Chris Morton
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Morton MBE
(born 22 July 1956 in Davyhulme
, Lancashire
) is a former motorcycle speedway
rider. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins
' parents.
(on loan from Belle Vue
) on 15 May 1973 He showed rapid improvement then following an injury to Aces Captain Chris Pusey in June 1973 Chris was drafted into the Belle Vue
team scoring 6 points on his debut in an away meeting at Cradley Heath.
He rode for the England team at test level and represented them in the World Team Cup
, winning the competition in 1980.
Morton became British Champion
in 1983 and World Pairs Champion
with best friend Peter Collins
in 1984
.
in 1991. He also played a major role in the introduction of speedway to Buxton
in 1994.
In 2005 he returned to Belle Vue as commercial manager and then in December 2006 he was part of a consortium who bought the Aces
and currently holds the positions of Operations Director and Team Manager.
He was awarded his MBE
for services to speedway in 1992.
Brother Dave was also a speedway rider.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 22 July 1956 in Davyhulme
Davyhulme
Davyhulme is a locality within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it is contiguous with the town of Urmston....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) is a former motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins
Peter Collins (speedway rider)
Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
' parents.
Brief career summary
Morton made his debut for Ellesmere Port GunnersEllesmere Port Gunners
Ellesmere Port Gunners were an English speedway team in Ellesmere Port, Wirral, which operated from 1972 until their closure in 1985.-History:...
(on loan from Belle Vue
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
) on 15 May 1973 He showed rapid improvement then following an injury to Aces Captain Chris Pusey in June 1973 Chris was drafted into the Belle Vue
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
team scoring 6 points on his debut in an away meeting at Cradley Heath.
He rode for the England team at test level and represented them in the World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
, winning the competition in 1980.
Morton became British Champion
British Speedway Championship
The British Speedway Championship is an annual motorcycle speedway competition open to British national speedway riders. The winner of the event becomes the British Speedway Champion. It has been open in the past to riders from British dominions and was dominated in its early years by riders from...
in 1983 and World Pairs Champion
Speedway World Pairs Championship
The Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first competition was held in 1968 and the final competition was held in 1993. From 1994 it was merged with the World Team Cup.- Rules :...
with best friend Peter Collins
Peter Collins (speedway rider)
Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
in 1984
1984 Speedway World Pairs Championship
The 1983 Speedway World Pairs Championship was the fifteenth FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship. The final took place in Lonigo, Italy. The championship was won by England...
.
World Final Appearances
- 19761976 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1976 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 5, 1976 Chorzów, Silesian Stadium...
-
Poland ChorzówChorzówChorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Silesian Stadium - 11th - 6pts - 19801980 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1980 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 5, 1980 Göteborg, Ullevi...
-
Sweden Göteborg, UlleviUlleviUllevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
- 9th - 8pts - 19811981 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship.1981 was the last of a record 26 times that London's famous Wembley Stadium hosted the World Final.-World final:*September 5, 1981 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Sam Bass-Heat Results:...
-
United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 11th - 5pts - 19831983 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1983 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 4, 1983 Norden, Motodrom Halbemond*Referee: Rolf RandborgKarl Maier replaced the injured Petr Ondrašík-Classification:...
-
Germany NordenNorden, Lower SaxonyNorden is a town in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the North Sea shore, in East Frisia.-External links:* *...
, Motodrom Halbemond - 10th - 7pts - 19861986 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1986 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*August 30, 1986 Chorzów, Silesian Stadium...
- Poland ChorzówChorzówChorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Silesian Stadium - 9th - 8pts - 19871987 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1987 Individual Speedway World Championship was contested for the one and only time over two days. The scores from both meetings were combined to produce the eventual winner.-Day 1:*September 5, 1987 Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium-Day 2:...
-
Netherlands AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Olympic Stadium - 13th - 9pts - 19881988 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1988 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 3, 1988 Vojens, Vojens Speedway Center...
-
Denmark VojensVojensVojens Municipality , was a municipality in the former South Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality, which existed from 1970 to 2006, covered an area of 298 km², and had a total population of 16,792...
, Speedway Center - 10th - 6pts
After retirement
He retired from riding in 1990, becoming manager of Berwick BanditsBerwick Bandits
The Berwick Bandits are a speedway team based at Shielfield Park, Berwick upon Tweed, the club competes in the British Premier League.-Brief history:...
in 1991. He also played a major role in the introduction of speedway to Buxton
Buxton Hitmen
The Buxton Hitmen are a speedway team in the British National League . The 2010 team achieved a unique treble winning the League, Knock-Out Cup and National Trophy.-Honours:*Conference KO Cup 2002...
in 1994.
In 2005 he returned to Belle Vue as commercial manager and then in December 2006 he was part of a consortium who bought the Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
and currently holds the positions of Operations Director and Team Manager.
He was awarded his MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to speedway in 1992.
Brother Dave was also a speedway rider.