Shawn Moran

Infobox Speedway rider
ridername= Shawn Moran

Bruce Flanders interviews a young Shawn Moran in the 1980s
nationality = flagicon|USA American
dateofbirth = 19 November 1961
cityofbirth = Lakewood
countryofbirth = USA
website =
britishleague = "Retired"
polishleague =
swedishleague = Rospiggarna Hallstavik
years = 1980
1980-88, 1994
1989-1993
career = Hull Sheffield Belle Vue
indivhonour = USA National Champion
World Long Track Champion
World Under-21 Champion
British League Riders Champion
indivyear = 1982
1983
1981
1989
teamhonour = World Cup (USA)
teamyear = 1982, 1990

Shawn Moran (born 19 November 1961 in Lakewood, USA) [Oakes, P.(2004). "British Speedway Who's Who". ISBN 0-948882-81-6] is a retired former professional speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented USA.

Moran joined Sheffield from Hull in 1980 for £8,000 and established himself as a fans favourite who topped the clubs averages every year he was with them. He was a spectacular crowd-pleaser and was a popular rider everywhere he went. In 1986 Shawn was joined by his elder brother Kelly at the Sheffield Tigers. Shawn amassed a total of 3257 points for the Tigers at a great average of 9.36. He represented his country on several occasions and it was his partnership with Kelly that helped USA to the 1982 and 1990 World Cups, in addition to Shawn winning the USA National Championship, the World Long Track Championship and also the World U21 Championship with a 15 point maximum. Although regarded as a world-class rider, the World Championship eluded Shawn.

He rode in three World Championships in 1984, 1985 and 1990. Arguably 1985 was his best season as he won both the Overseas and Inter-continental Finals on his way to the World Final at Bradford. He finished in fifth place with 10-points. In 1990 he lost a run-off to Sweden's Per Jonsson. But Moran was later harshly stripped of the silver medal when it was discovered that he had failed a random drugs test at an earlier qualifying round. The FIM did not upgrade the standings and the official records show no second place rider.

Moran, though, remains America's only World Longtrack Champion. He won the crown in 1983 while still recovering from a broken leg.

References

2. Burford, B (2002) The Moran Brothers ISBN 0-7524-2424-6