Statham began grasstrack racing at the age of sixteen.[5] He first rode in speedway as a novice at the Brandon track, going on to ride for Coventry, signed for Birmingham in 1932, and then Southampton, riding as a hobby with his garage business his main priority.[5][6]
Statham first rode in the England team in the 1938 test series against Australia, scoring 2 points in the first test at Belle Vue and 3 points at West Ham.[8] He travelled to Australia for the 1938/9 series, scoring 2 points in the fourth test.[8] It was in the post-war period when Statham became a leading rider for England, regularly selected between 1947 and 1949.[8]