Mick McKeon (speedway rider)

Michael John McKeon (born 4 March 1954) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Australia.[1][2][3][4]

Mick McKeon
Born4 March 1954 (1954-03-04) (age 70)
Perth, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1975–1977Coatbridge/Glasgow Tigers
1975Ellesmere Port Gunners
1977–1980Halifax Dukes
Individual honours
1978Australasian Championship silver medal
1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986Western Australian champion
Team honours
1980Northern Trophy

Career edit

McKeon made his British leagues debut during the 1975 New National League season, where he rode for Coatbridge Tigers and Ellesmere Port Gunners. He continued to ride for Coatbridge during the 1976 and 1977 seasons, improving his average to 7.95.[5]

It was also in 1977 that McKeon won the first of his six Western Australian titles and he was signed by Halifax Dukes for the 1977 British League season.[6]

In 1978, he represented the Australia national speedway team during the 1978 Speedway World Team Cup[7] and won the silver medal at the 1978 Australasian Individual Speedway Championship. He rode again for Australia in the 1980 Speedway World Team Cup[8] and would ride for Australia eleven times in total.[6]

He suffered a serious crash at Belle Vue Stadium, which left him with a fractured skull, leg and ribs. Although he did ride again the injury ultimately led to him quitting British speedway. He retired in 1987.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook, Rider Bio Mick McKeon. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 978-0904584509.
  2. ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
  3. ^ Oakes, Peter (1990). Speedway Yearbook 1990, Rider Bio Mick McKeon. Front Page Books. ISBN 0-948882-15-8.
  4. ^ a b "Mick McKeon". Speedway Past. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Mick McKeon". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Ultimate Rider Index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  7. ^ "1978 Speedway World Team Cup". International Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "1980 Speedway World Team Cup". International Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.