Merv Janke

{{Short description|Australian speedway rider}}

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

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Merv Janke

| image =

| nationality = Australian

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|7 November 1956}}

| birth_place = Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| years1 = 1977–1979

| career1 = Glasgow Tigers

| years2 = 1979–1980, 1982

| career2 = Halifax Dukes

| teamyear1 = 1980

| teamhonour1 = Northern Trophy winner

}}

Mervyn John Janke (born 7 November 1956) is an Australian former motorcycle speedway ride.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Merv Janke |website=British Speedway |access-date=11 July 2023}}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook, Merv Janke profile |year=1978 |page= |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}}{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1981 Speedway Yearbook, Merv Janke rider bio |year=1981 |page= |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=0-86215-017-5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwayplus.com/GaryMoore2.shtml |title=Dream Team : Gary Moore |website=Speedway Plus |access-date=11 July 2023}}

Career

Janke started racing in the British leagues during the 1977 National League season, when riding for the Coatbridge/Glasgow Tigers.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1473/merv-janke |title=Merv Janke |website=WWOS Backup |access-date=11 July 2023}} He improved significantly over the following seasons, topping the club's season averages in 1979, when recording 9.06.

In 1980, he joined Halifax Dukes in the top tier British League for the 1980 British League season, where he would stay until the end of the 1982 season.

He represented the Australia national speedway team on several occasions.{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/ausvrow.htm |title=Australia v Rest of the World |website=International Speedway |access-date=11 July 2023}}

References