Michael John Broadbank (also known as Broadbanks) (born 23 September 1934 in Hoddesdon, England) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who made 560 appearances for the Swindon Robins, scoring over 4,200 points.[1][2]
 | |
| Born | 23 September 1934 Hoddesdon, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1955 | Rye House Roosters |
| 1956 | Wembley Lions |
| 1957-1972 | Swindon Robins |
| 1973 | Chesterton Potters |
| 1973, 1975 | Hackney Hawks |
| 1973 | Reading Racers |
| 1973 | Poole Pirates |
| 1973 | Oxford Rebels |
| 1974 | Stoke Potters |
| 1976 | Crayford Kestrels |
| 1977 | Newport Dragons |
| Individual honours | |
| 1963 | Australian Champion |
| 1964 | London Riders' Champion |
| 1955 | Southern Area League Riders' Championship |
| Team honours | |
| 1955 | Southern Area League Champion |
| 1957 | National League Champion |
| 1967 | British League Champion |
| 1967, 1968 | Midland Cup |
Rye House edit
Broadbank was first discovered at the Rye House track after working there as a young boy. In the 1950s the track was threatened with closure so Broadbank built a new track on an adjacent site to continue training. After a season the owner of the stadium relented and Broadbank built the track on the site that is still there today.[3]
The training track operated a team known as the Rye House Roosters, however, with the involvement of Broadbank, the team were renamed the Red Devils, with reference to the red leathers worn by Broadbank, when almost all riders wore black.[3]
Career edit
Broadbank won the Southern Area League Riders' Championship, held at Rye House Stadium on 25 September 1955.[4] After impressing at Rye House he managed to get a full-time ride with the Wembley Lions in 1956. He then started his long association with Robins before moving on to the Hackney Hawks, Reading Racers and the Stoke Potters. Whilst with Robins he captained the side to the British League title in 1967. He reached the final of the Speedway World Championship on five occasions.
Broadbank was also a regular visitor to Australia and won the Australian Individual Speedway Championship at the Rockhampton Speedway in 1963, to date the last time a rider from England won the Australian title. Broadbank defeated Queensland rider Keith Gurtner, and a rising star from New Zealand named Ivan Mauger, to win the title.
At retirement he had earned 28 international caps for the England national speedway team and 8 caps for Great Britain.[2]
In 2006, Broadbank was awarded a belated testimonial for sixteen years of service with Swindon.[5]
World Final Appearances edit
- 1958 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 5pts - 1961 -
Malmö, Malmö Stadion - 16th - 2pts - 1962 - London, Wembley Stadium - 15th - 2pts
- 1964 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 9th - 6pts
- 1965 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - Did not ride
- 1966 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 13th - 4pts
- 1967 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - Did not ride
References edit
- ^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 515. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ a b Jacobs, Norman (2007). 70 Years of Rye House Speedway. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-07524-4162-7.
- ^ "Trophy ends the Speedway season". Eastbourne Gazette. 5 October 1955. Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Eaton, Dave (28 September 2006). "Broady's big night". Swindon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 18 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.