Two previous AMA Motocross national champions – Pierre Karsmakers and Mike LaRocco – were among the seven people inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame this past weekend.
One of the first-ever champions of AMA Motocross, Karsmakers won the 500cc title in 1973 after Yamaha brought the three-time champion in Holland over to America to contest the series. He also captured the inaugural AMA Supercross title one year later. By teaching the American riders what it took to race motocross professionally against the top European riders, Karsmakers had left a lasting impact on the sport by the time he retired in 1979.
Mike LaRocco has made a seamless transition from factory racer to team manager.
(Photo: Racer X Archives)
Over the course of his 19-year pro career, LaRocco captured two AMA Motocross titles – a 500cc championship in 1993 and a 250cc championship in 1994. He retired in 2006 but reemerged with the GEICO Honda team in 2010 as team manger, a role he still holds today. In his time with GEICO Honda, LaRocco has been an integral part of developing young riders in their transition to the pros, and the team has won a title every year under his leadership.
Class of 2014 Inductees l-r: Scott Summers, Rob Muzzy, Tom White, Pierre Karsmakers, Mike LaRocco, Byron Hines; not shown: George Barber. (Photo: Courtesy of AMA)
Other inductees into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame were: race tuner and innovator Byron Hines; Tom White, acclaimed motorcycle collector, former nationally ranked racer and founder of White Brothers Cycle Specialties; George Barber, founder of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and the Barber Motorsports Park; national off-road racing champion Scott Summers; and legendary tuner, engine builder and team owner Rob Muzzy.
