# Chris Morton

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English motorcycle speedway rider (born 1956)

Chris Morton Born (1956-07-22) 22 July 1956 (age 69) Davyhulme, England Nationality British (English) Career history 1973 Ellesmere Port Gunners 1973–1990 Belle Vue Aces 1993 Sheffield Tigers Individual honours 1980 Intercontinental Champion 1983 British Champion 1983, 1987, 1993 Northern Riders Champion 1984 British League Riders' Champion 1974 British Under-21 Champion 1978 Volkswagen/Daily Mirror Grand Prix 1988 Ace of Aces Grasstrack Champion 1980 Manpower Trophy 1980 Daily Mirror Golden Hammer Team honours 1973, 1975 British League KO Cup winner 1980 World Team Cup Winner 1982 British League Champion 1984 World Pairs Champion 1984 British League Pairs Champion 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 Northern Trophy 1983 British League Cup Winner

**Christopher John Morton**, [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) (born 22 July 1956[1]) is a former [motorcycle speedway](/source/Motorcycle_speedway) rider from England.[2] He earned 115 international caps for the [England national speedway team](/source/England_national_speedway_team) and 7 caps for the Great Britain team, making him the third most capped England & British rider of all-time.[3]

## Career

Born in [Davyhulme](/source/Davyhulme), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), he rode bikes from a young age at the farm of [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider))' parents. Morton made his debut for [Ellesmere Port Gunners](/source/Ellesmere_Port_Gunners) (on loan from [Belle Vue Aces](/source/Belle_Vue_Aces)) on 15 May 1973. He showed rapid improvement then following an injury to Aces Captain [Chris Pusey](/source/Chris_Pusey_(speedway_rider)) in June 1973 he was drafted into the Belle Vue team scoring 6 points on his debut in an away meeting at Cradley Heath. The following season he became [British Under-21 Champion](/source/British_Speedway_Under_21_Championship) at just 17 years of age.

During the late 1970s, Morton was a guest resident international rider at the famous [Rowley Park Speedway](/source/Rowley_Park_Speedway) in [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) where he often rode against the likes of home town hero [John Boulger](/source/John_Boulger) and [Mildura](/source/Mildura)'s [Phil Crump](/source/Phil_Crump).

He rode for the [England](/source/Great_Britain_speedway_team) team at test level and represented them in the [World Team Cup](/source/Speedway_World_Team_Cup), winning the competition in 1980.

Morton became [British Champion](/source/British_Speedway_Championship) in 1983 and [World Pairs Champion](/source/Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) with best friend [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider)) in [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship).

He won the 1984 [British League Riders' Championship](/source/British_League_Riders'_Championship), held at [Hyde Road](/source/Hyde_Road_(speedway)) on 20 October.[4]

He rode for Belle Vue for 18 seasons, starting for the [1973 British League season](/source/1973_British_League_season)[5] and ending after the [1990 British League season](/source/1990_British_League_season).[6] During the 18 seasons he regularly averaged around the 10 point mark, including an impressive 10.30 and 10.31 in 1983 and 1984 respectively.

## After retirement

He retired from riding in 1990, leaving a legacy of being one of the most significant riders ever to ride for Belle Vue. In 1991, he became the manager of [Berwick Bandits](/source/Berwick_Bandits) in 1991.[7] He also played a major role in the introduction of speedway to [Buxton](/source/Buxton_Hitmen) in 1994.[8]

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 position of Operations Director, having previously also acted as team manager.[9][10]

He was awarded his [MBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) for services to speedway in 1992. In 2024, he was part of a team that undertook a marathon charity cycling ride for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund but was taken ill and required an emergency hernia operation.[11]

## Family

Brother [Dave](/source/Dave_Morton_(speedway_rider)) was also a speedway rider.

## World Final Appearances

### Individual World Championship

- [1976](/source/1976_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Chorzów](/source/Chorz%C3%B3w), [Silesian Stadium](/source/Silesian_Stadium) - 11th - 6pts

- [1980](/source/1980_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Ullevi](/source/Ullevi) - 9th - 8pts

- [1981](/source/1981_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [London](/source/London), [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)) - 11th - 5pts

- [1983](/source/1983_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Norden](/source/Norden%2C_Lower_Saxony), [Motodrom Halbemond](/source/Motodrom_Halbemond) - 10th - 7pts

- [1986](/source/1986_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 9th - 8pts

- [1987](/source/1987_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Amsterdam)) - 13th - 9pts

- [1988](/source/1988_Individual_Speedway_World_Championship) - [Vojens](/source/Vojens), [Speedway Center](/source/Vojens_Speedway_Center) - 10th - 6pts[12]

### World Pairs Championship

- [1981](/source/1981_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with [Dave Jessup](/source/Dave_Jessup)) - 6th - 17pts (10)

- [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Pairs_Championship) - [Lonigo](/source/Lonigo), [Santa Marina Stadium](/source/Santa_Marina_Stadium) (with [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider))) - **Winner** - 27pts (14)

### World Team Cup

- [1980](/source/1980_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Wrocław](/source/Wroc%C5%82aw), [Olympic Stadium](/source/Olympic_Stadium_(Wroc%C5%82aw)) (with [Michael Lee](/source/Michael_Lee_(speedway_rider)) / [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider)) / [Dave Jessup](/source/Dave_Jessup)) - **Winner** - 40pts (11)

- [1981](/source/1981_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Olching](/source/Olching), [Olching Speedwaybahn](/source/Olching_Speedwaybahn) (with [Dave Jessup](/source/Dave_Jessup) / [Kenny Carter](/source/Kenny_Carter) / [John Davis](/source/John_Davis_(speedway_rider)) / [Gordon Kennett](/source/Gordon_Kennett)) - **2nd** - 29pts (11)

- [1983](/source/1983_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - Vojens, Speedway Center (with [Kenny Carter](/source/Kenny_Carter) / [Michael Lee](/source/Michael_Lee_(speedway_rider)) / [Dave Jessup](/source/Dave_Jessup) / [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider))) - **2nd** - 29pts (7)

- [1984](/source/1984_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Leszno](/source/Leszno), [Alfred Smoczyk Stadium](/source/Alfred_Smoczyk_Stadium) (with [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(speedway_rider)) / [Simon Wigg](/source/Simon_Wigg) / [Phil Collins](/source/Phil_Collins_(speedway_rider)) / [Neil Collins](/source/Neil_Collins_(speedway_rider))) - **2nd** - 24pts (4)

- [1986](/source/1986_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), [Ullevi](/source/Ullevi), Vojens, Speedway Center, [Bradford](/source/Bradford), [Odsal Stadium](/source/Odsal_Stadium) (with [Simon Wigg](/source/Simon_Wigg) / [Kelvin Tatum](/source/Kelvin_Tatum) / [Jeremy Doncaster](/source/Jeremy_Doncaster) / [Neil Evitts](/source/Neil_Evitts) / [Marvyn Cox](/source/Marvyn_Cox)) - **3rd** - 81pts (20)

- [1988](/source/1988_Speedway_World_Team_Cup) - [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California), [Veterans Memorial Stadium](/source/Veterans_Memorial_Stadium_(Long_Beach)) (with [Simon Wigg](/source/Simon_Wigg) / [Simon Cross](/source/Simon_Cross) / [Kelvin Tatum](/source/Kelvin_Tatum) / [Gary Havelock](/source/Gary_Havelock)) - 4th - 22pts (4)

## World Longtrack Championship

**Finalist**

- 1980 - Scheeßel 5pts (14th)

- 1982 - Esbjerg 4pts (14th)

- 1985 - Esbjerg 0pts (20th) Reserve

- 1987 - Muhldorf 2pts (17th)

- **1988 - Scheeßel 31pts (Third)**

- 1989 - Marianske Lazne 8pts (15th)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Oakes, P & Rising, P (1986). *1986 Speedway Yearbook*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-948882-00-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-948882-00-X)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Lawson, K (2018) "Riders, Teams and Stadiums". [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-244-72538-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-244-72538-9)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-URI_3-0)** ["ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Speedway"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19841028/055/0055). *Sunday Sun (Newcastle)*. 28 October 1984. Retrieved 4 June 2023 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Rider averages 1929 to 2009"](https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf) (PDF). *Speedway Researcher*. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022"](https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf) (PDF). *British Speedway*. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Morton C. (2005). *Until The Can Ran Out*. NPI Media Group. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7524-3473-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7524-3473-X)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Buxton Speedway is under Orders"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004985/19940713/059/0059). *Manchester Evening News*. 13 July 1994. Retrieved 27 February 2024 – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Frost_9-0)** Frost, Richard (2006) "Morton in Takeover", *[Speedway Star](/source/Speedway_Star)*, 14 October 2006, p. 3

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "[Karlsson out to tame the Wolves](http://menmedia.co.uk/middletonguardian/sport/s/1202377_karlsson_out_to_tame_the_wolves)", *[Middleton Guardian](/source/Middleton_Guardian)*, 1 April 2010, retrieved 22 July 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Dramatic conclusion for heroic speedway fundraising ride"](https://cumbriacrack.com/2024/09/02/dramatic-conclusion-for-heroic-speedway-fundraising-ride/). *Cumbria Crack*. Retrieved 19 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). *A History of the World Speedway Championship*. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7524-2402-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7524-2402-5)

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chris Morton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Morton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Morton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.