Blair Morgan

Blair Morgan (born October 9, 1975) is a multi-time CMRC Canadian National championship-winning motocross racer who currently races for Ski-Doo Racing. He is also a multi-time World Snocross snowmobile champion and a 5-times X-Games gold medalist. Blair is a fan-favorite in the sport for his sheer speed and determination. He has made several comebacks from devastating injuries, and is crediting with pioneering the modern snocross riding style, drawing comparisons to Jeremy McGrath of supercross for his innovation.

Motocross

Blair started racing in his early teens in his home province of Saskatchewan. He progressed through to the ranks of Pro, and made his debut on the Canadian National scene in 1993 at Walton Raceway's TransCan GNC. After several seasons of working his way up the rankings behind riders like Carl Vaillancourt and Marco Dube, Morgan came into his own in 1997 and decimated the Nationals as a member of Two Wheel Kawasaki. He won the 250 title the next year, but lost the overall crown to Dube. He would regain the number one plate in 1999. 2000 marked a year of significant growth for the Canadian Nationals, and Morgan switched to the Blackfoot Honda team. Injury held him to a #7 ranking for the year, but he would rebound in style in 2001 by battling Jean Sebastien Roy throughout the year. Morgan scored more wins, but the title went to the Quebecer. Morgan won the four-stroke class at the US Open of Supercross that fall, the first win for the Honda CRF450R. 2002 was another season of terrific battles between the two teammates, but again Morgan ended up with the #2 plate. Blair started his own Yamaha team for 2003, but a horrific accident at Nanaimo, British Columbia, ruined his season. A series of nagging injuries from both motocross and snocross held back Blair's pure speed for the next few years. Finally, in 2006, Morgan returned to form with Blackfoot Honda and scored multiple podiums to finish the year 3rd overall behind Dusty Klatt and Roy. On September 21, 2008 Blair had a bad crash at the Montreal supercross and is currently in the beginning stages of recovery. He suffered a broken back which severed his spinal cord. The Canadian Motocross Des Nations Team dedicated this year's MXDN race to Blair.

Snocross

Blair started racing snocross for Arctic Cat full-time in 1997. His stand-up, high-flying and aggressive motocross style revolutionized the sport, and it would be a long time before Morgan would face much challenge. He claimed the majority of the race wins and championships for the next several seasons. The 2001–2002 season would see Blair switch to Ski-Doo and continue his winning ways, until, in 2003, motocross injuries derailed further title hopes. He would bounce back to win again in 2004, and get injured again in 2005. Through it all, Morgan always comes through at the X-Games, finding a way to win almost every year. For the 2007 and 2008 X-Games, Morgan has struggled and has not been able to take the title since 2006. In June 2008, it was reported that Morgan was "looking for a new ride", therefore, making him a free agent. It is reported by the official Blair Morgan website that Morgan will be racing for Ski-Doo again for the 2008–2009 season.

Career titles

• 1999 CMRC National Motocross Champion
• 1997 CMRC National Motocross Champion
• 1998 CMRC 250 National Champion
• 5 X-Games Gold Medals (Snocross)
• Multi-time Snocross World Championships and race wins

Injury

On September 21, 2008, Blair severed his spine while practicing on a course that was to be his last before switching to sno-cross. He was paralyzed from the middle of the back down.^[1] Blair was injured at the Montreal Supercross.

References