The 1977 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 32nd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.
History was made in the 1977 final when Ivan Mauger of New Zealand equalled Ove Fundin's title record of five World Championship wins. Mauger had gone close to equalling the record before and finally achieved it in Sweden, the home of Fundin. In a decisive 18th heat Mauger won from his nearest challenger Ole Olsen, when Olsen was forced to lay his bike down to avoid hitting John Boulger. The result was just one point for Olsen, a badly damaged Jawa bike and the end of his title hopes. Defending champion Peter Collins won his last ride to claim the silver medal despite riding with a broken left leg, but Olsen won the bronze medal run-off against young English rider Michael Lee.
Qualifying results.
First round
British Preliminary round
- Riders progress to British quarter-finals
New Zealand qualification
Second round
New Zealand semi-final
Australian qualification
Continental Preliminary round
- Riders progress to Continental semi-finals.
Josef Angermüller was killed during the first preliminary round at the San Savino Speedway Park after falling and colliding with a concrete post.
British quarter-finals
- Top 32 progress to British semi-finals
Third round
British semi-finals
New Zealand Final
- 12 February 1977
- Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
- First 8 to Australasian final
Australian Final
- 25 February 1977
- Jerilderie Park Speedway, Tomago
- First 8 to Australasian final
Finland Final
- 29 August '76
- Turku Hippodrome, Turku
- 4 selected for Nordic Final
Norwegian Final
- 17 April 1977
- Sandnes Stadion, Sandnes
- First 5 to Nordic Final
Danish Final
- 19 May 1977
- Speedway Center, Fredericia
- First 5 to Nordic Final (Ole Olsen seeded to Nordic final)
Continental quarter-finals
- Top 32 to Continental semi-finals
Fourth Round
Swedish qualification
- Top 5 in each heat to Swedish final
American Final
- 29 July 1977
- Costa Mesa Speedway, Los Angeles
- First 2 to Intercontinental final
Nordic Final
- 29 May 1977
- Eteläpuisto, Tampere
- First 4 to Intercontinental final
Australasian Final
- 19 February 1977
- Sydney Showground Speedway, Sydney
- First 4 to Intercontinental final
British Final
- 13 July 1977
- Brandon Stadium, Coventry
- First 5 plus Peter Collins (seeded) to Intercontinental final.
Continental semi-finals
Fifth round
Swedish Final
- First 4 over three meetings to World final plus 1 reserve
- R1 (24 May, Vetlanda Motorstadion, Vetlanda)
- R2 (25 May, Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping)
- R3 (26 May, Snälltorpet, Eskilstuna)
Continental Final
- 25 July 1977
- Anatoly Stepanov Stadium, Tolyatti
- First 5 to World Final plus 1 reserve
Intercontinental Final
- 21 August 1977
- White City Stadium, London
- First 7 to World Final
World Final
- 2 September 1977
- Ullevi, Gothenburg
- Referee: () Torrie Kittelsen
References
