Mike Broadbank

Mike Broadbank
Born (1934-09-23) 23 September 1934
Hoddesdon, England
Nationality  England
Current club information
Career status Retired
Career history
1955 Rye House Rockets
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
Team honours
1957 National League Champion
1967 British League Champion
1967 Midland Cup

Michael (Mike) 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.

Rye House

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.[1]

The training track operated a team known as the 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.[1]

Career

After impressing at Rye House he managed to get a full-time ride with the Wembley Lions. 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.

In 2006 Broadbank was awarded a belated testimonial for sixteen years of service with Swindon.[2]

World Final Appearances

References

  1. 1 2 Jacobs, Norman (2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  2. ↑ Eaton, Dave (28 September 2006). "Broady's big night". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
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