1988 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1988 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 43rd edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

The final was held at the Vojens Speedway Center, owned by former World Champion Ole Olsen. Despite the country having won seven World Individual Championships between three riders since 1971 (Olsen, Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen), it was the first time Denmark hosted the World Final.

Gundersen renewed his fierce rivalry with Nielsen as both finished on 14 points to tie for the lead of the Championship. However it was Gundersen that won the toss to choose his starting gate for the run-off. He chose the outside and on a wet track he won his third title by defeating Nielsen in the run-off. Fellow Dane Jan O. Pedersen completed a clean sweep for Denmark by taking the bronze medal.

First round
Qualification results.

British qualification

 * Top 32 riders to British semi-finals

West German Final

 * 4 September '87
 * Rottalstadion, Pocking
 * Riders progress to Continental qualification

Netherlands/Belgium Final

 * Riders progress to Continental qualification
 * 🇧🇪
 * R1 (20 Apr '87, Stichting Baansport Blijham, Blijham)
 * R2 (26 Apr '87, Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam)
 * R3 (24 May '87, Veenoord Speedway, Veenoord)
 * R4 (4 Jul '87, Stadionlaan, Heusden-Zolder)
 * R5 (12 Jul '87, Veenoord Speedway, Veenoord)

Italian Final

 * 🇮🇹 Top 4 to Continental qualification
 * Riders progress to Continental qualification
 * R1 (29 Mar '87, Giavera del Montello, Treviso)
 * R2 (5 Apr '87, Santa Marina Stadium, Lonigo)
 * R3 (24 Apr '87, Pista Olimpia Terenzano, Terenzano)
 * R4 (10 May '87, Stadio Ottorino Verzaro, Badia Polesine)
 * R5 (4 Jul '87, Castiglione Olona, Varese)

Hungarian Final

 * 🇭🇺 Riders progress to Continental qualification
 * R1 (26 Apr '87, Christián László Municipal Sports Complex, Gyula)
 * R2 (27 Jun '87, Borsod Volán Stadion, Miskolc)
 * R3 (28 Jun '87, Hajdú Volán Stadion, Debrecen)

Australian qualification
* Due to the rules, England's Rob Woffinden did not progress to the Australian Championship

Swedish qualification

 * Top 8 in each heat to Swedish final

British Final

 * 22 May 1988
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brandon Stadium, Coventry
 * First 9 to Commonwealth Final

Australian Final

 * 23 January 1988
 * 🇦🇺 Murray Bridge Speedway, Murray Bridge
 * Top 4 to Commonwealth Final

New Zealand Final

 * 🇳🇿 Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch
 * Riders selected for Commonwealth Final

Continental quarter-finals

 * To 32 to Continental semi-finals

Danish Final

 * 8 May
 * Outrup Speedway Center, Outrup,
 * First 7 to Nordic final plus 1 reserve

Norway Final

 * 🇳🇴 Elgane Speedway, Varhaug
 * 30 August 1987, top 1 (+1 seeded) to Nordic final 1988

Finland Final

 * 🇫🇮 Pippo Speedway, Lahti
 * 26 August 1987, top 1 (+1 seeded) riders to Nordic Final 1988

Swedish Final

 * 🇸🇪 First 3 to Nordic Final plus 1 reserve
 * Per Jonsson and Jimmy Nilsen seeded to Nordic Final
 * R1 (17 May, Malmö Motorstadion, Malmö)
 * R2 (18 May, Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping)
 * R3 (19 May, Orionparken, Hallstavik)

American Final

 * 11 June
 * 🇺🇸 Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach
 * First 5 to Overseas final plus 1 reserve

Commonwealth Final

 * 12 June 12
 * Norfolk Arena, King's Lynn
 * First 11 to Overseas Final plus 1 reserve

Nordic Final

 * 25 July
 * 🇳🇴 Sandnes Stadion, Sandnes
 * First 7 to Intercontinental final plus 1 reserve

Overseas Final

 * 12 July
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brandon Stadium, Coventry
 * First 9 to Intercontinental Final plus 1 reserve

Continental Final

 * 16 August 1988
 * 🇵🇱 Alfred Smoczyk Stadium, Leszno
 * First 5 to World Final plus 1 reserve

Intercontinental Final

 * 6 August
 * 🇸🇪 Vetlanda Motorstadion, Vetlanda
 * First 11 to the World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

 * 3 September 1988
 * Speedway Center, Vojens