Dave Morton
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name= Dave Morton
| image =Dave Morton.jpg
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1953|9|24}}
| birth_place = Eccles, England
| years1 = 1971–1974
| career1 = Crewe Kings
| years2 = 1973–1977
| career2 = Hackney Hawks
| years4 = 1978–1980
| career4 = Wolverhampton Wolves
| years5 = 1981–1985
| career5 = Sheffield Tigers
| years6 = 1985
| career6 = Ellesmere Port Gunners
| years7 = 1986-1987
| career7 = Newcastle 'Federation Specials'/Diamonds
| indivyear1 = 1975
| indivhonour1 = New Zealand Champion
| teamyear1 = 1972
| teamhonour1 = British League Div 2 Winner
| teamyear2 = 1972
| teamhonour2 = [[British_League_Division_Two_Knockout_Cup|British League Div 2 KO Cup
Winner]]
| teamyear3 = 1985
| teamhonour3 = National League Champion
}}
David James Morton (born 24 September 1953 in Eccles, Lancashire) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from England.Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}} He earned 18 international caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=23 December 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19760422/185/0027 |title=Well, has Dave Morton got a hariy chest |website=Daily Mirror |date=22 April 1976 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}
Career
Morton started his career with the Crewe Kings during the 1971 British League Division Two season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=23 December 2023}} He was signed by Hackney Hawks in 1973 from Crewe Kings. He won the British Best Pairs in 1975{{cite web|url=https://grasstrackgb.co.uk/dave-morton/ |title=Dave Morton |website=Grasstrack GB |access-date=23 December 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=23 December 2023}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003126/19790524/668/0058 |title=Wolves' Dave Morton's final surge |website=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=24 May 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2024}}
He won the New Zealand Championship in 1975. He was also British Finalist (1975, 1976, 1978, 1980) and New Zealand Champion (1975).{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1831/dave-morton |title= Dave Morton |website=WWOS backup |access-date=23 December 2023}}
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.
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.Morton, D (2017) “Tapes, Breaks and Heartaches”” {{ISBN|978-0992742713}}
External links
- [http://www.hackneyhawks.co.uk// Hackney Hawks]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, David James}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:English motorcycle racers
Category:Wolverhampton Wolves riders
Category:Sheffield Tigers riders
Category:Ellesmere Port Gunners riders
Category:Newcastle Diamonds riders