Michael John Bell (born 14 October 1945) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]
 Mick Bell pictured in 1975 | |
| Born | 14 October 1945 Oxford, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1970 | Oxford Cheetahs |
| 1969, 1971–1973, 1975–1976 | Reading Racers |
| 1974 | Leicester Lions |
| 1977–1979 | Coventry Bees |
| Individual honours | |
| 1969 | Second Division Riders runner-up |
| Team honours | |
| 1973, 1978, 1979 | British League Champion |
| 1972 | Spring Gold Cup Winner |
| 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979 | Midland Cup Winner |
Career
editBorn in Oxford, Bell made his debut for Oxford Cheetahs in 1968. In 1969 he doubled up for Oxford in Division One and Reading Racers in Division Two,[2] averaging over 9 points for Reading.[3] He also represented Young England against Australasia and Czechoslovakia in 1969.[3] After a further season with Oxford he returned to the now First Division Reading in 1971, where his performances steadily improved, averaging over 6 points in the 1972 season.[3]
He won a qualifying round of the World Speedway Championship at Coatbridge in 1973, and reached the British Final the same year.[3][4] He won a British League title in 1973 with Reading before moving on to Leicester Lions in 1974 on loan, but returned to Reading in 1975 when the club re-opened at Smallmead.[3][5] In 1977 he moved on to Coventry Bees where spent three seasons before retiring from the sport.[6]
Bell returned to Reading as team manager in 1980. He later acted as team manager for Swindon Robins and Somerset Rebels.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Racers go in at the deep end tonight". Reading Evening Post. 14 April 1969. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 16-17
- ^ "It's Bell - After Race-off", Evening Times, 26 May 1973, p. 11, retrieved 2012-03-14
- ^ Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 158
- ^ "Bees boost for Bell". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 3 May 1978. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New Rebels' boss aims for better facilities", Bridgwater Mercury, 10 November 2006, retrieved 2012-03-14
- ^ Berry, Mike (2003) "Brandon cut prices for Students", Coventry Telegraph, 23 December 2003, retrieved 2012-03-14