The 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees Represent Racing Royalty and Industry Legends
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame has unveiled the 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees, spotlighting 17 extraordinary individuals whose contributions to the motorcycle industry span decades of innovation, championship racing, and tireless advocacy. These men and women have defined what it means to live and breathe two wheels, from the roar of a flat track start line to the behind-the-scenes engineering brilliance that shapes performance from the garage up.
The 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees are drawn from across eight distinct categories—Ambassadors & Industry, Design & Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership & Rights, Motocross & Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing, and Specialty Competition—reflecting the rich tapestry of disciplines that power American motorcycling culture. Each nominee has helped shape the industry in lasting ways, and now the AMA invites its Life Members, past inductees, board members, and category committee members to cast their votes by June 16, 2025.
Among the competition-heavy nominees is Colin Edwards, known globally as the “Texas Tornado,” who earned two World Superbike Championships and brought his hard-nosed technical brilliance to the MotoGP grid. He’s joined by Chad Reed, one of Supercross’s most enduring athletes, boasting two AMA Supercross Championships and a jaw-dropping 132 career podium finishes. Billy Hamill, a master of speedway racing, takes his place among the greats with a World Championship, five AMA Speedway National titles, and a team title alongside fellow Hall of Famer Greg Hancock.
The off-road scene is represented by Bill Ballance, who made GNCC history with nine consecutive XC1 ATV Championships and 67 national victories. In the realm of dirt track, Joe Kopp, the 2000 AMA Grand National Champion, sits among legends with 21 career wins and membership in the exclusive Dirt Track Grand Slam club. Equally influential is Carl Patrick, whose engines carried racers to 20 Grand National titles, and Jerry Griffith, whose RS750 design propelled Honda to five Grand National Championships. Richard Gross, legendary tuner for the Indian Wrecking Crew, was responsible for tuning race-winning bikes in the 1950s and developing innovative aluminum components.
Not to be outdone, Ryan Young dominated trials riding in the late 1980s and early ’90s, winning six consecutive AMA/NATC Championships and representing the U.S. at the Trial des Nations eight times. His post-competition work as a coach and gear innovator has kept his influence alive in the sport’s current generation.
The non-competition categories are no less impressive. Chris Carter, founder of Motion Pro Inc., has pushed specialty tool innovation with over 30 patents while also serving as a cultural historian and former ISDT gold medalist. Selvaraj Narayana, a major figure in KTM’s rise to international racing dominance, has been a leader in the sport for decades, earning the AMA’s Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. In design and engineering, Donald Rich made his mark on Harley-Davidson culture through his aftermarket innovations, including the signature Thunderheader exhaust. John Taylor, the force behind Yankee Motors and Full Bore Accessories, brought Bultaco and Ossa to Eastern markets and built one of the most collectible off-road bikes ever produced: the Yankee 500Z.
Architect and electric racing visionary Michael Czysz rounds out the design category with his pioneering MotoCzysz electric bikes, which dominated the Isle of Man TT Zero from 2010 to 2013 and set the benchmark for innovation in performance EV design.
Among the advocacy heroes, Dana Bell stands tall with her work protecting rider access and representing the AMA Government Relations Department across Western states. Charles Umbenhauer, a fixture in Pennsylvania motorcyclist rights for over 30 years, helped lead legislative efforts that changed helmet laws, secured parking access, and protected rider education programs.
Finally, Eraldo Ferracci, already a member of the World Superbike Hall of Fame, deserves recognition as a race-winning mastermind. His Fast by Ferracci Ducati team captured two FIM World Superbike Championships and helped return Ducati to the global spotlight with AMA Superbike titles in 1993 and 1994.
Celebrating the Influence and Legacy of the 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees
The 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees showcase a rare blend of grit, genius, and cultural impact—each person nominated has earned their place in the pantheon of American motorcycling. This class illustrates the full scope of what it means to live a life dedicated to two wheels. Through record-shattering performances, groundbreaking engineering, or advocacy that safeguards the freedoms of all riders, these individuals have helped carve motorcycling’s past, present, and future into the national fabric.
From the wild oval of dirt tracks to the gleaming shop floors of innovation, and the podiums of international prestige to grassroots policy rooms, the 2025 class spans every edge of the sport. The stories behind these names are the lifeblood of motorcycle culture.
Voting for the 2025 Hall of Fame Nominees closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 16, 2025, with the official Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony scheduled for October 23 in Pickerington, Ohio. AMA Life Members and other eligible participants can cast their vote at AmericanMotorcyclist.com. This is your chance to honor the legends, builders, and pioneers who shaped the ride.
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