Speedway: Surprise retirement from Kelvin Tatum

The speedway world has been stunned by long track World Championship leader Kelvin Tatum's retirement from the short-track version of the sport.

It is likely he will retire from all forms of racing at New Zealand's final round of this year's long track speedway world championship, in New Plymouth on November 6.

Riding for the Hammers Arena-Essex Speedway Team, based in London, the British rider cited continued injury problems and arthritis related to a hip injury as the reason for his decision.

He won the European grass track championship in 1995 and the long track world titles in 1995, 1998 and 2000. He won the New Plymouth finale of last season's long track championship but finished the series as runner-up to German Robert Barth.