Born in
Peterborough, Lewis is the son of
Carl Blackbird and nephew of
Mark Blackbird and
Paul Blackbird, all former riders. Before taking up speedway, he rode in
motocross from the age of fourteen. In 2010 he bought a speedway bike and returned to the sport. He was signed to ride for
King's Lynn Young Stars National League team in 2011, but transferred to
Mildenhall Fen Tigers before the season started. He started the 2012 season as the Fen Tigers team captain. His good form continued in 2012, although a dislocated shoulder sustained in a fall at King's Lynn in May kept him out for a few weeks. An injury to
Simon Nielsen in June 2012 saw Blackbird guest again in the Premier League for
Leicester Lions, going on to be declared in the team for the remainder of the season in July. In July 2012, with
Cameron Heeps he won the
National League Pairs Championship for Mildenhall. With Mildenhall he also won the National League title, the National League Knock Out Cup, the
National League Fours, and the National League Trophy in 2012. He re-signed with Leicester for the 2013 Premier League season and shortly afterwards also signed to ride for
Dudley Heathens in the National League in 2013. In May 2013, Blackbird moved to
Scunthorpe Scorpions from Leicester but went on to win the National League Fours again but this time with Dudley. In 2014, he rode for his home town team
Peterborough Panthers in the Premier League and
Eastbourne Eagles in the
Elite League. He stayed with the Panthers in 2015 and rode for
Wolverhampton Wolves in the Elite League. On 20 August 2015, after the latest of several crashes during the season, Blackbird announced his retirement from the sport with immediate effect. ==References==