| Junior Bainbridge | |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Birth Date: | 26 April 1924 |
| Birth Place: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Death Place: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Career1: | Glasgow Tigers |
| Years1: | 1947–1953 |
| Career2: | Ipswich Witches |
| Years2: | 1954–1957 |
| Teamhonour1: | Scottish Cup |
| Teamyear1: | 1952, 1953 |
Ronald Arthur Bainbridge (26 April 1924 – 5 November 2000) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. During his speedway career he rode as Junior Bainbridge and earned 9 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1] [2]
Bainbridge, born in Melbourne, was spotted riding by Charlie Spinks in 1946.[2] before beginning his British leagues career riding for Glasgow during the 1947 Speedway National League Division Two season.[3] After two moderate seasons his average improved significantly during 1949, when he hit 8.17 and then increased this to 8.68 in 1950.[4] He became a crowd favourite and expectations were high when he rode for them.[5]
He reached the Championship round of the 1950 Individual Speedway World Championship and the 1951 Individual Speedway World Championship[6] and averaged an impressive 9.18 in 1952 for Glasgow.[7]
His final season at Glasgow was in the 1953 Speedway National League Division Two, because the following year he signed for Ipswich Witches at a cost of £500, to help clear the debts of the Scottish club.[2]
He would spend four years with the Suffolk club, recording 9.32 and topping the team's averages during his first season with them.[6]
He retired form British speedway after the 1957 season but returned to Australia and continued to ride for a few years, riding for Australia against England as late as January 1960.[2]