Blackwell
Honored with
Award
D
ubya USA and Glen Helen Raceway
announced that the 2021 recipient
of the Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime
Achievement Award is American racer
Mark Blackwell.
In addition to his impressive early
motocross achievements,
Blackwell was a pioneer
in the advent of motocross
schools and team manage-
ment for Suzuki, Husqvar-
na and Victory.
Blackwell was born in
1953 and grew up when
the sport of motocross
was emerging in the USA. In the late 1960s,
Blackwell became one of the earliest American
stars, riding Yamahas and getting a factory CZ
ride. 1970 rolled in, and Edison Dye convinced
Blackwell to ride for a new-to-America brand,
Husqvarna. Blackwell went to Sweden to train
with the Euro Husky riders, setting the tone for
Blackwell's future motocross schools. He was 17
at the time!
In 1971, Blackwell raced the Trans-AMA Se-
ries, and emerged as the top American, beating
Brad Lackey by just one point. The following year
Blackwell won the Daytona Motocross, which
later evolved into the Daytona Supercross, and
then traveled to Europe to participate on the
Grand Prix circuit. By 1973, he was an estab-
lished Grand Prix rider. He dominated the Florida
Series and had his first podium finish on the GP
Circuit. At the GP in Luxemburg, he suffered a
freak injury (a rock hit his eye in the muddy race),
resulting in a cataract problem which ultimately
ended his racing career.
Blackwell continued to race in selected events
in the USA through 1975. He also taught at the
Suzuki motocross training school and did product
development for several companies including Fox,
Goodyear, Scott Goggles and Scott boots. He
also began his college education at this time.
Suzuki's MX team was struggling in 1977. Black-
well was asked to advise the team and, in 1978,
he took over as team manager. Under Blackwell's
guidance, Suzuki became the most successful
factory team in both motocross and Supercross
in the early 1980s, guiding such riders as Mark
Barnett, Danny LaPorte and Kent Howerton.
For these achievements and more, Blackwell
has been inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall
of Fame as well as the Trailblazers Hall of Fame.
He is a very worthy addition to the Glen Helen
Walk of Fame as the 2021 Edison Dye Motocross
Achievement Award.
The award presentation to Blackwell is sched-
uled for Sunday, November 7, at noon in the Glen
Helen Museum during the World Vet MX Champi-
onships.
CN
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 31 AUGUST 3, 2021 P27
Mark Blackwell
has been
named the
2021 recipient
of the Edison
Dye Motocross
Lifetime
Achievement
Award.
