Billy Sanders - International Career

International Career

Sanders teamed with fellow Aussie Phil Crump to finish in fourth place in his first ever World Final appearance at the 1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship held in Eskilstuna, Sweden. He would then represent Australia at the 1976 Speedway World Team Cup. Teaming with Crump, Phil Herne and John Boulger, Sanders would win his first and only World championship as Australia outscored Poland and Sweden at London's White City Stadium.

He first qualified for the Speedway World Championship final in 1977 in Gothenburg, Sweden finishing in ninth place. He also again teamed with Crump in the 1977 World Pairs Championship finishing in seventh and last place.

He missed out on qualifying for the 1978 final but qualified for the 1979 World Final in Poland and finished in a strong fourth place, two points in front of defending champion Ole Olsen of Denmark who finished fifth.

Sanders finished in third place in the 1980 Individual Speedway World Championship, again in Gothenburg, behind English pair Michael Lee and Dave Jessup. Unfortunately Sanders would fail to qualify for either the 1981 or 1982 world finals.

In 1982 Sanders would again represent Australia in the World Pairs Championship, this time held at his home track of Liverpool Speedway in Sydney, the first time a Speedway World Championship final had been held in Australia. Teaming with fellow Liverpool hotshot, Gary Guglielmi, Sanders finished in a disappointing fourth place after being among the favourites before the meeting.

Billy Sanders finished in a best ever second place at the 1983 Individual World Championship held in Norden, Germany, behind local favourite and home track specialist Egon Müller. Sanders was really only considered as one who was just making up the numbers, but surprised all with his style and speed, winning his first two races and finishing third in his last three. Müller was unbeaten in his five rides for a 15 point maximum. Sanders was second with 12 points, while 1980 champion Michael Lee was third on 11 points with three wins, one second, and one last place finish.

He also represented Australia again at the World Pairs Final held in Gothenburg, and again teamed with Guglielmi after Phil Crump had declined to ride in the meeting. Sanders and Gugliemi finished in second place in the World Pairs, giving him a rare second place double in the 1983 Speedway World Finals. Billy was the form rider at the World Pairs Final, winning five of his six rides. His second last ride, against an out of form West German team (Müller and Karl Maier), saw him lead into the first turn, only to fall and cause the race to be stopped. As the reason for the stoppage, Sanders was excluded. Had he not fell, and finished the race in first or second place, Australia would have won the championship, instead of finishing just one point behind the England pairing of Peter Collins and Kenny Carter.

Billy Sanders qualified for the 1984 Individual World Final, again held in Gothenburg. This was to be his last World Final and it ended in disappointment as Sanders finished in eleventh place, scoring just five points from his five rides. For the third year in a row he would team with Guglielmi in the World Pairs Final, this time held in Lonigo, Italy, though they were unable to repeat or better their 1983 second place finish and slipped to fifth place.