Mark Blackwell is the recipient of the 2021 Edison Dye Lifetime Achievement Award. The award presentation is scheduled for Sunday, November 7 at noon in the Glen Helen Museum, with host Grant Langston.
Dubya 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 management for Suzuki, Husqvarna and, in more modern times, 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 series, 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 established 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 resulted in crashes and injuries.
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 a number of 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. Blackwell 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, Mark Blackwell was 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. A complete bio will be published in the Dubya World Vet program. The 2021 Dubya World Vet MX Championships is scheduled for November 6-7.
The award presentation to Blackwell is scheduled for Sunday, November 7 at noon in the Glen Helen Museum during the World Vet MX Championships. The host for this event will be Grant Langston.
For more information, visit www.glenhelen.com or call 909/880-3090
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