Ray Bales
.jpg) Ray Bales - speedway rider for Mildenhal Fen Tigers | |
| Born | 11 June 1951 Norwich, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1973 | Boston Barracudas |
| 1972–1976 | King's Lynn Stars |
| 1977–1978 | Leicester Lions |
| 1978–1982, 1984 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
| Team honours | |
| 1973 | British League Division Two Champion |
| 1973 | British League Div Two KO Cup Winner |
| 1979 | National League Champion |
| 1984 | Fours Championship winner |
Raymond H. Bales (born 11 June 1951) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in Norwich, Bales is the son of former international rider Billy Bales.[2] He took up speedway after a successful career in cycle speedway, in which he rode for Tottenham Kangaroos and also represented England.[2]
Bales' first speedway experience was at Boston in 1970 and he rode in nine matches for Boston Barracudas in Division Two in 1971.[2] He was a regular member of the Boston team in 1972 and 1973, winning the league and cup double there, and made his Division One debut for King's Lynn Stars in 1972.[2]
Bales rode regularly for King's Lynn in 1973 and made the move full-time in 1974,[3] averaging over five points per match in the top flight between 1974 and 1976.[2][4] In 1977, he moved on to Leicester Lions, where he struggled despite riding in every match, averaging below 4, and moved down to the National League with Mildenhall Fen Tigers in 1978,[5] scoring well until the end of the 1982 season.
After missing the 1983 season, Bales returned to Mildenhall for a final season in 1984. In 1984, he helped Mildenhall win the Fours Championship during the 1984 National League season[6]
Bales represented Young England against Sweden in 1973.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who in World Speedway, Studio Publications, ISBN 0-904584-04-6, p. 13
- ↑ Lawson, K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
- ↑ Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 158
- ↑ "Ray Bales signs on". Newmarket Journal. 16 March 1978. Retrieved 15 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Red hot Tigers takes fours crown at last". Cambridge Daily News. 23 July 1984. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.