Ron Preston
| Ron Preston | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  United States | |
| Date of birth | July 15, 1958 | |
| Place of birth | Newport Beach, USA | |
| Current club information | ||
| Career status | Retired | |
| Career history | ||
| Poole Pirates Eastbourne Eagles |
1979-1981 1982 | |
| Individual honours | ||
| European Junior Champion | 1979 | |
| Team honours | ||
| None | ||
Ronald Nunan Preston (born July 15, 1958 in Newport Beach, California, USA) is an American former international motorcycle speedway rider who was the European Junior Champion in 1979.[1] Preston began his career at the Poole Pirates in 1979 and spent two years there before moving to the Eastbourne Eagles in 1982. He was the first American to take part in the World Junior Championships and won silver medals with the USA team at the 1980 and 1981 Speedway World Team Cup.[2] He retired from the sport at the end of the 1982 season due to a knee injury. Preston has two children named Sarah and Hannah, and is married to Julie.
Preston was slated to ride in the 1979 Speedway World Pairs Championship Final with Bruce Penhall at the Speedway Center in Vojens, Denmark after first Kelly Moran had to pull out due to injuries suffered in a practice crash and the Moran's replacement Steve Gresham failed to arrive. However, Preston was left stranded at the Heathrow Airport in London, England and could not make it to Denmark in time, which forced Penhall to ride the Pairs Final alone.