David Bailey (motorcyclist)

Last updated
David Bailey
Nationality American
BornDecember 31, 1961 (1961-12-31) (age 62)
San Diego, California
Motocross career
Years active1980–1986
Teams Kawasaki, Honda
Championships AMA 250cc - 1983
AMA 250cc SX - 1983
AMA 500cc - 1984, 1986
Wins30

David Bailey (born December 31, 1961) is an American former professional motocross racer and current television sports commentator. [1] He was one of the leading American motocross and supercross racers during the 1980s. [1] During his eight-year professional motocross career, Bailey won 30 AMA national race victories and won three motocross national championships. [1] His motorcycle racing career was cut short after a practice crash left him paralyzed just before the start of the 1987 season. [1] After his injury, Bailey began a new career as an expert motocross television commentator. [1]

Biography

Born in San Diego, California, [2] [3] Bailey is the adopted son of Gary "Professor" Bailey, also a former professional motocross racer. [1] He began riding bicycles at the age of 3, and received his first bike, a 60cc Yamaha at age 10. He started racing that same year. In 1978 he won the 250cc Amateur National Championship on an antiquated Bultaco motorcycle. [1] He turned professional the next year, but had a tough rookie season. For 1980 Bailey joined Kawasaki's Team Green, and was one of the first members of that program. [1] He began showing major potential and earned national #45. 1981 was his last year on Kawasaki, and Bailey moved further and further up the rankings.

He was asked to ride for Team Honda in 1982, managed by multi-time motocross world champion Roger De Coster. [1] That season, Bailey was a member of the Motocross des Nations team and, helped the American team to its second consecutive victory. Bailey joined the team as an alternate for 1982 National Supercross and Motocross champion Donnie Hansen.

In 1983 he won the 250cc Supercross and National Championships, and was awarded the Wrangler Grand National title. [1] He also won the United States motocross Grand Prix (USGP) at Unadilla and repeated as Motocross Des Nations champion. The next season, he added the 500cc National title, won the King of Bercy title and led the US to victory in the Motocross Des Nations for the third straight year. Bailey won many more major races in the next few seasons, most notably two more MXdN titles, and coming out on top of a duel with teammate and fellow champion Rick Johnson at the 1986 Anaheim Supercross. Bailey rode his Honda CR500 to the win at the Motocross Des Nations that fall. The performance by the US team is regarded as one of the most dominant in history.[ citation needed ]

Prior to the start of the 1987 Supercross season, Bailey was injured in a practice crash in Lake Huron, California. There was significant spinal cord damage, and Bailey became a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. [1]

He re-emerged in 1994 as a supercross commentator for ESPN and columnist for RacerX magazine. In 1997 Bailey started training for the Hawaii Ironman triathlon. In his first two attempts, he finished 3rd, then 2nd, and finally in 2000 he became Ironman World Champion in his division, 13 years after his accident.

Bailey was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004. [1] Bailey continues his role as a TV broadcaster to this day. He is also active in many non-profit organizations dedicated to helping others with spinal cord injuries and contributing to finding a cure.

David became a world-class competitor in chair marathons, and has completed the Hawaii Ironman triathlon several times. [1] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy McGrath</span> American motorcycle racer

Jeremy McGrath is an American former professional motocross and supercross racer. Considered one of the most popular and influential riders in the history of motorcycle racing, McGrath won seven AMA Supercross 250cc championships, one 250cc AMA Motocross championship, two 125cc West championships and a record 72 premier class supercross wins. He was also a two-time FIM Supercross World Champion as well as a two-time Team USA Motocross des Nations winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Carmichael</span> American motorcycle and stock car racing driver

Richard Joseph Carmichael is an American former professional motocross and stock car racing driver. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1997 to 2007 and in NASCAR from 2008 to 2011. His unrivaled successes in the sport of motocross earned him the nickname "The GOAT"; standing for Greatest of All Time. He won 15 AMA championships (1st), 10 in Motocross (1st), five in Supercross (2nd); scored 150 wins (1st), 102 in Motocross (1st), 48 in Supercross (4th); had two perfect Motocross seasons; was never beaten in 125 Supercross; and was a five-time winner of the AMA's Rider of the Year award.

Donny Schmit was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1986 to 1989 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1990 to 1994. Schmit was notable for being a two-time motocross world champion, winning the 125cc title in 1990 and the 250cc championship in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Reed</span> Australian motorcycle racer

Chad Mark Reed is an Australian motocross and supercross racer. He is a two-time AMA Supercross 450cc champion, a one-time AMA Motocross 450cc champion, record holder for the most main event starts in AMA Supercross history with 265 starts, as well as podium finishes with 132.

Jeffrey Eric Stanton aka SIX TIME is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1987 to 1994. He is a three-time AMA 250cc Motocross and Supercross national champion], winning the titles in 1989, 1990 and 1992.

Cam Jeffrey Emig is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1988 to 1999. He was one of the top American motocross racers of the 1990s. During his motorcycle racing career, Emig won four AMA Motocross Championships, an FIM World Supercross title and was a six-time member of the U.S. Motocross des Nations team. He was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Windham</span> American motorcycle racer

Kevin Windham, is an American former professional motocross racer. At 17 he received a full factory ride from Team Yamaha. He has raced for many factory teams and holds several titles, back to back AMA 125 West Supercross Championships in 1996 and 1997, the 2005 Motocross des Nations team championship, and 2nd in points for the 2008 supercross season. In 1999 Windham won the United States Grand Prix of Motocross held at Budd's Creek, Maryland. Despite his longtime status as one of the world's fastest motocross racers, he is yet to win a major National or World Championship. He is better known by the nickname K-Dub on the racing scene. He announced his retirement from racing at the third round of the 2013 Supercross season.

Sébastien Tortelli is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1994 to 1998 and, competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1999 to 2005. He returned to Europe to compete in the 2006 FIM Motocross World Championship for his final season of professional motocross. Tortelli is notable for winning two FIM motocross world championships. He was one of the few competitors who could beat both Stefan Everts and Ricky Carmichael in their prime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Hannah</span> American motorcycle racer

Robert William Hannah is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1975 to 1989, most notably as a member of the Yamaha factory racing team. He was one of the most successful motocross racers in AMA history, with 70 AMA race victories and seven championships.

David Vuillemin is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1995 to 1999 and won the 1999 supercross world championship. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2000 and 2008 before returning to the Motocross World Championships for one final season in 2009. Although Vuillemin never won a major championship, he was twice the runner-up in the AMA Supercross championships and, was one of the few competitors who could beat both Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael in their prime.

Marty Smith was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1974 to 1981, most prominently as a member of the Honda factory racing team with whom he won 18 AMA race victories and three National Motocross championships. During his formative years of racing, he had no teachers and learned by carefully observing the fast guys, then applying what he saw. Smith said he almost never rode at 100 percent. With his long hair, Southern California surfer looks and smooth riding style, he was a popular figure among race fans and was the first superstar of American motocross. Smith was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Johnson</span> American motorcycle racer

Richard Bernard "Ricky" Johnson Jr. is an American former professional motocross, off-road truck and stock car racer. He competed in AMA motocross and Supercross during the 1980s and, won seven AMA national championships. He later switched to off-road racing. He won the Pro 2WD Trophy Truck championship in the 1998 Championship Off-Road Racing and 2010 TORC Series. He also won the Pro 4WD class at the 2011 and 2012 TORC Series. In September 2012, Johnson won the 4x4 world championship race at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway and later that day won the AMSOIL Cup pitting the two and four wheel drive trucks. Johnson won the 2014 Frozen Rush, the first short-course off-road race on snow.

Jimmy Weinert is an American former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1980. Weinert won 22 AMA Nationals and three AMA national championships during his racing career. In 1973, Weinert became the first American to defeat international-level riders in the Trans-AMA motocross series. That victory marked a turning point that brought American motocross up to par with the then dominant European riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Ferry</span> American motorcycle racer

Tim Ferry II is an American former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the AMA Supercross Championships and AMA Motocross Championships for 18 seasons from 1992 to 2009, finishing in the top five in the season standings a total of 10 times. Ferry was a four-time member of the U.S. Motocross des Nations team.

Michael Andrew “Mike” Kiedrowski is an American former professional motocross and enduro racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1987 to 1997. He is a four-time AMA motocross national champion. He is only the second competitor in AMA history after Jeff Ward to win national championships in the 125, 250 and 500 classes. Kiedrowski was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Roczen</span> German motorcycle racer

Ken Roczen is a German professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2009 to 2011 and the AMA Supercross Championships since 2011. He is the 2011 MX2 World Champion, a two-time 450cc AMA Motocross Champion, the 2013 AMA Supercross 250cc West Champion & a two-time FIM World Supercross WSX Champion. He was also a member of the winning German team at the 2012 Motocross des Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Tomac</span> American motorcycle racer (born 1992)

Eli Tomac is an American professional Motocross and Supercross racer who competes in the AMA Supercross and Motocross championships; a two-time AMA 450cc Supercross champion, four-time AMA 450cc Motocross champion, one-time AMA 250cc Supercross West & 250cc AMA Motocross champion. He is second all-time in 450cc AMA Supercross wins with 52, and third all-time in 450cc AMA Motocross wins with 32.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper Webb</span> American motorcycle racer

Cooper Webb is an American professional Motocross and Supercross racer competing in the AMA Supercross and Motocross championships; a two-time 450cc AMA Supercross Champion, a two-time 250cc AMA Supercros West Champion & a one-time 250cc AMA Motocross Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Ferrandis</span> French motocross rider

Dylan Ferrandis, is a French motorcycle racer from Avignon, France. He competes in the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross Championships for Phoenix Honda. He was part of the winning French team at the 2014 & 2018 Motocross des Nations. Ferrandis is a two-time AMA Supercross 250cc West champion, a one-time 250cc & 450cc AMA Motocross champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jett Lawrence</span> Australian motorcycle racer

Jett Lawrence is an Australian Motocross racer. Competing in the AMA Supercross & Motocross Championships; a one-time 450cc AMA Supercross & 450cc AMA Motocross Champion, a two-time 450cc SMX, 250cc AMA Motocross, & 250cc AMA Supercross Champion.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "David Bailey at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Catterson, Brian (October 6, 2011) [October 6, 2011]. "David Bailey to receive the 2011 Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award!". Motorcyclist. Retrieved 2024-11-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Reiman, Samuel (February 2, 2024) [February 2, 2024]. "Anaheim 2 Look Back, Detroit Look Forward with David Bailey | News". Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Retrieved 2024-11-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ Full Circle Foundation
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.