1961 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1961 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 16th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

The final was held outside of Wembley and England for the first time when on the 15 September Ove Fundin retained his title in his home country of Sweden. It was the first time a rider had won three titles and Sweden produced a clean sweep of podium places with Björn Knutson and Göte Nordin finishing second and third.

First round
Qualification results.

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Norwegian qualifying

 * 25 June 1960
 * 🇳🇴 Idda Idrettsplassen, Kristiansand
 * Top 5 to Nordic qualification 1961
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Finnish qualifying

 * 25 September 1960
 * 🇫🇮 Eteläpuisto, Tampere
 * First 5 (+seeded riders) to Nordic qualification 1961
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Swedish qualifying

 * Top 15 to Nordic qualifying

British & Commonwealth qualifying

 * Top 64 riders to British & Commonwealth 2nd Round

Continental qualifying

 * Top 32 to Continental semi-finals

British & Commonwealth 2nd round

 * Top 32 riders to British & Commonwealth semi-finals

British & Commonwealth Semi finals

 * Top 16 to British final

Nordic Final

 * 11 June 1961
 * 🇸🇪 Gislaved Motorbana, Gislaved
 * First 8 to European Final

Continental Final

 * 23 July 1961
 * Slaný Speedway Stadium, Slany
 * First 7 to European Final, Josef Bössner seeded to European final

European Final

 * 26 August 1961
 * 🇦🇹 Praterstadion, Vienna
 * First 7 to World Final plus 1 reserve

British Final

 * 2 September 1961
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wembley Stadium, London
 * First 9 to World final plus 1 reserve

World Final

 * 15 September 1961
 * 🇸🇪 Malmö Stadion, Malmö