1988 Individual Speedway World Championship
# 1988 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1988 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 43rd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

The final was held at the Vojens Speedway Center, owned by former World Champion Ole Olsen. Despite the country having won seven World Individual Championships between three riders since 1971 (Olsen, Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen), it was the first time Denmark hosted the World Final.

Gundersen renewed his fierce rivalry with Nielsen as both finished on 13 points to tie for the lead of the Championship. However it was Gundersen that won the toss to choose his starting gate for the run-off. He chose the outside and on a wet track he won his third title by defeating Nielsen in the run-off. Fellow Dane Jan O. Pedersen completed a clean sweep for Denmark by taking the bronze medal.

## New Zealand Qualification

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| South Island Final ||||||
| ?? | Nelson | Larry Ross | Alan Mason | Mark Lyndon |
| North Island Final ||||||
| ?? | Kihikihi | Gary Allan | John Roberts | Chris Martin |
| New Zealand Final ||||||
| ?? | Christchurch | Larry Ross | David Bargh | Gary Allan |

### New Zealand Final

* NZL Christchurch
* Marked in green to Commonwealth Final

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Larry Ross | 15 |
| 2 | David Bargh | 14 |
| 3 | Garry Allan | 13 |
| 4 | Mark Lyndon | 11 |
| 5 | Alan Mason | 11 |
| 6 | Mitch Shirra | 9 |
| 7 | Craig Wilkie | 7 |
| 8 | Nathan Murray | 7 |
| 9 | Justin Monk | 7 |
| 10 | John Roberts | 7 |
| 11 | Chris Martin | 4 |
| 12 | Mark Thorpe | 4 |
| 13 | Sam Morice | 3 |
| 14 | Mark Jamieyson | 3 |
| 15 | David Claydon | 2 |
| 16 | Spencer Timmo | 2 |
| 17 | Lens Chappell | 0 |
| 18 | Daren Hopewell | 0 |

## Australian Qualification

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Northern Territory Championship ||||||
| ?? | Alice Springs | Glen Baxter | ?? | ?? |
| Victorian Championship ||||||
| ?? | Mildura | Phil Crump | Leigh Adams | ?? |
| New South Wales Championship ||||||
| ?? | Newcastle | Stephen Davies | David Hamnett | Brian Dixon |
| South Australian Championship ||||||
| ?? | Murray Bridge | Craig Hodgson | Mark Fiora | Darrell Branford |
| Queensland Championship ||||||
| ?? | Rockhampton | Steve Regeling | Troy Butler | ?? |
| Western Australian Championship ||||||
| ?? | Perth | Rob Woffinden* | Glenn Doyle | ?? |
| Australian Championship Final ||||||
| January 23 | Murray Bridge | Phil Crump | Steve Regeling | Craig Hodgson |

* Due to the rules, England's Rob Woffinden did not progress to the Australian Championship

### Australian Final

* January 23, 1988
* Murray Bridge
* Marked in green to Commonwealth Final

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Phil Crump | 15 |
| 2 | Steve Regeling | 11 |
| 3 | Craig Hodgson | 11 |
| 4 | Mark Fiora | 10 |
| 5 | Troy Butler | 10 |
| 6 | David Jackson | 9 |
| 7 | Glen Baxter | 8 |
| 8 | Leigh Adams | 8 |
| 9 | Stephen Davies | 7 |
| 10 | Chris Watson | 7 |
| 11 | Steve Baker | 6 |
| 12 | Scott Fisher | 6 |
| 13 | Darrel Bradford | 5 |
| 14 | Glenn Doyle | 4 |
| 15 | Dave Hammett | 1 |
| 16 | Nigel Tramelling | 1 |

## British Qualification

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Preliminary Round ||||||
| 8 April | Oxford | Simon Wigg | Jeremy Doncaster | John Davis |
| 8 April | Edinburgh | Mark Courtney | Rob Grant | Les Collins |
| 14 April | Middlesbrough | Darren Sumner | Steve Wilcock | Neville Tatum |
| 16 April | Stoke | Graham Jones | Nigel Crabtree | Andy Galvin |
| Final ||||||
| 22 May | Coventry | Simon Wigg | Kelvin Tatum | Chris Morton |

### British Final

* May 22, 1988
* GBR Coventry, Brandon Stadium
* First 8 to Commonwealth Final

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 | 22 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (6) Simon Wigg | 14 | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | 14 | 1 | | |
| | (14) Kelvin Tatum | 13 | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | | | | 3 | 13 | 2 | | |
| | (13) Chris Morton | 11 | | | | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | 11 | 3 | | 3 |
| 4 | (3) Simon Cross | 11 | 1 | | | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | 11 | 4 | | 2 |
| 5 | (5) Neil Evitts | 10 | | 1 | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | X | 10 | 5 | | |
| 6 | (12) Richard Knight | 10 | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | 3 | | | | | | 0 | | 10 | 6 | | |
| 7 | (16) John Davis | 9 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 9 | 7 | | |
| 8 | (2) Marvyn Cox | 8 | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | 8 | 8 | | |
| 9 | (1) Andy Smith | 8 | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 8 | 9 | | |
| 10 | (8) Steve Schofield | 6 | | 0 | | | | | | E | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | | 6 | 10 | | |
| 11 | (11) Andrew Silver | 6 | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | F | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 2 | 6 | 11 | | |
| 12 | (7) Neil Collins | 5 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | | 1 | | | 5 | 12 | | |
| 13 | (4) Jeremy Doncaster | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | 4 | 13 | | |
| 14 | (10) Andy Galvin | 3 | | | 1 | | | F | | | | | | 2 | | | 0 | | 0 | | | | 3 | 14 | | |
| 15 | (15) Sean Wilson | 2 | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | E | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | 15 | | |
| 16 | (9) Gary Havelock | 0 | | | F | | - | | | | | | - | | | | | - | | - | | | 0 | 16 | | |
| R1 | (R1) Andy Hackett | 0 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | E | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) David Clarke | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 | 22 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |

## Swedish Qualification

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Semi-Finals ||||||
| 7 May | Huddinge | Tony Olsson | Peter Karlsson | Conny Ivarsson |
| 7 May | Gislaved | Claes Ivarsson | Jan Andersson | Bo Arrhén |
| Final ||||||
| 17 May | Malmö | Christer Rohlén | Conny Ivarsson | Mikael Blixt |
| 18 May | Norrköping | Peter Nahlin | Conny Ivarsson | Mikael Blixt |
| 19 May | Hallstavik | Conny Ivarsson | Peter Nahlin | Mikael Blixt |

### Swedish Final

* May 17, 18 & 19, 1988
* SWE - 3 Rounds (Malmö, Norrköping & Hallstavik)
* First 3 to Nordic Final plus 1 reserve
* Per Jonsson and Jimmy Nilsen seeded to Nordic Final

| Pos. | Rider | Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Conny Ivarsson | 12+13+14 | 39 |
| 2 | Peter Nahlin | 11+14+13 | 38 |
| 3 | Mikael Blixt | 12+13+13 | 38 |
| 4 | Christer Rohlén | 14+10+9 | 33 |
| 5 | Tony Olsson | 9+12+10 | 31 |
| 6 | Mikael Ritterwall | 8+3+12 | 23 |
| 7 | Peter Karlsson | 8+8+7 | 23 |
| 8 | Kenneth Nyström | 10+9+4 | 23 |
| 9 | Mikael Teurnberg | 4+8+8 | 20 |
| 10 | Dennis Löfqvist | 7+8+4 | 19 |
| 11 | Claes Ivarsson | 6+8+4 | 18 |
| 12 | Bo Arréhn | 4+6+7 | 17 |
| 13 | Tommy Nilsson | 3+5+2 | 10 |
| 14 | Tony Gudbrand | ns+ns+8 | 8 |
| 15 | Roland Dannö | 4+2+ns | 6 |
| 16 | Tony Zetterström (Res) | 3+ns+3 | 6 |
| 17 | Patrik Karlsson | 5+0+ns | 5 |
| 18 | Krister Gardell (Res) | ns+0+1 | 1 |

## Intercontinental Round

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Finnish Final ||||||
| 28 April | Karhula | Kai Niemi | Ari Koponen | Vesa Ylinen |
| Danish Final ||||||
| 8 May | Outrup | Hans Nielsen | Jan O. Pedersen | Erik Gundersen |
| American Final ||||||
| 11 June | Long Beach | Sam Ermolenko | Robert Pfetzing | Rick Miller |
| Commonwealth Final ||||||
| 12 June | Kings Lynn | Kelvin Tatum | Mitch Shirra | Simon Wigg |
| Overseas Final ||||||
| 12 July | Coventry | Simon Cross | Kelvin Tatum | Simon Wigg |
| Nordic Final ||||||
| 25 July | Sandnes | Hans Nielsen | Erik Gundersen | Jan O. Pedersen |
| Intercontinental Final ||||||
| 6 August | Vetlanda | Jan O. Pedersen | Hans Nielsen | Erik Gundersen |

### Finnish Final

* April 28, 1988
* Karhula
* First to Nordic Final

| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Kai Niemi | 3,3,3,3,3 | 15 |
| 2 | Ari Koponen | 3,3,3,2,3 | 14 |
| 3 | Vesa Ylinen | 3,3,1,3,2 | 12+3 |
| 4 | Petri Kokko | 2,2,3,3,2 | 12+2 |
| 5 | Aki Ala Riihimaki | 2,3,3,2,1 | 11 |
| 6 | Janne Moksunen | 2,2,2,E,3 | 9 |
| 7 | Jonko Jarvi | 0,1,2,2,3 | 8 |
| 8 | Roy Malminhelmo | 3,2,2,X,1 | 8 |
| 9 | Janne Koivula | 1,1,1,1,2 | 6 |
| 10 | Jari Moisio | 2,0,0,3,F | 5 |
| 11 | Ossi Henriksson | 1,1,2,1,0 | 5 |
| 12 | Tomi Havu | 0,F,0,2,2 | 4 |
| 13 | Olli Turkia | 1,2,0,1,- | 4 |
| 14 | Esa Reijo | 1,1,1,E,1 | 4 |
| 15 | Petri Hurmisniemi | 0,0,1,0,- | 1 |
| 16 | Esa Einola | 0,-,-,-,- | 0 |
| R1 | Jarno Kosonen | 1 | 1 |
| R2 | Jouni Ala Koskela | 0 | 0 |
| R3 | Kaj Kujala | 0,0,0 | 0 |
| R4 | Markku Haapala | X | 0 |

### Danish Final

* May 8
* Outrup, Outrup Speedway
* First 7 to Nordic final plus 1 reserve

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Hans Nielsen | 15 |
| 2 | Jan O. Pedersen | 14 |
| 3 | Erik Gundersen | 13 |
| 4 | Peter Ravn | 10 |
| 5 | Peter Glanz | 9 |
| 6 | Per Sorensen | 9 |
| 7 | John Jørgensen | 8+3 |
| 8 | Tommy Knudsen | 8+2 |
| 9 | Jan Stæchmann | 7 |
| 10 | Frank Andersen | 6 |
| 11 | John Eskildsen | 6 |
| 12 | Flemming Pedersen | 6 |
| 13 | Sam Nikolajsen | 5 |
| 14 | Aksel Jepsen | 4 |
| 15 | Jan Pedersen | 0 |
| 16 | Finn Rune Jensen | 0 |

### American Final

* June 11
* Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium
* First 5 to Overseas final plus 1 reserve

| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sam Ermolenko | 4,4,4,4,4 | 20 |
| 2 | Robert Pfetzing | 4,2,4,3,4 | 17+3 |
| 3 | Rick Miller | 4,4,3,4,2 | 17+2 |
| 4 | Mike Faria | 3,3,2,3,4 | 15 |
| 5 | Bobby Schwartz | 1,4,4,2,3 | 14 |
| 6 | Shawn Moran | 3,4,3,F,3 | 13 |
| 7 | Ronnie Correy | 3,3,3,3,0 | 12 |
| 8 | Kelly Moran | 2,3,4,0,2 | 11 |
| 9 | Randy Green | 0,3,2,2,4 | 11 |
| 10 | Steve Lucero | 2,2,3,2,1 | 10 |
| 11 | Ed Castro | 2,2,2,1,3 | 10 |
| 12 | Lance King | 4,2,E,0,3 | 9 |
| 13 | Brad Oxley | 1,1,1,4,2 | 9 |
| 14 | Shawn Venables | 1,0,2,4,1 | 8 |
| 15 | Dub Ferrell | 3,0,E,2,2 | 7 |
| 16 | Bart Bast | 1,1,1,3,0 | 6 |
| 17 | Billy Hamill | 0,1,0,1,1 | 3 |
| 18 | Gary Hicks | 2,0,0,-,- | 2 |
| 19 | Scotty Brown (Res) | 0,1,-,-,- | 1 |
| 20 | Alan Christian | 0,0,0,1,0 | 1 |
| 21 | Len Dillon | 1 |

### Commonwealth Final

* June 12
* King's Lynn, Norfolk Arena
* First 11 to Overseas Final plus 1 reserve

| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Kelvin Tatum | 3,2,3,3,3 | 14 |
| 2 | Mitch Shirra | 2,3,3,2,3 | 13 |
| 3 | Simon Wigg | 3,3,3,3,0 | 12 |
| 4 | John Davis | 3,1,2,2,3 | 11 |
| 5 | Simon Cross | 3,0,3,X,3 | 9 |
| 6 | Chris Morton | 1,3,2,2,1 | 9 |
| 7 | Neil Evitts | 2,1,0,3,2 | 8 |
| 8 | Andy Smith | 1,3,1,1,2 | 8 |
| 9 | Richard Knight | F,X,2,3,2 | 7 |
| 10 | Craig Hodgson | 2,2,1,1,1 | 7 |
| 11 | Marvyn Cox | 2,1,1,1,2 | 7 |
| 12 | Mark Fiora | 0,2,0,2,1 | 5 |
| 13 | David Bargh | 0,2,1,0,0 | 3 |
| 14 | Steve Baker | 0,0,2,1,0 | 3 |
| 15 | Steve Regeling | 1,1,0,0,1 | 3 |
| 16 | Mark Lyndon | 1,0,0,E,0 | 1 |

### Overseas Final

* July 12
* Coventry, Brandon Stadium
* First 9 to Intercontinental Final plus 1 reserve

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (6) Simon Cross | 13 | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | 13 | 1 | 3 |
| | (10) Kelvin Tatum | 13 | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| | (8) Simon Wigg | 13 | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | (2) Chris Morton | 12 | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | (14) Marvyn Cox | 10 | | | | 3 | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | 10 | 5 | |
| 6 | (3) Mitch Shirra | 10 | 3 | | | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | 10 | 6 | |
| 7 | (4) Richard Knight | 8 | 0 | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | 8 | 7 | |
| 8 | (5) Sam Ermolenko | 7 | | 0 | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | F | 7 | 8 | |
| 9 | (13) John Davis | 7 | | | | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (15) Andy Smith | 6 | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | 1 | | | | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 11 | (11) Mike Faria | 6 | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 2 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| 12 | (7) Robert Pfetzing | 5 | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | | | | F | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | 5 | 12 | |
| 13 | (16) Rick Miller | 4 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 4 | 13 | |
| 14 | (9) Bobby Schwartz | 3 | | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | 3 | 14 | |
| 15 | (1) Neil Evitts | 3 | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | F | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | 15 | |
| 16 | (12) Craig Hodgston | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | 16 | |
| R1 | (R1) Mark Fiora | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Shawn Moran | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |

### Nordic Final

* July 25
* Sandnes, Sandnes Stadion
* First 7 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (7) Hans Nielsen | 15 | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | 15 | 1 | |
| | (13) Erik Gundersen | 13 | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | 13 | 2 | |
| | (12) Jan O. Pedersen | 12 | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | 12 | 3 | |
| 4 | (1) Per Jonsson | 11 | 3 | | | | E | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 11 | 4 | |
| 5 | (5) Peter Ravn | 11 | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | 11 | 5 | |
| 6 | (10) John Jørgensen | 10 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | 10 | 6 | |
| 7 | (2) Conny Ivarsson | 8 | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 8 | (8) Ingvar Skogland | 8 | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| 9 | (9) Jimmy Nilsen | 7 | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | E | | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (11) Peter Nahlin | 6 | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 2 | 6 | 10 | |
| 11 | (3) Peter Glanz | 5 | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | 5 | 11 | |
| 12 | (4) Kai Niemi | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | | | | E | 4 | 12 | |
| 13 | (16) Tor Einar Hielm | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 3 | 13 | |
| 14 | (15) Per Sorensen | 3 | | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | 3 | 14 | |
| 15 | (14) Mikael Blixt | 2 | | | | 2 | | E | | | | | E | | 0 | | | | | | | E | 2 | 15 | |
| 16 | (6) Ari Koponen | 1 | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | | | | | - | | | - | | 1 | 16 | |
| R1 | (R1) Christer Rohlen | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Arnt Forland | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |

### Intercontinental Final

* August 6
* Vetlanda, Vetlanda Speedway
* First 11 to the World Final plus 1 reserve

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (6) Jan O. Pedersen | 14 | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | 14 | 1 | |
| | (1) Hans Nielsen | 12 | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| | (15) Erik Gundersen | 12 | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | (5) Per Jonsson | 11 | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 3 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | (7) Kelvin Tatum | 11 | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | 11 | 5 | |
| 6 | (10) Conny Ivarsson | 9 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | 9 | 6 | |
| 7 | (3) Chris Morton | 8 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | 8 | 7 | |
| 8 | (8) John Davis | 8 | | 1 | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | | 8 | 8 | |
| 9 | (2) John Jørgensen | 7 | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (11) Simon Wigg | 7 | | | 2 | | | | 0 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 3 | 7 | 10 | |
| 11 | (12) Sam Ermolenko | 7 | | | 0 | | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | | 1 | | 7 | 11 | |
| 12 | (14) Simon Cross | 5 | | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | 5 | 12 | |
| 13 | (9) Peter Ravn | 3 | | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | E | | 2 | | | 3 | 13 | |
| 14 | (4) Mitch Shirra | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | 2 | 14 | |
| 15 | (13) Marvyn Cox | 2 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | 0 | | 2 | 15 | |
| 16 | (16) Richard Knight | 1 | | | | E | | | | 0 | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 1 | 16 | |
| R1 | (R1) Ingvar Skogland | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Andy Smith | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |

## Continental Qualifications 1989

### Austrian Final

* AUT 18 June - St. Johann im Pongau, 31 July - Wiener Neustadt, 3 September - Natschbach-Loipersbach
* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Heinrich Schatzer | 40 |
| 2 | Walter Nebel | 36 |
| 3 | Robert Funk | 35 |
| 4 | Andreas Bossner | 33 |
| 5 | Thomas Stadler | 33 |
| 6 | Toni Pilotto | 32 |
| 7 | Siegfried Eder | 31 |
| 8 | Christian Hochtl | 21 |
| 9 | Anton Wannasek | 7 |
| 10 | Manfred Trisko | 6 |
| 11 | Paul Ager | 4 |
| 12 | Josef Faching | 2 |
| 13 | Thaddaus Walach | 2 |
| 14 | Hans Kogler | 2 |
| 15 | Erich Hackl | 1 |
| 16 | Rainer Selb | 1 |
| 17 | Franz Penz | 0 |

### German Final

* October 2, 1988
* FRG Brokstedt
* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Klaus Lausch | 3,3,3,3,2 | 14+3 |
| 2 | Tommy Dunker | 3,3,2,3,3 | 14+2 |
| 3 | Karl Maier | 2,2,3,3,2 | 12 |
| 4 | Gerd Riss | E,3,3,2,3 | 11 |
| 5 | Carsten Pelzmann | 3,2,2,2,1 | 10 |
| 6 | Andre Pollehn | 2,1,2,2,1 | 8 |
| 7 | Klaus Freundorfer | 1,3,3,F,- | 7 |
| 8 | Peter Schrock | 0,2,0,2,3 | 7 |
| 9 | Peter Hehlert | 3,0,1,1,2 | 7 |
| 10 | Andreas Rahn | 1,0,1,1,3 | 6 |
| 11 | Andreas Marynowski | 1,2,2,F,- | 5 |
| 12 | Andreas Schapfl | 2,1,1,E,0 | 4 |
| 13 | Hans Faltermeier | 2,0,0,F,1 | 3 |
| 14 | Michael Domes | 1,F,0,0,2 | 3 |
| 15 | Alois Bachhuber | 0,1,1,1,0 | 3 |
| 16 | Egon Muller | F,-,-,-,- | 0 |
| R1 | Bernhard Osterlocher | 1,0,3,1,1 | 6 |

### Hungarian Final

* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Zoltán Adorján | 56 |
| 2 | Antal Kocso | 49 |
| 3 | Róbert Nagy | 47 |
| 4 | Zoltan Hajdu | 47 |
| 5 | József Petrikovics | 46 |
| 6 | Sándor Tihanyi | 45 |
| 7 | Robert Csilik | 38 |
| 8 | Sandor Ujhelyi | 30 |
| 9 | Janoš Sereš | 30 |
| 10 | Janoš Bologh | 28 |
| 11 | Andraš Kovacs | 26 |
| 12 | Sandor Kabai | 19 |
| 13 | Atilla Kovacs | 15 |
| 14 | Laszlo Bodi | 12 |

### Yugoslavian Final

* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Zvonko Pavlič | 110 |
| 2 | Artur Horvat | 96 |
| 3 | Gregor Pintar | 83 |
| 4 | Franc Kalin | 79 |
| 5 | Kreso Omerzel | 78 |
| 6 | Martin Peterca | 76 |
| 7 | Darko Tominač | 70 |
| 8 | Zdravko Tominač | 62 |
| 9 | Andrej Matjašeč | 57 |
| 10 | Lazar Csaba | 54 |
| 11 | Goran Hoblaj | 54 |
| 12 | Igor Hauptman | 33 |
| 13 | Rudi Spitaler | 27 |
| 14 | Zelkjo Feher | 23 |
| 15 | Drago Dolinšek | 22 |
| 16 | Josip Lehki | 10 |
| 17 | Mitja Pungašič | 8 |
| 18 | Niko Klavzar | 6 |
| 19 | Gorazd Vinšek | 1 |

### Czechoslovakian Final

* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | Roman Matoušek | 76 |
| 2 | Antonín Kasper Jr. | 72 |
| 3 | Zdenek Schneiderwind | 68 |
| 4 | Lubomir Jedek | 63 |
| 5 | Petr Vandirek | 54 |
| 6 | Bohumil Brhel | 53 |
| 7 | Stanislav Urban | 53 |
| 8 | Pavel Karnas | 39 |
| 9 | Josef Fejfar | 38 |
| 10 | Jan Schinagl | 35 |
| 11 | Jan Holub II | 26 |
| 12 | Zdeněk Tesař | 26 |
| 13 | Borivoj Hadek | 25 |
| 14 | Jiri Svoboda | 23 |
| 15 | Vladimir Kalina | 21 |
| 16 | Jindrich Dominik | 16 |
| 17 | Vaclav Milik, Sr. | 10 |
| 18 | Ladislav Hradecky | 10 |
| 19 | Karel Prusa | 10 |

### USSR Final

* October 2, 1988
* Soviet Union Rovno
* Marked in green to Continental Qualification 1989

| Pos. | Rider | Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Vladimir Trofimov | 3,3,3,3,3 | 15 |
| 2 | Rif Saitgareev | 3,3,3,2,3 | 14 |
| 3 | Rinat Mardanshin | 3,2,2,3,2 | 12 |
| 4 | Mikhail Starostin | 2,2,2,3,2 | 11 |
| 5 | Pavel Chernov | 2,1,3,2,2 | 10 |
| 6 | Igor Dubinin | E,3,2,3,1 | 9 |
| 7 | Flyur Kalimullin | 3,0,0,1,3 | 7 |
| 8 | Igor Zverev | 1,E,3,2,1 | 7 |
| 9 | Arkady Kononec | 1,0,1,1,3 | 6 |
| 10 | Andrej Korzhevoy | 1,3,1,0,1 | 6 |
| 11 | Oleg Volokhov | 1,2,1,0,2 | 6 |
| 12 | Valery Sokolov | 2,2,F,1,1 | 6 |
| 13 | Grigory Kharchenko | 0,1,1,2,0 | 4 |
| 14 | Aleksandr Pawlov | 2,F,0,1,- | 3 |
| 15 | Fjodor Zakharov | 0,T,2,0,- | 2 |
| 16 | Ruslan Koval | ns | |

## Continental Round

| Date | Venue | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Preliminary Round ||||||
| 7 May | Ostrów Wielkopolski | Mirosław Korbel | Ryszard Dołomisiewicz | Valery Gordeev |
| 7 May | Natschbach-Loipersbach | Paolo Salvatelli | Heinrich Sczatzer | Zoltan Hajdu |
| 8 May | Ljubljana | József Petrikovics | Janosh Bologh | Nikolai Manev |
| 8 May | Neunkrick | Viktor Kuznetsov | Henny Kroeze | Lubomir Jedek |
| Quarter-Finals ||||||
| 22 May | Norden | Antal Kocso | Paolo Salvatelli | Gerd Riss |
| 5 June | Lonigo | Viktor Kuznetsov | Armando Dal Chiele | Roman Jankowski |
| 5 June | Rivne | Antonín Kasper Jr. | Zoltán Adorján | Petr Vandirek |
| 5 June | Žarnovica | Roman Matoušek | Klaus Freundorfer | Miroslaw Korbel |
| Semi-Finals ||||||
| 18 June | Rzeszow | Roman Matoušek | Zenon Kasprzak | Roman Jankowski |
| 18 June | Miskolc | Gerd Riss | Sándor Tihanyi | Antal Kocso |
| Final ||||||
| 16 August | Leszno | Zenon Kasprzak | Antal Kocso | Roman Jankowski |

### Nederlands Final

* NED 3 April - Feyenoord, 26 June, 11 September - Amsterdam, 2 October - Blijham
* Marked in green to Continental Qualification

| Pos. | Rider | Scores | Total |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Henk Steman | 24+22+20+24 | 90 |
| 2 | Rene Elzinga | 21+21+24+23 | 89 |
| 3 | Robert Jan Munnecom | 19+24+23+22 | 88 |
| 4 | Peter Seur | 17+19+22+20 | 78 |
| 5 | Ron Koppe | 20+20+19+19 | 78 |
| 6 | Rikus Gorter | 18+14+17+21 | 70 |
| 7 | Ron Van Dam | 15+17+18+17 | 67 |
| 8 | Rob Steman | 22+18+21+ns | 61 |
| 9 | Fokke Van Der Walle | 16+13+14+15 | 58 |
| 10 | Henk Bangma | 8+15+16+18 | 57 |
| 11 | Patrick Pino | 14+11+15+16 | 56 |
| 12 | John Lispet | 13+12+13+9 | 47 |
| 13 | Henny Kroeze | 23+23+ns+ns | 46 |
| 14 | Rias Kazemeier | 9+10+11+10 | 40 |
| 15 | Gerard Kok | 10+ns+12+12 | 34 |
| 16 | Harry Kuipers | 6+8+8+11 | 33 |
| 17 | Hilbert Tel | ns+7+10+13 | 30 |
| 18 | Rene Van Merkenstein | 7+9+9+2 | 27 |
| 19 | Mans Kok | 3+6+ns+7 | 16 |
| 20 | Wil Stroes | ns+16+ns+ns | 16 |
| 21 | Jim Groen | ns+ns+7+8 | 15 |
| 22 | Rob Dolman | ns+ns+ns+14 | 14 |
| 23 | Jan Dijkema | 12+ns+ns+ns | 12 |
| 24 | Chris Slager | 11+ns+ns+ns | 11 |
| 25 | Roy Wervaard | 5+5+ns+ns | 10 |
| 26 | Herman Hulseboch | ns+ns+5+4 | 9 |
| 27 | Han Hendriks | 4+4+ns+ns | 8 |
| 28 | Jan Tjassing | ns+ns+3+1 | 4 |
| 29 | Martinus Bikema | +ns+ns+ns+6 | 6 |
| 30 | Jacco Valentejn | +ns+ns+ns+5 | 5 |
| 31 | Michel Bolt | ns+ns+ns+3 | 3 |

### Continental Final

* August 16, 1988
* Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium
* First 5 to World Final plus 1 reserve

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 | 22 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (15) Zenon Kasprzak | 14 | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | 14 | 1 | | |
| | (10) Antal Kocso | 13 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | 13 | 2 | | |
| | (3) Roman Jankowski | 12 | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | 12 | 3 | | 3 |
| 4 | (2) Roman Matoušek | 12 | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | 12 | 4 | | 2 |
| 5 | (9) Sándor Tihanyi | 11 | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | 11 | 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | (13) Andrzej Huszcza | 11 | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | 11 | 6 | 2 | |
| 7 | (6) Gerd Riss | 9 | | 3 | | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | 9 | 7 | | |
| 8 | (4) Antonín Kasper Jr. | 8 | 1 | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | 8 | 8 | | |
| 9 | (5) Paolo Salvatelli | 6 | | 2 | | | F | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 2 | 6 | 9 | | |
| 10 | (8) Dariusz Stenka | 5 | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 5 | 10 | | |
| 11 | (7) Lubomir Jedek | 4 | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | 3 | | | | | 0 | | | 4 | 11 | | |
| 12 | (11) Zoltán Adorján | 3 | | | X | | | | 0 | | 3 | | | | | X | | | | | | 0 | 3 | 12 | | |
| 13 | (14) Ryszard Franczyszyn | 3 | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | F | | | | | | | - | 3 | 13 | | |
| 14 | (1) Janosh Bologh | 3 | 0 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | 14 | | |
| 15 | (12) Zdenek Schneiderwind | 2 | | | X | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | | | 0 | | 2 | 15 | | |
| 16 | (16) Mirosław Korbel | 2 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | F | | | | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 2 | 16 | | |
| R1 | (R1) Armando Castagna | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | R1 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 | 22 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |

## World Final

* September 3, 1988
* Vojens, Speedway Center

| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | (1) Erik Gundersen | 14 | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| | (9) Hans Nielsen | 14 | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| | (10) Jan O. Pedersen | 13 | | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | 13 | 3 | |
| 4 | (14) Sam Ermolenko | 12 | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | | | | 3 | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | (12) Per Jonsson | 9 | | | X | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | 9 | 5 | |
| 6 | (2) Simon Wigg | 9 | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | 9 | 6 | |
| 7 | (13) Roman Matoušek | 8 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | 8 | 7 | |
| 8 | (16) Kelvin Tatum | 8 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 8 | 8 | |
| 9 | (3) Conny Ivarsson | 7 | 1 | | | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (5) Chris Morton | 6 | | 3 | | | 0 | | | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 2 | 6 | 10 | |
| 11 | (11) Antal Kocso | 6 | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | 6 | 11 | |
| 12 | (7) John Davis | 3 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | F | E | | | | | 0 | | | 3 | 12 | |
| 13 | (6) John Jørgensen | 3 | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | E | | | | | | | 2 | | | E | | 3 | 13 | |
| 14 | (15) Zenon Kasprzak | 3 | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | 3 | 14 | |
| 15 | (8) Sándor Tihanyi | 3 | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 3 | 15 | |
| 16 | (4) Roman Jankowski | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | E | 2 | 16 | |
| R1 | (R1) Simon Cross | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Andrzej Huszcza | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |
| - | - | - | - |
