David Norris (speedway rider)

David Michael Norris (born 20 August 1972, in Eastbourne, England)[1] is a former British international motorcycle speedway rider.[2][3]

David Norris
Born (1972-08-20) 20 August 1972
Eastbourne, England
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
Great Britain
1988–1989, 1993-1994, 1996-2007, 2009Eastbourne
1990, 1991–1993Ipswich
1995Reading
Poland
1995–1996Gdańsk
1999Toruń
Sweden
2000–2003Valsarna
2005Vargarna
Team honours
2000Elite League
1994British League Knockout Cup
1997, 2002Elite League KO Cup
1991British League Four Team

Career

Norris had stints with Reading Racers and Ipswich Witches, but primarily rode for the Eastbourne Eagles in the British League, Premier League, and Elite League. In 2007 he overtook Gordon Kennett as the Eagles' leading scorer, accumulating 5,197 points from just 577 meetings. He burst onto the world scene in 2004, aged 32, when adopting a new 'more professional' attitude towards the sport, going on to appear as a wild card in the British Speedway Grand Prix in 2004 and 2005.[4]

Retirement

A succession of injuries dogged him in 2006 and 2007 though and he announced his retirement from speedway in October 2007. He said: "I'm at a stage now where I can't take another hit on my head or neck. If I didn’t have kids and my wife I might consider carrying on, but you can’t just live for yourself."[5] However, after holding talks with his doctor and family, Norris came out of retirement and once again rode for the Eastbourne Eagles during the 2009 season, assisted in the pits by Dean Barker.[6]

References
  1. Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  2. "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. "David Michael Norris Wielka Brytania". Polish Speedway Database. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  4. Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-4250-3.
  5. "Norris retires from Eagles". www.elite-eagles.com. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  6. "Norris ready and raring to go". The Argus. 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2009.


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