Cycle News Staff | August 22, 2023
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame announced the five inductees to be honored during the 2023 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on September 14 in Pickerington, Ohio.
Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana made this year’s cut.
Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana made the AMA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. Photo Courtesy of AMA
“The Class of 2023 includes individuals who have excelled in many different areas of motorcycling,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Some are champions in many of our premier racing disciplines—motocross, AMA Supercross and Grand National Cross Country—while others have been significant ambassadors for the sport, creating prestigious events and series that have introduced motorcycling to thousands. We are honored to recognize these motorcycling greats at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”
The induction ceremony will headline the AMA’s Hall of Fame Days, which takes place September 14-17. The ceremony will take place at the nearby Violet Township Event Center on Thursday evening*, followed by a cocktail reception at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
*A revised date for the induction ceremony was announced on August 22, 2023. Here is the statement and new schedule released by the AMA:
*To better accommodate the most prestigious guests of the 2023 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony—the Class of 2023, which includes Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana—the date of the ceremony has been moved from September 15 to Thursday, September 14. The event will still take place at the Violet Township Event Center in Pickerington, Ohio, at 5 p.m. with a Cocktail Reception taking place at the nearby AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum at 8 p.m.
“Working with our event partners, we were able to make this change at the request of the industry and the inductees themselves,” said AMA Director of Marketing and Communications Joy Burgess. “Planning for the induction begins 10 to 12 months ahead of time, well before Hall of Fame voters select the current class. As it turned out, this year’s class featured inductees with professional commitments Friday through Sunday, and we felt it was important to make this change to accommodate our honored guests. We are looking forward to an inspirational evening and a packed event as we celebrate the Hall of Fame Class of 2023!”
To give fans of the legendary members of this year’s class a chance to mingle with their heroes, the AMA has added a Cocktail Reception-only ticket to the lineup, which includes the reception at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, private unveiling of the Class of 2023 exhibit and a special meet and greet with newly inducted Hall of Famers. Tickets are limited, so get yours today.
With the Induction Ceremony moving to Thursday night, the AMA Hall of Fame Days program of events has also changed, and the updated schedule is as follows:
Thursday, September 14
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – AMA Commission Member Registration and Check-in
5 p.m. – 8 p.m. – AMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Hall of Fame Class Cocktail Reception and autograph session at the AMA Hall of Fame Museum
Friday, September 15
9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – AMA Commission Meetings
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – AMA Heritage Adventure Ride
Saturday, September 16
9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – AMA Hall of Fame Museum Open House
9: a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – AMA Member Meeting
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – AMA Hall of Fame STACYC Challenge & Pit Bike Exhibition
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – AMA Commission Meetings
4 p.m. – 7 p.m. – AMA Hall of Fame Bike Night and Bike Show
Sunday, September 17
9 a.m. – Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Mobility Commission Meeting
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – AMA Road Captain Workshop
Hall of Fame inductees are selected from eight areas of influence: Ambassadors/Industry, Design/Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership/Motorcycle Rights, Motocross/Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing and Specialty Competition.
RITA COOMBS
Along with Paul Schlegel and her husband, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dave Coombs, Rita Coombs—one of the owners of MX Sports—was responsible for the creation of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s in 1982. The event at Loretta’s has grown into the most prestigious and impactful amateur motocross event in the world over the last four decades. Coombs was also instrumental in creating the AMA Grand National Cross Country series as well as the AMA National Hare Scrambles championship.
RYAN DUNGEY
From 2007 to 2017, Ryan Dungey forged great success in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, tallying four 450SX and three 450MX titles. Dungey is one of only seven riders to have more than 30 450SX wins. His dominant run stateside was paired with three Motocross of Nations titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Dungey also won back-to-back ESPY Awards for Best Athlete in Men’s Action Sports (2015, 2016).
BARRY HAWK
With 98 national championship event wins, Barry Hawk cemented himself as one of the most successful off-road riders ever. Showing his versatility, he stands alone as the only rider to ever win AMA GNCC national titles on both an ATV and a motorcycle. Retiring from racing in 2010 with eight AMA GNCC national championships, Hawk transitioned to manager of the Coastal Racing GasGas Factory Racing team, where he has helped propel riders to numerous wins and championships.
GRANT LANGSTON
Grant Langston is the only rider to win a World Motocross Championship, an AMA Motocross Championship and both AMA Supercross Regional Championships — East and West — in the 125/250cc classification. Langston added both an AMA Supermoto title and an AMA 450cc Motocross title to his resume before retiring, at which point he launched two successful careers as a multi-line dealership owner and a race commentator for NBC Sports.
TRAVIS PASTRANA
A racer turned daredevil, Travis Pastrana used motorcycling to build himself into a mainstream star. At the competition level, Pastrana won the 2000 AMA 125cc National Motocross Championship, becoming the youngest rider (16 years, 10 months, 26 days) to win an AMA Pro Motocross title. He also added a 125cc East AMA Supercross Championship and 17 total medals at the X Games to his resume. The lead personality behind the Nitro Circus brand, which spans a reality TV show, movie, live performance and competitions, Pastrana has built a tremendous amount of notoriety and served as an inspiration to many across the world.
For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com
