Career
Knudsen first became known when he won the Danish Under-16 Championship in 1975 and 1976 before becoming the Danish Under-21 Champion in 1978. He became Speedway World Pairs Championship, Speedway World Pairs Champion in 1985 Speedway World Pairs Championship, 1985 with individual World Champion Erik Gundersen and again in 1991 with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen and Jan O. Pedersen. Tommy was also Individual Speedway Junior World Championship, European (World) Under-21 Champion in 1980. In his first World Final appearance, Knudsen finished a career best 3rd in 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1981 at Wembley Stadium (1923), Wembley Stadium in London after losing a ride-off for 2nd to countryman Ole Olsen (speedway rider), Ole Olsen. Knudsen had earlier defeated Olsen to win the opening heat of the World Final. After winning the European U/21 title in 1980 and finishing 3rd in the World Final in 1981, a number of fans and members of the speedway press believed that Knudsen would become Denmark's next World Champion. Unfortunately for Knudsen, Denmark's next champion was Erik Gundersen who won the title in 1984 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1984 and 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1985. Hans Nielsen would go on to win 4 World Championships while Jan O. Pedersen would win in 1991 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1991. Although he rode in a further five World Finals (1985, 1986, 1991, 1992 and 1994), Knudsen would never again finish on the podium in a World Final, his best placing being 4th in 1992. Knudsen was also a member of the Denmark national speedway team, Danish team that won the Speedway World Team Cup in 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1995 and 1997. At the 1985 Speedway World Team Cup, 1985 Final held in Los Angeles, Knudsen was undefeated on the night, famously holding out United States national speedway team, US team captain Bobby Schwartz in the penultimate heat to ensure Denmark could not be beaten. He rode in the UK for the Coventry Bees from 1979 to 1988 and then from 1990 to 1992. Knudsen also raced in Australia during the 1980s, winning the "Mr Melbourne" title at the Melbourne Showgrounds in January 1987, and a week later finished third behind fellow Dane Hans Nielsen and American Rick Miller (speedway rider), Rick Miller in the West End Speedway International at the Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville Showground in Adelaide. He announced his retirement at the end of August 1990 after a crash in Australia but returned to racing the following year.World final appearances
Individual World Championship
* 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1981 - London, Wembley Stadium (1923), Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 12+2pts * 1985 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 6th - 10pts * 1986 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 5th - 10pts * 1991 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1991 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 4th - 11+2pts * 1992 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1992 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (Wrocław), Olympic Stadium - 4th - 9pts * 1994 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1994 - Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center, Speedway Center - 5th - 10ptsWorld Pairs Championship
* 1985 Speedway World Pairs Championship, 1985 - Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Erik Gundersen) - Winner - 29pts (13) * 1991 Speedway World Pairs Championship, 1991 - Poznań, Olimpia Poznań Stadium (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Jan O. Pedersen) - Winner - 28pts (0) * 1992 Speedway World Pairs Championship, 1992 - Lonigo, Pista Speedway (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Brian Karger) - 5th - 16pts (1) * 1993 Speedway World Pairs Championship, 1993 - Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center, Speedway Center (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Brian Karger) - 3rd - 21pts (6)World Team Cup
* 1981 Speedway World Team Cup, 1981 - Olching, Olching Speedwaybahn (with Ole Olsen (speedway rider), Ole Olsen / Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Erik Gundersen / Finn Thomsen) - Winner - 36pts (9) * 1982 Speedway World Team Cup, 1982 - London, White City Stadium, White City (with Ole Olsen (speedway rider), Ole Olsen / Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Erik Gundersen / Preben Eriksen) - 2nd - 24pts (1) * 1985 Speedway World Team Cup, 1985 - Long Beach, California, Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (Long Beach), Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Erik Gundersen / Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Preben Eriksen / Bo Petersen) - Winner - 37pts (12) * 1986 Speedway World Team Cup, 1986 - Gothenburg, Ullevi, Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center, Speedway Center and Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Erik Gundersen / Jan O. Pedersen / John Jørgensen) - Winner - 129pts (33) * 1987 Speedway World Team Cup, 1987 - Fredericia, Fredericia Speedway, Coventry, Brandon Stadium and Prague, Marketa Stadium (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Erik Gundersen / Jan O. Pedersen)- Winner - 130pts (32) * 1988 Speedway World Team Cup, 1988 - Long Beach, California, Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (Long Beach), Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Jan O. Pedersen / Erik Gundersen / John Jørgensen) - Winner - 44pts (6) * 1990 Speedway World Team Cup, 1990 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / John Jørgensen / Bo Petersen / Brian Karger) - 3rd - 30pts (4) * 1991 Speedway World Team Cup, 1991 - Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center, Speedway Center (with Jan O. Pedersen / Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Gert Handberg / Brian Karger) - Winner - 51pts (13) * 1993 Speedway World Team Cup, 1993 - Coventry, Brandon Stadium (with Brian Karger / Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / John Jørgensen / Brian Andersen) - 2nd - 38pts (12) * 1994 Speedway World Team Cup, 1994 - Brokstedt, Holsteinring Brokstedt (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Jan Staechmann) - 3rd - 17pts (12) * 1995 Speedway World Team Cup, 1995 - Bydgoszcz, Polonia Bydgoszcz Stadium (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Brian Karger) - Winner - 28pts (15) * 1997 Speedway World Team Cup, 1997 - Piła, Stadion Żużlowy Centrum (with Hans Nielsen (speedway rider), Hans Nielsen / Jesper B. Monberg, Jesper B. Jensen) - Winner - 27pts (13)Individual Under-21 World Championship
* 1980 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship, 1980 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - Winner - 14ptsSpeedway Grand Prix results
References