Lee won the run-off from Moran, Sanders and Olsen.

A dispute over terms saw Kelly make a late start to his British season with Birmingham. But he was on the move again in 1981 when he joined the Eastbourne Eagles where he became a spectacular crowd pleaser. He then qualified for his second World Championship Final in 1982 where he again finished fourth, this time in front of his home crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Despite experiencing his best ever season in 1982, he decided to remain in California for the next three years. During this period he won back-to-back US National Championships in 1983 and 1984, and qualified for his third and last World Championship Final in 1984 at the Ullevi stadium in Göteborg, Sweden. Once more he finished fourth with 11 points.

In 1986 Kelly joined his younger brother Shawn at the Sheffield Tigers where he had three successful years and helped himself to 1012.5 points at an average of 8.88. He represented his country on several occasions and it was his partnership with Shawn that helped United States team to win the 1982 and 1990 Speedway World Team Cups.

Following Sheffield's closure Kelly moved to the Belle Vue Aces with his brother, where he remained until a dip in form saw him move from Belle Vue to Swindon early in 1992. A broken collar bone interrupted his spell at Swindon, but he struggled for form in a team that was rooted at the foot of the league. He retired from speedway at the end of the season, but he made a brief comeback in 2003 racing in North America. However, his comeback lasted just the one season.

Death

Kelly Moran, a heavy cigarette smoker, died in his home town, Huntington Beach, California, on April 4, 2010 from complications of emphysema. He was 49 years old at the time of his passing.

A public memorial service was held for Kelly Moran on April 10, 2010 at his home track, the Costa Mesa Speedway in Los Angeles, organised by close friend and long time sponsor Peter Rovazzini of Rovazzini Electric. Among those who attended and gave speeches about Kelly were Bruce Penhall, Bobby Schwartz, Dennis Sigalos, Ron Preston, John Cook, and Briggs. Condolence messages sent from Australian rider John Titman and 15 time World Champion Ivan Mauger were read out by those present.Kelly Moran Memorial at Costa Mesa
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World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

* 1979 – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – 4th – 11pts + 2pts
* 1982 – Los Angeles, Memorial Coliseum – 4th – 11pts
* 1984 – Göteborg, Ullevi – 4th – 11pts

World Team Cup

* 1982 - London, White City Stadium (with Bruce Penhall / Bobby Schwartz / Shawn Moran / Scott Autrey) - Winner - 34pts (10)
* 1983 - Vojens

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