Dave Morton

Last updated

Dave Morton
Dave Morton.jpg
Born (1953-09-24) 24 September 1953 (age 71)
Eccles, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1971–1974 Crewe Kings
1973–1977 Hackney Hawks
1978–1980 Wolverhampton Wolves
1981–1985 Sheffield Tigers
1985 Ellesmere Port Gunners
1986-1987 Newcastle 'Federation Specials'/Diamonds
Individual honours
1975 New Zealand Champion
Team honours
1972 British League Div 2 Winner
1972 British League Div 2 KO Cup Winner
1985 National League Champion

David James Morton (born 24 September 1953 in Eccles, Lancashire) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from England. [1] He earned 18 international caps for the England national speedway team. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Morton started his career with the Crewe Kings during the 1971 British League Division Two season. [4] He was signed by Hackney Hawks in 1973 from Crewe Kings. He won the British Best Pairs in 1975 [5] and his best domestic season on an individual basis was the 1976 British League season, when he recorded an impressive 10.28 league average for Hackney. [6]

Morton almost missed the entire 1977 season with a broken leg. He requested a transfer in 1978 and was swapped for Finn Thomsen from Wolverhampton Wolves, where he rdoe for three seasons. [7]

He won the New Zealand Championship in 1975. He was also British Finalist (1975, 1976, 1978, 1980) and New Zealand Champion (1975). [8]

He retired in 1988.

Personal life

His brother Chris Morton was also a speedway rider and the third most England and British capped rider of all time. [2]

Morton now works for Swissport (formerly Servisair) at Manchester Airport as a technician on the ground support equipment for the aircraft when they are at the airport terminal. He lives in Manchester with his partner, Bernadette.

He likes music, especially blues and rock and bluegrass and plays a bit of banjo. He is the author of a memoir about his time in Speedway, Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN   978-0-244-72538-9
  2. 1 2 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Well, has Dave Morton got a hariy chest" . Daily Mirror. 22 April 1976. Retrieved 29 September 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Dave Morton". Grasstrack GB. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Wolves' Dave Morton's final surge" . Wolverhampton Express and Star. 24 May 1979. Retrieved 29 September 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Dave Morton". WWOS backup. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Morton, D (2017) “Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches”” ISBN   978-0992742713
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