Henk Steman

{{Short description|Dutch speedway rider}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Henk Steman

| image =

| nationality = Dutch

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|12 September 1948}}

| birth_place = Voorburg, Netherlands

| death_date =

| death_place =

| career1 = Oxford Rebels

| years1 = 1974

| career2 = Bristol Bulldogs

| years2 = 1978

| indivyear1 = 1976, 1981, 1987

| indivhonour1 = Dutch champion

| teamyear1 =

| teamhonour1 =

}}

Henk Steman (born 12 September 1948) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from the Netherlands.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook, Rider Bio Henk Steman |year=1978 |page= |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook, rider profile Henk Steman |year=1981 |page= |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=Speedway Yearbook 1990, Rider Bio Henk Steman |year=1990 |page= |publisher=Front Page Books |isbn=0-948882-15-8}}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=British Speedway Who's Who, Henk Steman |year=2004 |page= |publisher=Peter Oakes, Peterborough |isbn=0-948882-81-6}} He earned 27 caps for the Netherlands national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=2 September 2024}}

Career

Steman came to prominence after joining the Oxford Rebels for the 1974 British League season.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19740810/450/0019 |title=Rebels get set |website=Reading Evening Post |date=10 August 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 September 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2604/henk-steman |title=Henk Steman |website=WWOS Backup |access-date=4 May 2023}} Although he had a poor season he soon became one of the leading riders in the Netherlands after becoming the Dutch champion, when winning the national title in 1976.{{cite web |url=http://speedwayfansite.com/champs/holim.html |title=Dutch National Championship |website=Speedway Fansite |access-date=4 May 2023}} He returned for another British league campaign for the 1978 British League season with the Bristol Bulldogs.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004769/19780708/021/0022 |title=Happy Henk books himself extra stay |website=Bristol Evening Post |date=8 July 1978 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 September 2024}}

He represented the Netherlands national team for 15 years of World Cups from 1975 to 1988. He also rode for the Netherlands in the Speedway World Pairs Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/wtc.htm |title=Speedway World Team Cup |website=International Speedway |access-date=4 May 2023}}

He also won two more national titles in 1981 and 1987.

Family

His brother Rob Steman was also an international speedway rider.

References