Ricky Wells
Ricky Wells (born 27 July 1991 in Auckland, New Zealand), is an American international motorcycle speedway rider who rides for Poole in the SGB Premiership he doubles-up with Edinburgh who he also captains in the SGB Championship. He was the 2009 US National Champion. He is also a two time U.S. Under 21 National Champion.[1] He has been an international rider for the USA in the old Speedway World Cup.
| Born | 27 July 1991 Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Nationality | New Zealand, American |
| Current club information | |
| British league | Glasgow Tigers |
| Swedish league | Team Rapid |
| Career history | |
| Elite League/Premiership: | |
| 2009 | Coventry Bees |
| 2011–2013, 2015 | Wolverhampton Wolves |
| 2017 | Rye House Rockets |
| 2018 | Leicester Lions |
| 2019 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 2019 | Poole Pirates |
| Premier League/Championship: | |
| 2010 | Stoke Potters |
| 2011 | Plymouth Devils |
| 2012–2013 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2014–2016 | Workington Comets |
| 2017–2019 | Edinburgh Monarchs |
| 2020– | Glasgow Tigers |
| Individual honours | |
| 2009 | US National Champion |
| 2007, 2008 | Under 21 National Champion |
| 2004, 2005 | Youth National Champion |
| 2003, 2004, 2006 | Gumball Rally Champion |
| 2003, 2005 | California Youth Champion |
| 2007 | Fair Derby Champion |
| 2008 | Victorville Track Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 2007, 2008 | High Desert Pairs Champion |
US National Championship
On 19 September 2009 Ricky won the US national Championship, winning all of his heat races and the main event. Doing so beat out Mike Bast's record of being the youngest rider to ever win that event. He was victorious over former US Champions like, Billy Janniro, Bobby Schwartz, Charlie Venegas, Chris Manchester, Mike Faria and Josh Larsen.
World U21
Wells made his first appearance in the World Under 21 Championships in 2008 by winning the 2007 U.S. Under 21 National Championship. He scored 9 points in Qualifying Round 1 held in Norden, Germany[2] which qualified him to move onto Semi-Final Round 1 held in Rye House. Only scoring 6 points which did not qualify him to move onto The Final Round.[3]
Wells came home and won the 2008 U.S. Under 21 National Championship also which placed him in the 2009 World Under 21 Championships. Scoring 9, and beating off Pawel Zmarzlik and Kozza Smith in a race-off, in Qualifying Round 3 held in Rye House moved him into Semi-Final 2 held in Kumla. In Kumla, Ricky scored 5 and again was in a race-off situation, in which he beat Justin Sedgman and Patrik Pawlaszczyk to securing a reserve spot in the Final held in Goričan. Through the injury off Przemyslaw Pawlicki, Wells was awarded a place in the main line-up of the Final, where he scored 2 points, finishing in 16th place, ahead of Ludvig Lindgren.
British speedway
Wells rode for Elite League Coventry Bees in 2009 and for the Stoke Potters in the Premier League in 2010 on loan from Coventry.[4] In 2011 he rode for the Elite Shield-winning Wolverhampton Wolves team in the Elite League and Plymouth Devils in the Premier. He has remained with Wolves since, while riding for Sheffield Tigers in the Premier League since 2012.
Honours
World Championships
- Team World Championship (Speedway World Cup)
- 2009 - 4th place in the Qualifying Round 2
- Individual Under-21 World Championship
References
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