Mike Farrell (speedway rider) explained

Mike Farrell
Nationality:Australian
Birth Date:20 April 1955
Birth Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Years1:1975–1978
Career1:Exeter Falcons
Years2:1979–1980
Career2:Leicester Lions
Teamyear1:1978
Teamhonour1:Spring Gold Cup

Michael Farrell (born 20 April 1955) is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider who rode for the Exeter Falcons and Leicester Lions. He earned 12 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1]

Career

Farrell rode in short-track and scrambling competition in the late 1960s and early 1970s before taking up speedway, while also working as a motorcycle mechanic.[2] He won the Queensland Junior Championship in 1974 and also the Barrier Reef Championship.

During the 1974–75 British Lions tour of Australia he was spotted in a North Qld vs Great Britain meeting by Lions team manager Wally Mawdsley and made his British League debut with the Exeter Falcons in 1975 alongside then four time World Champion Ivan Mauger. A broken wrist meant that he missed most of the 1976 season but he progressed on his return, reaching the Intercontinental Final in 1978.[3] He requested a transfer at the end of the season and in 1979 joined his friend John Titman at Leicester Lions.[4] A hand injury limited his season and the following season only lasted until April, when he suffered a broken leg while riding in a Midland League match against Birmingham, complications from the injury ending his career.[5]

Career record

All figures relate to the British League.

YearTeamMatchesRidesPointsBonusTotalAverageFull MaximumPaid Maximum
1975Exeter Falcons36134130281584.72
1976Exeter Falcons2793126.86
1977Exeter Falcons38142196342306.48
1978Exeter Falcons33131188332216.7521
1979Leicester Lions33144190.525215.55.99

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 23 August 2024.
  2. Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications,, p. 125
  3. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 164
  4. News: Long Eaton threat over Lions' future . Leicester Daily Mercury . 15 February 1979 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 23 August 2024.
  5. Oakes, Peter (1981) 1981 Speedway Yearbook, Studio Publications,, p.167