David Bailey (motocross)

David Bailey
David Bailey
Nationality	American
Born	December 31, 1961 (age 56); San Diego, California
Motocross career
Years active	1980 - 1986
Teams	Kawasaki, Honda
Championships	AMA 250cc - 1983 AMA 250cc SX - 1983 AMA 500cc - 1984, 1986
Wins	30

Last updated March 23, 2019

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]

Americans are nationals and citizens of the United States of America. Although nationals and citizens make up the majority of Americans, some dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents, may also claim American nationality. The United States is home to people of many different ethnic origins. As a result, American culture and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with citizenship and permanent allegiance.

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.

In sports broadcasting, a sports commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast, traditionally delivered in the historical present tense. Radio was the first medium for sports broadcasts, and radio commentators must describe all aspects of the action to listeners who cannot see it for themselves. In the case of televised sports coverage, commentators are usually presented as a voiceover, with images of the contest shown on viewers' screens and sounds of the action and spectators heard in the background. Television commentators are rarely shown on screen during an event, though some networks choose to feature their announcers on camera either before or after the contest or briefly during breaks in the action.

Biography

Born in San Diego, California, 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.

Yamaha Motor Company Limited is a Japanese manufacturer of motorcycles, marine products such as boats and outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in 1955 upon separation from Yamaha Corporation, and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.

Bultaco was a Spanish manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles from 1958 to 1983. In May 2014, a new Bultaco was announced, and the company will be selling electric-powered street motorcycles from 2015. The R&D department will be based in Madrid while the factory will be located in Barcelona.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & EngineCompany (川崎重工業モーターサイクル&エンジンカンパニー) is a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries that produces motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles, jet ski personal watercraft, and general-purpose gasoline engines. Before the 2011 fiscal year it was called Consumer Products & Machinery. Its slogan is "Let the good times roll!"

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.

Honda Manufacturer of automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and power equipment.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and power equipment.

Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. De Coster's name is almost synonymous with the sport of motocross, winning five Motocross World Championships during the 1970s and tallying a record 36 500cc Grand Prix victories. His stature is such in the sport of motocross that he is often simply referred to as "The Man."

The Motocross des Nations is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross". The event has been staged since 1947, where the team of Bill Nicholson, Fred Rist and Bob Ray, representing Great Britain, took home the Chamberlain Trophy for the first time.

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 USA 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.

ESPN is a U.S.-based sports television channel owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture owned by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The company was founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen along with his son Scott Rasmussen and Ed Egan.

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. It is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

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.

On February 14, 2006, Bailey rode again. Riding a new Honda CRF450R, outfitted with nerf bars, hand brakes, and a seat to hold him in place, Bailey completed several laps of the track in Lake Elsinore, California. On his very first attempt to ride in 19 years, as a paraplegic, Bailey circulated the track with his son Sean. Bailey himself said, "If I could stick my leg out, I think I could go as fast as I used to!"^{[ This quote needs a citation ]} He has expressed a desire to do more of this in the future.

David became a world-class competitor in chair marathons, and has completed the Hawaii Ironman triathlon several times.^[1]^[2]

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References

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.
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[David_Bailey_at_the_Motorcycle_Hall_of_Fame-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.

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