Malcolm Ballard
{{short description|British former motorcycle speedway rider|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Malcolm Ballard
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|8|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Catsfield, East Sussex
| death_date =
| death_place =
| years1 = 1971-1972
| career1 = Eastbourne Eagles
| years2 = 1971
| career2 = Cradley Heathens
| years3 = 1971
| career3 = Newport Wasps
| years4 = 1971
| career4 = Hackney Hawks
| years5 = 1972-1973
| career5 = Oxford Rebels
| years6 = 1974
| career6 = Poole Pirates
| years7 = 1974
| career7 = Leicester Lions
| teamyear1 = 1971
| teamhonour1 = British League Division Two Champion
}}
Malcolm J. Ballard (born 6 August 1948) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate Rider Index |website=British Speedway |access-date=9 May 2023}}
Career
Ballard learned to ride a speedway bike at Eastbourne's winter training school, and signed for Division Two Eastbourne Eagles in 1971.Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester: The Lions Roar, Automedia, p. 158 He averaged over 8.7 in his first season, which also saw him get Division One opportunities with Cradley Heathens, Newport Wasps, and Hackney Hawks. In 1972 his average rose to almost 10 points per match, and he doubled up in Division One with Oxford Rebels, averaging over 6.
Ballard was selected for the Young England (Division Two) team that won a series against Sweden in 1972, and injury prevented him travelling with the Great Britain team that toured Australia the following Winter."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ubIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=reUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=856,10539676&dq=malcolm-ballard+speedway&hl=en Substitute Riders in British Solo Team]", Sydney Morning Herald, 26 October 1972, p. 14, retrieved 2012-03-15 He moved to Oxford full-time in 1973, and again averaged over 6. In 1974 he rode for Poole Pirates, but departed after a few matches following a row with management, and signed for Leicester Lions{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19740506/048/0048 |title=Ballard to make debut |website=Leicester Daily Mercury|date=6 May 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 September 2024}} after the promoter Ron Wilson made a substantial bid for his services.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19740424/048/0048 |title=Wilson bids for Ballard |website=Leicester Daily Mercury |date=24 April 1974 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 September 2024}} He struggled to score consistently, partly due to mechanical problems, and retired from the sport before the season ended.
In 2007, he joined Lewis Bridger's pit crew."[http://www.spensites.co.uk/07lbrnews0710.html#top Team LBR]", retrieved 2012-03-15
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballard, Malcolm}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:English motorcycle racers
Category:Eastbourne Eagles riders
Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders
Category:Leicester Lions riders
Category:Cradley Heathens riders
Category:20th-century English sportsmen
{{England-speedway-bio-stub}}