Mitchell Owen Shirra (born 27 September 1958 in Auckland) is a New Zealand former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees,[1] Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.
[citation needed] In 1975, Shirra joined the Coventry Bees[4] and was loaned out to the Coatbridge Tigers for a year.
[6] 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.
[9][10] That same year Coventry Bees won the British league title with Shirra riding at number 3.
[13] Shirra competed in his first individual World Final in 1983 at the Motodrom Halbemond in Norden, West Germany where he finished in 11th place having scored 7 points.
During an open meeting at Western Springs in Auckland, Shirra sustained a shattered pelvis and femur along with internal injuries.
[citation needed] During 1991/92, Mitch to date is the only rider to win all three race meetings at the Australasian Long track series (Albion Park Paceway in Brisbane, the Bathurst Showgrounds and the Addington Raceway in Christchurch).