Mick Bell

Mick Bell
Mick Bell pictured in 1975
Born (1945-10-14) 14 October 1945 (age 79)
Oxford, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1968–1970Oxford Cheetahs
1969, 1971–1973, 1975–1976Reading Racers
1974Leicester Lions
1977–1979Coventry Bees
Individual honours
1969Second Division Riders runner-up
Team honours
1973, 1978, 1979British League Champion
1972Spring Gold Cup Winner
1974, 1977, 1978, 1979Midland Cup Winner

Michael John Bell (born 14 October 1945) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]

Career

Born 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

  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Racers go in at the deep end tonight". Reading Evening Post. 14 April 1969. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ "It's Bell - After Race-off", Evening Times, 26 May 1973, p. 11, retrieved 2012-03-14
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 158
  6. ^ "Bees boost for Bell". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 3 May 1978. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "New Rebels' boss aims for better facilities", Bridgwater Mercury, 10 November 2006, retrieved 2012-03-14
  8. ^ Berry, Mike (2003) "Brandon cut prices for Students", Coventry Telegraph, 23 December 2003, retrieved 2012-03-14