Dick Bradley Explained

Dick Bradley
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Date:1924 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Netheravon, Wiltshire
Death Place:Chiseldon, Wiltshire
Career1:Bristol Bulldogs
Years1:1948-1955
Career2:Southampton Saints
Years2:1955-1963
Career3:Newport Wasps
Years3:1964-1965
Indivyear1:1951, 1952, 1953
Indivhonour1:Speedway World Championship finalist
Teamyear1:1962
Teamhonour1:National League Champion
Teamyear2:1961
Teamhonour2:National Trophy Winner
Teamyear3:1948, 1949, 1954
Teamhonour3:National League Division II Champion
Teamyear4:1949, 1956
Teamhonour4:National Trophy (Div 2) Winner
Teamhonour5:Provincial League KO Cup Winner
Teamyear5:1964
Teamyear6:1954
Teamhonour6:Southern Shield Winner

Derrick Edward Bradley (28 November 1924 – 30 October 2022) was an English motorcycle speedway rider.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Speedway career

When Bradley left school he became an apprentice mechanic for a company called Skurrays. After competing in grasstrack racing he was given a trial by Bristol Bulldogs manager Bill Hamblin.[3] He raced a few times in 1948 and was a league winner with Bristol during the 1948 Speedway National League Division Two season and the 1949 Speedway National League Division Two season.[5]

Bradley became one of the leading speedway riders in the 1950s. He reached the final of the Speedway World Championship on three occasions in the 1951 Individual Speedway World Championship, 1952 Individual Speedway World Championship and the 1953 Individual Speedway World Championship.[6] He was capped by the England national speedway team against Australia in 1952.[3]

He rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1948-1965, riding for various clubs.[7] His successes included winning the National Trophy and the National League with the Southampton Saints.

At retirement he had earned 24 international caps for the England national speedway team.[4]

Bradley lived in Chiseldon, Wiltshire for 65 years.[3] He died on 30 October 2022.[8]

World final appearances

Individual World Championship

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX. British Speedway. 5 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Dick Bradley. wwosbackup . 5 July 2021.
  3. . Obituaries . Speedway Star . 36 . 26 November 2022 .
  4. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 1 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Year by Year . Speedway Researcher . 29 October 2023.
  6. Web site: World Speedway finals. Speedway Researcher. 5 July 2021.
  7. Web site: History Archive. British Speedway. 5 July 2021.
  8. . Former World finalist Dick Bradley passed away . Speedway Star . 4 . 5 November 2022 .