Karl Maier (born 24 August 1957) is a German former speedway rider. He competed in motorcycle speedway and Longtrack racing. He reached seventeen world longtrack championship finals and was world champion four times. He also earned 38 international caps for the West German national speedway team.
Career Maier began his career in 1975 and soon established himself as one of the world's leading longtrack riders. He was crowned world longtrack champion for the first time after winning the 1980 Individual Long Track World Championship in Scheeßel, defeating Egon Müller into second place and taking Müller's place as Germany's longtrack hero.
Maier would go on to become long track world champion four times, earning further wins in 1982, 1987 and 1988. In addition, he won eight German national longtrack championship titles.
Maier also forged a career in conventional speedway, earning 38 international caps and participating in four consecutive Speedway World Championship finals from 1983 until 1986 and a fifth final in 1989.
Maier rode three seasons in Britain, riding for Belle Vue Aces in 1979 and Birmingham Brummies from 1982 to 1983.
Personal life Maier is a master mechanic and owner of a BMW motorcycle dealership, as well as was the owner of a Toyota car dealership in Erding. He lives in Neufinsing, is married and has a daughter.
Results World Longtrack Championship Finals 1978 Mühldorf (7th) 17pts 1979 Mariánské Lázně (6th) 13pts 1980 Scheeßel (Champion) 23pts 1981 Radgona (13th) 5pts 1982 Esbjerg (Champion) 24pts 1983 Mariánské Lázně (Third) 18pts 1984 Herxheim (Third) 17pts 1986 Herxheim (6th) 11pts 1987 Mühldorf (Champion) 22pts 1988 Scheeßel (Champion) 42pts 1989 Mariánské Lázně (Third) 33pts 1990 Herxheim (Second) 30pts 1991 Mariánské Lázně (7th) 10pts 1992 Pfarrkirchen (Third) 20pts 1993 Mühldorf (Second) 20pts 1995 Scheeßel (6th) 14pts 1996 Herxheim (6th) 11pts
World Final appearances Individual World Championship 1983 - Norden, Motodrom Halbemond - 9th - 8pts 1984 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 9th - 7pts 1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 16th - 1pt 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 13th - 3pts 1989 - Munich, Olympic Stadium - 11th - 5pts
World Pairs Championship 1983 - Gothenburg, Ullevi (with Egon Müller) - 6th - 12pts (6) 1986 - Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Klaus Lausch) - 6th - 27pts (22) 1989 - Leszno, Alfred Smoczyk Stadium (with Gerd Riss) - 4th - 36pts (22)
World Team Cup 1981 - Olching, Speedway Stadion Olching (with Egon Müller / Georg Hack / Georg Gilgenreiner) - 3rd - 28pts (8) 1982 - London, White City Stadium (with Georg Hack / Egon Müller / Alois Wiesböck / Georg Gilgenreiner) - 3rd - 18pts (7)
References