1987 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1987 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 42nd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

It was contested for the one and only time over two days in the Netherlands. The scores from both meetings were combined to produce the eventual winner.

With the chances of a surprise winner reduced due to two races being held it was the favourite Hans Nielsen that duly obliged with his second World crown. Nielsen had trailed after day one by 1 point to great rival Erik Gundersen and the American Sam Ermolenko. However in trademark style Nielsen produced a 15 point maximum on day two to wrap up the World Title, with Gundersen claiming silver and Ermolenko bronze.

British preliminary round

 * Top 32 riders to British semi-finals

British semi-finals

 * Top 16 riders to British semi-finals

Swedish qualification

 * Top 8 in each heat to Swedish final

British Final

 * 31 May 1987
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brandon Stadium, Coventry
 * Top 9 to Commonwealth Final plus 1 reserve

Australian Final

 * 24 January 1987
 * 🇦🇺 Olympic Park, Mildura
 * First 4 to Commonwealth Final

New Zealand Final

 * 21 February 1987
 * 🇳🇿 Western Springs Stadium, Auckland
 * Top 3 riders + 1 reserve to Commonwealth Final

Continental quarter-finals

 * Top 32 to Continental semi-finals

Commonwealth Final

 * 14 June 1987
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Hyde Road, Manchester
 * First 11 to the Overseas Final

American Final

 * 13 June 1987
 * 🇺🇸 Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach
 * Top 5 to Overseas Final

Swedish Finals

 * 🇸🇪 Top 4 + 1 reserve (+ Jimmy Nilsen, seeded) to Nordic Final
 * R1 (19 May, Grevby Motorstadion, Mariestad)
 * R2 (20 May, Snälltorpet, Eskilstuna)
 * R3 (21 May, Vetlanda Motorstadion, Vetlanda)

Finnish Final
🇫🇮 2 riders selected for Nordic Final

Norway Final
🇳🇴 2 riders selected for Nordic Final

Danish Final

 * 17 May 1987
 * Slangerup Speedway Center, Slangerup
 * First 6 + Jan O Pedersen (seeded) to the Nordic Final

Overseas Final

 * 5 July 1987
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Odsal Stadium, Bradford
 * First 10 to the Intercontinental Final plus 1 reserve

Nordic Final

 * 14 June 1987
 * 🇸🇪 Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping
 * First 7 to the Intercontinental Final plus 1 reserve

Сontinental Final

 * 26 July 1987
 * 🇮🇹 Santa Marina Stadium, Lonigo
 * First 4 to the World Final plus 1 reserve

Intercontinental Final

 * 27 July 1987
 * Vojens Speedway Center, Vojens
 * First 11 to the World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

 * Scores accumulated from 2 days

Day 1

 * 5 September 1987
 * Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium
 * Referee: Roman Cheladze

Day 2

 * 6 September 1987
 * Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam
 * Referee: Roman Cheladze