Mick McKeon (speedway rider)
| Born | 4 March 1954 (age 70) Perth, Australia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Career history | |
| 1975–1977 | Coatbridge/Glasgow Tigers |
| 1975 | Ellesmere Port Gunners |
| 1977–1980 | Halifax Dukes |
| Individual honours | |
| 1978 | Australasian Championship silver medal |
| 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986 | Western Australian champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1980 | Northern Trophy |
Michael John McKeon (born 4 March 1954) is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2][3][4]
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.[5] He continued to ride for Coatbridge during the 1976 and 1977 seasons, improving his average to 7.95.[6]
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.[7]
In 1978, he represented the Australia national speedway team during the 1978 Speedway World Team Cup[8] and won the silver medal at the 1978 Australasian Individual Speedway Championship. He rode again for Australia in the 1980 Speedway World Team Cup[9] and would ride for Australia eleven times in total.[7]
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]- ^ Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook, Rider Bio Mick McKeon. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 978-0904584509.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1990). Speedway Yearbook 1990, Rider Bio Mick McKeon. Front Page Books. ISBN 0-948882-15-8.
- ^ a b "Mick McKeon". Speedway Past. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "Gunners step in to sign Aussie rider". Liverpool Echo. 19 June 1975. Retrieved 23 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mick McKeon". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Ultimate Rider Index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "1978 Speedway World Team Cup". International Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "1980 Speedway World Team Cup". International Speedway. Retrieved 28 April 2023.