Jimmy Nilsen
# Jimmy Nilsen

Jimmy Nilsen (born 16 November 1966) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden.

## Career

Jimmy Nilsen was Swedish Champion in 1996 after finishing 3rd in 1994. Nilsen also rode in five World Finals as well as representing Sweden in Test Matches, World Pairs (best finish 2nd in 1989 with Per Jonsson) and World Team Cup (finishing 2nd in 1991, 1992 and 1998). He also helped Sweden to 3rd place in the 2001 World Cup Final in Wrocław, Poland.

After finishing second to Per Jonsson at the 1985 European (World) Under-21 Championship Final in Abensberg, West Germany, Nilsen impressed when as a 19-year he finished what would be a career best 4th in the 1986 World Final (his first World Final appearance) at the Silesian Stadium in Katowice, Poland, a placing he would repeat in the 2 day 1987 World Final at the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium in the Netherlands. He would appear in another three World Finals, finishing 5th in 1990 in Bradford, England (won by Jonsson), 5th in 1991 at Ullevi in Göteborg, and 7th in 1992 at the Olympic Stadium in Wrocław, Poland.

Nilsen later qualified for the Speedway Grand Prix in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, finishing a career best 2nd in 1998 behind countryman Tony Rickardsson.

In 1990 after appearing in a "Rest of the World" team in a test against Australia at the North Arm Speedway in Adelaide, South Australia, Nilsen won the inaugural running of the Jack Young Memorial Cup named in honour of the Adelaide rider who had won the World Final in 1951 and 1952. A year later he returned to Australia as part of the touring Swedish team that defeated Australia 3-2 in a 5 match test series.

## World Final Appearances

### Individual World Championship

* 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 4th - 11pts
* 1987 - Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium - 4th - 22pts
* 1990 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 5th - 10pts
* 1991 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 5th - 10pts
* 1992 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 7th - 7pts

### World Pairs Championship

* 1988 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Per Jonsson) - 5th - 29pts (17)
* 1989 - Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium (with Per Jonsson) - 2nd - 44pts (23)
* 1990 - Landshut, Ellermühle Stadium (with Per Jonsson) - 4th - 33pts (17)
* 1991 - Poznań, Olimpia Poznań Stadium (with Henrik Gustafsson / Per Jonsson) - 2nd - 24pts (8)

### World Team Cup

* 1985 – USA Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Jan Andersson / Per Jonsson / Tommy Nilsson / Pierre Brannefors) – 4th – 10pts (2)
* 1986 - Göteborg, Ullevi, Vojens, Speedway Center and Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Jan Andersson / Per Jonsson / Tommy Nilsson / Erik Stenlund / Tony Olsson) - 4th - 73pts (16)
* 1988 - Long Beach Veterans Memorial Stadium (with Conny Ivarsson / Henrik Gustafsson / Tony Olsson / Per Jonsson) - 3rd - 22pts (5)
* 1989 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Mikael Blixt / Per Jonsson / Tony Olsson / Erik Stenlund) - 3rd - 30pts (0)
* 1991 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 2nd - 30pts (7)
* 1992 - Kumla, Kumla Speedway - 2nd - 33pts (1)
* 1997 - Piła, Stadion Żużlowy Centrum - 3rd - 21pts (3)
* 1998 - Vojens, Speedway Center - 2nd - 24pts (13)

### World Cup

* 2001 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - 3rd - 51pts (7)

### Individual Under-21 World Championship

* 1985 - Abensberg, Motorstadion - 2nd - 13pts

## Speedway Grand Prix results

| Year | Position | Points | Best Finish | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | 8th | 71 | 3rd | Third in British Grand Prix |
| 1998 | 2nd | 99 | 2nd | Second in German and British Grand Prix |
| 1999 | 4th | 73 | 2nd | Second in Swedish and Polish Grand Prix |
| 2000 | 11th | 42 | 5th | |
| 2001 | 21st | 20 | 7th | |
