Career
Born in Barnsley, Bates had never been on any type of motorbike until the beginning of 2010, when he got his first 125cc speedway bike. After a few months of practicing on this he was ready for a 250cc, which he got in June 2010. After a few more months of practice he entered the 2011 250cc British Championship, where he finished 4th overall.
In January 2012 he started riding a 500cc for the first time, soon after he was offered a team place by the Fen Tigers.
He suffered a broken arm in a crash in August 2012, but made a successful return from injury and helped the Mildenhall Fen Tigers complete the National League "Grand Slam" that year. In 2013 he was signed by Scunthorpe Scorpions to ride in the Premier League.
