The 1965 British League season was the 31st season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also first known as the new British League which was formed in 1965, along with the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). The league was an amalgamation of the National League and the Provincial League.

Summary

Middlesbrough Bears did not join the new league and Norwich Stars had closed for good. Halifax Dukes were new entrants.1929-1977 West Ham Hammers were the first ever British League winners. It was their first league success since 1937. The West Ham team included Scot Ken McKinlay who finished the season third with an average of 10.72 and the Norwegian champion Sverre Harrfeldt who finished fifth in the averages. They were supported well by British internationals Norman Hunter and Malcolm Simmons. The West Ham team completed the double winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final they defeated Exeter Falcons 63-33. The season was not a complete success because during a challenge match at West Ham Stadium a junior rider called David John Wills was killed in a race after a crash. West Ham also won the London Cup but the competition only had three teams competing. Wimbledon Dons headed by leading Swedish rider Olle Nygren fought West Ham throughout the season and only lost the league by a single point.

Fixtures & results

Final table

Top Ten Riders (League Average)

Knockout Cup

West Ham Hammers won the Knockout Cup and completed the double of league and cup.

Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.

Final leading averages

London Cup

Results

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue Coventry Cradley Heath Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Hackney Halifax Long Eaton Newcastle Newport Oxford Poole Sheffield Swindon West Ham Wimbledon Wolverhampton