Mitch Shirra
 |
|
| Born |
27 September 1959 Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Nationality |
 New Zealand
|
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Retired |
| Career history | |
| 1975-1982 | Coventry Bees |
| 1975 | Coatbridge Tigers |
| 1983-1986, 1988-1989, 1991 | Reading Racers |
| 1987, 1992 | Swindon Robins |
| 1993 | Ipswich Witches |
| Individual honours | |
| 1978 | Australasian Champion |
| 1980 | Brandonapolis |
| 1982, 1983, 1984 | New Zealand Champion |
| 1984 | Scottish Open Champion |
| 1987 | Overseas Champion |
| 1991 | New Zealand Long Track GP |
| 1991 | Australian Long Track GP |
| Team honours | |
| 1979 | World Team Cup |
| 1978, 1979 | British League Champion |
| 1978 | British League Pairs Champion |
| 1976, 1977, 1978 | Midland Cup |
Mitchell Owen (Mitch) Shirra (born 27 September 1958 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.
Shirra began riding at the Kembla Grange Speedway in New South Wales in 1973 at the age of 14 (he actually lied about his age in order to race as you had to be at least 16 years old), although he would consider the Liverpool Speedway in Sydney as his home track. Early in his career this actually led him to ride as an Australian rider, though by the late 1970s when his true age and nationality was revealed he would be considered a New Zealand rider.
In 1975 he joined the Coventry Bees and was loaned out to the Coatbridge Tigers for a year. From 1976-1982 he rode for Coventry then transferred to the Reading Racers. In 1987 he was loaned out to the Swindon Robins but returned to Reading in 1988-1989. In 1990 he was banned from the British League for a season for bringing the sport into disrepute after failing two drug tests. Controversy about the decision soon followed and the ban was lifted by the speedway control board. After 3 months, Mitch returned to racing for the remainder of the 1990 season. He returned to race for Reading in 1991, Swindon in 1992, the Ipswich Witches in 1993 and 1994 he was awarded best club rider that season.
In February 1978, Shirra won his first championship meeting when he took out the Australasian Championship at the Western Springs Speedway in Auckland.
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