Michael Coles
Born (1965-08-11) 11 August 1965
Exeter, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1982-1987, 1996-2004Exeter Falcons
1984Weymouth Wildcats
1988Mildenhall Fen Tigers
1989-1993Edinburgh Monarchs
1994Belle Vue Aces
1995Oxford Cheetahs
1997King's Lynn Stars
2005Newport Wasps
2006Stoke Potters
2006Plymouth Devils
2007Berwick Bandits
2007Glasgow Tigers
Individual honours
1993Scottish Open Champion
Team honours
2000Premier League Champion
2004Premier Trophy Winner
1993British League Div 2 Fours Winner
1997Young Shield

Michael Timothy Coles (born 11 August 1965 in Exeter, England),[1] is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from England.[2]

Career

Coles first rode in the British speedway leagues for his home town club Exeter Falcons during the 1982 National League season.[3] However he only made a handful appearances in his first three seasons with the club before making his breakthrough in 1985, improving his average to 6.28 and becoming a regular starter for Exeter. He spent six seasons at Exeter before joining Mildenhall Fen Tigers for the 1988 National League season and then Edinburgh Monarchs the following season.[2]

At Edinburgh, Coles established himself as a heat leader and during his fifth and final season with the Scottish club in 1993, he averaged 8.57 and helped the team win the Fours Championship during the 1993 British League Division Two season.[4] In 1994, he moved to the highest division after signing for the Belle Vue Aces and the following season rode for Oxford Cheetahs.[5]

In 1996, he returned to his first club Exeter and won the Young Shield in 1997. Arguably his finest season was 2000, when he won the league title with Exeter and topped the team's averages at 9.26. After the 2004 season with Exeter (his 15th with the club) he rode for several teams before ending his career with the Glasgow Tigers in the 2007 Premier League.[6]

Coles represented the England national speedway team at test level[7] and at retirement he had earned 2 international caps.[2]

Personal life

Michael Coles is the father of professional rider Connor Coles and the son of former rider Bob Coles.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. 1 2 3 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "1989 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Invaders can't take the heat". Derby Evening Telegraph. 26 July 1993. Retrieved 13 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0
  8. ↑ "British Speedway rider profile". British Speedway. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
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