To begin the season, things didn't appear to bright. Gone were Gunnar Malmkvist, the Swede who had topped the Exeter scores in 1967, Jack Geran had retired, whilst Colin Goody, Tim Bungay and promising junior Laurie Etheridge were all transferred.

After much negotiating, Martin Ashby joined from Swindon and from Australia came Chris Bass. Otherwise, the team was as the previuos season, but both Chris Bass and Mike cake were loaned out to Plymouth. Mike was recalled to help the side out, but showing no early form, he was swapped with Chris Bass who was making his debut in Div 1 racing. It was only when Chris Blewett's endless string of injuries struck again that Mike cake was again recalled - and proved something of a revalation.

Pictured Left, the 1968 Falcon's Sqaud. From L to R: Chris Bass, Tony George, Neil Street, Martin Ashby, Wayne Briggs, Phil Woodcock, Mike Cake, Chris Blewett, Tommy Sweetman, Pete Lansdale (Manager) with Jimmy Squibb on Machine.

Martin Ashby, who at Swindon had been overshadowed by Barry Briggs, Mike Broadbank and the up and coming Bob Kilby, was to flourish in his new role at Exeter and was probably the most improved star in the league. To state his intention, he notched up a paid maximum in Exeter's opener when they thrashed Cradley 61-16.

A Test match between England and Russia was staged at the County Ground in May with Ashby continuing his League form and top scoring with 12 points with Squibb collecting five points and Street scoring 4 as England win easily 51-27.

Wayne Briggs form improved greatly, Tommy Sweetman shrugged of continuing injuries to score well, Jimmy Squibb was reliable as ever as was Neil Street. Mike cake proved a good reserve and notched up a paid maximum against Oxford in July, recoreded 30 wins and scored over 160pts.

Even when Ashby was away on International duty, the Falcon's crushed Coatbridge 53-25 with Wayne Briggs top scoring that night with 14pts with only Reidar Eide offering any resistance as he scored 12 for the Monarchs.

Martin also won the Jack Unstead Memorial Trophy on an unbeaten 15 points to win from Jim Airey (12) and Alan Cowland (12) and in the process broke the track record, reducing it to 70.2 secs. A coolection to mark the new record raised £22 10s, with the management doubling it - almost £50 in total !

Action from the County Ground in 1968 pictured Right as Niel Street (Left) and Martin Ashby head Poole's Geoff Mudge.

As things turned out, Exeter ended the season third in Div 1, winning only two away matches, whilst drawing at Coatbridge and had lady luck been more kinder, who knows what might have been. Exeter notched up 927 race points at home and in doing so set a new British League record. Neil Street announced his retirement at the end of the season

Elsewhere in 1968

Coventry won the British League title on 44pts, second were Hackney also on 44pts and Exeter third on 41 pts. In Division 2, B.Vue (B) scored 28pts to win from second placed Nelson on 22pts and Middlesbrough third on 21pts.

Ivan mauger scored a 15pt maximum in the World Championship British Final to beat Barry Briggs (14) and Eric Boocock (13). Exeter's Martin Ashby finished fifth on ten points. Ivan then went on to win the British-Nordic Final, again with a 15pt Maximum to beat Nigel Boocock (13), Reidar Eide (13) pictured Left, and Martin Ashby fourth with (11).

Barry Briggs gained some revenge when he was crowned British League Riders Champion beating Eric Boocock and Ivan Mauger, but it was Ivan who had the ultimate prize as Mauger(15) wins the W.Championship beating B.Briggs (12), E.Jancarz (11) and Gennady Kurilenko (11) in the final staged at Gothenburg.

Gt.Britain (40) won the world team Cup from Sweden (30) Poland (19) and Czechoslovakia (7), although Sweden (24) take revenge in the World best pairs beating Gt Britain (21) Norway (16) W.Germany B (12) W.Germany A (10) Denmark (6). Ove Fundin and T.Harrysson represented the victorious Swedes with Geoff Mudge and Ray Wilson riding for Gt.Britain.

Nigel Boocock won the Midlands Riders Championship beating runner up Ray Wilson and third placed James Bond. In the Northern Riders Championship, Ivan Mauger (14) beat Eric Boocock (12) and Charlie Monk (12). The London Riders Championship saw Colin Pratt score a maximum 15pts to beat Trevor Hedge (13) and Reg Luckhurst (12).

Other Individual honours include B.Briggs the Crossroads TV Trophy (Wolverhampton), N.Boocock the Will's Internationale (Wimbledon), E.Boocock the Westernapolis (Exeter), A.Michanek the Superama (Hackney), M.Ashby the Jack Unstead Trophy (Exeter), I.Mauger the Speedway Champions Trophy (Oxford), P.Jarman the Pride Of the Midlands (Wolverhampton), N.Boocock the Brandonapolis (Coventry) and C.Tucker the Stars of Tomorrow (Kings Lynn).

Wimbledon win the Speedway Star KO Cup beating Wolverhampton 118-98 and also take the London Cup. Graham Plant of Middlesbrough won the Div2 Riders Championship staged at Hackney. He scored 13pts to beat Ken Eyre (12) and Graeme Smith (11).

Ivan Mauger (Newcastle) topped the averages on 11.46 ahead of Barry Briggs (Swindon) and Martin Ashby (Exeter).