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{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image = [[Image:Replace this image male.svg|150px]] <!– Only freely-licensed images may be used to depict living people. See [[WP:NONFREE]]. –>
| ridername= Joe Abbott
| nationality = {{flagicon|ENG}} England
| dateofbirth = 1903
| dateofdeath = 1 July 1950
| cityofbirth = [[Burnley]]
| countryofbirth = [[England]]
| retired = Retired
| career = Burnley<br />Preston<br />[[Belle Vue Aces]]<br />[[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]]<br />[[Odsal Boomerangs]]
| years = 1929<br />1930-1931<br />1932-1939<br />1947<br />1948-1950
| indivhonour = None
| indivyear =
| teamhonour = [[Speedway National League|National League Champions]]<br />National Trophy Winners
| teamyear = 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936<br />1933, 1934, 1935, 1936
}}

”’John Patrick ‘Joe’ Abbott”’ (born 1903 [[Burnley]], [[England]]<ref name=psg48>Addison J. (1948). ”The People Speedway Guide”. Odhams Press Limited </ref> – died 1 July 1950) was a former international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider who rode in the [[Speedway World Championship|World Championship]] final in [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]].<ref name=swc>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ”A History of the World Speedway Championship”. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5</ref>

== Career summary ==
Joe began his career with local track Burnley in 1929 before moving onto Preston for two seasons. He then joined the [[Belle Vue Aces]] and stayed there until the outbreak of [[World War II]]. At Belle Vue he formed a formidable partnership with [[Frank Charles (speedway rider)|Frank Charles]] which they utilised internationally.<ref name=hamm>Belton, Brian (2003). ”Hammerin’ Round”. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2438-6</ref> He made fifteen appearances for [[Great Britain national speedway team|England]] betewen 1930 and 1939 and qualified for a World Final.

After the war he became captain of the [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay Racers]] in 1947 and transferred to the [[Odsal Boomerangs]] in [[Bradford]] in 1948.

On 21 June 1949 Joe was riding in live televised meeting at [[West Ham Stadium]] against the [[West Ham Hammers]]. Joe crashed and suffered serious injury, but in the crowd were dozens of ambulance men from [[Poplar]] hospital who rushed him there immediately.<ref name=hamm>Belton, Brian (2003). ”Hammerin’ Round”. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-2438-6</ref> The quick actions saved his life.

== World Final appearances ==
* [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]] – {{Flag|GBR}} [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] – 13th – 14pts<ref name=swc>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ”A History of the World Speedway Championship”. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5</ref>

== Death ==
On 1st July 1950 in the [[Speedway National League|National League]] match for the [[Odsal Boomerangs|Boomerangs]] against the [[West Ham Hammers|West Ham]], Joe, who was now 48 years old fell in his second race and was hit by a following rider and was instantly killed. The riders and promoters decided to carry on with the meeting, as they believed Joe would have wished it. Fans left [[Odsal]] unaware that Joe, nicknamed the ‘India-rubber Man'<ref name=psg48>Addison J. (1948). ”The People Speedway Guide”. Odhams Press Limited </ref>, had died.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ausm.info/aus_history/1930-40/xmas34.htm The Adventures of Dick Case, ‘Dusty’ Haigh, and Joe Abbott – Christmas 1934]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbot, Joe}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:Speedway riders]]
[[Category:Harringay riders]]
[[Category:Belle Vue Aces riders]]
[[Category:British motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:Motorcycle racers killed while racing]]

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