Mick Bell

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

Mick Bell
Mick Bell pictured in 1975
Born (1945-10-14) 14 October 1945
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

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, averaging over 9 points for Reading.[2] He also represented Young England against Australasia and Czechoslovakia in 1969.[2] 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.[2] He won a qualifying round of the World Speedway Championship at Coatbridge in 1973, and reached the British Final the same year.[2][3] 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.[2][4] In 1977 he moved on to Coventry Bees where spent three seasons before retiring from the sport.

Bell returned to Reading as team manager in 1980. He later acted as team manager for Swindon Robins and Somerset Rebels.[5][6]

References
  1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 16-17
  3. "It's Bell - After Race-off", Evening Times, 26 May 1973, p. 11, retrieved 2012-03-14
  4. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 158
  5. "New Rebels' boss aims for better facilities", Bridgwater Mercury, 10 November 2006, retrieved 2012-03-14
  6. Berry, Mike (2003) "Brandon cut prices for Students", Coventry Telegraph, 23 December 2003, retrieved 2012-03-14
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