Michael Coles (speedway rider)
{{Short description|British speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image =
| name= Michael Coles
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|8|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Exeter, England
| years1 = 1982-1987, 1996-2004
| career1 = Exeter Falcons
| years2 = 1984
| career2 = Weymouth Wildcats
| years3 = 1988
| career3 = Mildenhall Fen Tigers
| years4 = 1989-1993
| career4 = Edinburgh Monarchs
| years5 = 1994
| career5 = Belle Vue Aces
| years6 = 1995
| career6 = Oxford Cheetahs
| years7 = 1997
| career7 = King's Lynn Stars
| years8 = 2005
| career8 = Newport Wasps
| years9 = 2006
| career9 = Stoke Potters
| years10 = 2006
| career10 = Plymouth Devils
| years11 = 2007
| career11 = Berwick Bandits
| years12 = 2007
| career12 = Glasgow Tigers
| indivyear1 = 1993
| indivhonour1 = Scottish Open Champion
| teamyear1 = 2000
| teamhonour1 = Premier League Champion
| teamyear2 = 2004
| teamhonour2 = Premier Trophy Winner
| teamyear3 = 1993
| teamhonour3 = British League Div 2 Fours Winner
| teamyear4 = 1997
| teamhonour4 = Young Shield
}}
Michael Timothy Coles (born 11 August 1965 in Exeter, England),Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. {{ISBN|0-948882-81-6}} is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from England.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=25 June 2023}}
Career
Coles first rode in the British speedway leagues for his home town club Exeter Falcons during the 1982 National League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1989fixtures.pdf |title=1989 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=1 November 2023}} 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.
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.{{cite news |title=Invaders can't take the heat |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |date=26 July 1993 |access-date=13 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005014/19930726/033/0033 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} In 1994, he moved to the highest division after signing for the Belle Vue Aces{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004985/19940226/081/0082 |title=Treble signing opens new era |website=Manchester Evening News |date=26 February 1994 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 September 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19940226/050/0050 |title=Edinburgh last night signed speedway ace Lawrence Hare |website=Daily Record |date=26 February 1994 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 September 2024}} and the following season rode for Oxford Cheetahs.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=1 November 2023}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Rider_Index_2008.pdf |title=2008 Rider index |website=British Speedway |access-date=17 February 2023}}
Coles represented the England national speedway team at test levelOakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. {{ISBN|0-9552376-1-0}} and at retirement he had earned 2 international caps.
Personal life
Michael Coles is the father of professional rider Connor Coles and the son of former rider Bob Coles.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/player/coles-connor/ |title=British Speedway rider profile |website=British Speedway |access-date=2 October 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coles, Michael Timothy}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:English motorcycle racers
Category:Sportspeople from Exeter
Category:Belle Vue Aces riders
Category:Berwick Bandits riders
Category:Edinburgh Monarchs riders
Category:Exeter Falcons riders
Category:Mildenhall Fen Tigers riders