1970 - A Year of Firsts
March 26: First British League race, at Romford, John won it ahead of team mate Neville Slee.
April 30: First twelve point maximum, at Foxhall against Crayford in a Knock Out Cup meeting.
May 29: First league twelve point maximum, at Foxhall against Workington.
June 5: First trophy, at Foxhall in the Anglian Best Pairs with Ron Bagley.
June 12: First track record, at Foxhall against Berwick (lowered by 0.2 second).
June 26: First fifteen point maximum, at Foxhall against Eastbourne.
July 9: First approach to sign John by a First Division club, Hackney.
July 23: First international cap, against Young Sweden at Middlesborough.
August 9: First appearance for a First Division club, Newport, at Leicester.
August 28: First Silver Helmet success against Eric Broadbelt at Foxhall.
October 10: First fifteen point maximum in the First Division, for Newport at Wolverhampton.
1971 - Speedway's Most Wanted
After such a spectacular start to his British League racing career John was being sought after by up to six First Division clubs at the end of the 1970 season.
However John decided to stay in the Second Division with Ipswich for a further year to ensure he was able to maintain or improve on his success of the previous season at that level. He planned to accept as many First Division bookings as possible to test himself against better riders, break as many track records as he could and win the Division Two Riders Championship.
The Silver Helmet was held for most of the season, losing it to Graham Banks half way through May and regaining it from Reg Wilson at the start of July, then losing it to Phil Crump in October but regained it three days later.
John retained the Anglian Pairs Trophy with Ron Bagley, won the Eastern Counties Championship, the Geoff Revett trophy, came third in the Peter Arnold Memorial trophy (ahead of First Division riders) and won the National League Riders Championship.
He gained thirteen international caps riding for Young England and was selected as captain for eight of the meetings.
By the end of season John had achieved an average of 11.31 and now felt ready for the First Division. However there was no need to look for a new team as Ipswich promoter, John Berry, had purchased the First Division licence from West Ham when they folded so John and Ipswich would be taking the step up together.
