Debbie Evans | |
---|---|
Born | |
Other names | Debbie J. Evans, Debbi Evans, Debra Evans, Debbie Evans-Leavitt, Debbie Evans Leavitt [1] |
Website | debbieevans.com |
Debbie Evans (born February 5, 1958) is an American former motorcycle observed trials competitor and current stunt actor. [2] [3] In the 1970s, Evans was considered the best female observed trials rider in the United States, earning factory-backed sponsorship from Yamaha. [2] She later parlayed her motorcycling experience to become a successful film industry stunt performer. Evans was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003. [2]
Evans was born and raised in Lakewood, California and learned to ride a motorcycle at the age of six. [2] Her father, David Evans competed in motorcycle observed trials and she grew up attending motorcycle competitions and learned her trials skills from her father. She began competing in trials and enduro events, usually as the only female in the competition. [4]
In 1978 at the age of 19, she accepted an invitation to compete in the grueling Scottish Six Days Trial, at the suggestion of Bill Emmison of UK importation firm BERM Specialties and with support from Gordon Farley Motorcycles England. [2] Although some enthusiasts thought that the trial may be too difficult for Evans, she proved her skill by not only finishing the event, but finishing in a respectable fourth place against male competitors in the 175cc division. [2]
Evans also began performing exhibition shows, eventually displaying her riding skills in front of tens of thousands of fans at AMA Grand National Championship and AMA Supercross events. [2] She became known for a trick in which she would balance her motorcycle with the kickstand up and perform a headstand on the seat. [2] She appeared in the 1980 motorcycle documentary film, Take It To The Limit, performing her trademark headstand on a motorcycle. [5]
Evans' exceptional riding ability eventually led her to work in the American film industry as a stunt rider. She became so successful as a stunt performer that it became her full-time job. [1] Evans has appeared in over 200 movies and television shows, including motorcycle stunt work in The Matrix Reloaded as well as in The Fast and the Furious film franchise. [3] [6]
At the age of 40, Evans returned to the sport of observed trials in 1998 to compete in the Women's Trials World Championship. Despite having spent 18 years away from the sport, she finished the season in a respectable 8th place. Evans was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003. [2]
Year | Class | Machine | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | Rd 6 | Rd 7 | Rd 8 | Rd 9 | Rd 10 | Rd 11 | Rd 12 | Rd 13 | Points | Pos | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | NATC Women's | Sherco | CA - | CA - | WA - | WA - | OR - | OR - | PA - | PA - | RI - | RI - | WY - | WY - | CA 5 | 16 | 14th |
Year | Class | Machine | Rd 1 | Points | Pos | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | FIM European Women's | Gas Gas | ITA 9 | 7 | 9th | |
2000 | FIM World Women's | Gas Gas | SPA 15 | 1 | 15th |
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is an American former professional motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. Roberts is one of only four riders in American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing Grand National wins at a mile, half-mile, short-track, TT Steeplechase and road race events.
Brad Lackey is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1970 to 1972 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1982. Lackey was notable for becoming the first and only American to win the 500cc motocross world championship, in 1982. Nicknamed "Bad Brad", Lackey was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2013 he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Mert Lawwill is an American professional motorcycle racer, race team owner and mountain bike designer. He competed in the AMA Grand National Championship from 1962 to 1977. Lawwill is notable for winning the 1969 AMA Grand National Championship as a member of the Harley-Davidson factory racing team. After his motorcycle racing career, Lawwill became one of the top motorcycle racing frame designers and builders. Lawwill then used his experience as a motorcycle frame builder to become an innovative mountain bike designer, developing one of the first bicycle suspensions. He also developed prosthetic limbs for amputees. Lawwill was inducted in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jean-Michel Bayle is a French former professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.
James Sherwin "Bud" Ekins was an American professional stuntman in the U.S. film industry. He is considered to be one of the film industry's most accomplished stuntmen with a body of work that includes classic films such as The Great Escape and Bullitt. Ekins, acting as stunt double for Steve McQueen while filming The Great Escape, was the rider who performed what is considered to be one of the most famous motorcycle stunts ever performed in a movie. He was recognized for his stunt work by being inducted into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.
Doug Polen is an American former professional motorcycle road racer. Polen was a dominant national and world champion road racer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, culminating with his Superbike world championships in 1991 and 1992. He raced successfully in AMA Superbike, Japanese Superbike Championship, Superbike World Championship and endurance racing. Polen was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2011.
John Douglas Chandler is an American former professional motorcycle racer. He earned a reputation as one of the most versatile racers of the 1980s and 1990s. Chandler is one of only four riders in AMA racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing national wins at a mile, half-mile, short track, TT and road race. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.
Anthony Joseph DiStefano Jr. is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1973 to 1981. A three-time AMA 250cc motocross national champion, DiStefano was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
Yvon Duhamel was a French Canadian professional motorcycle and snowmobile racer. A six-time winner of the White Trophy, the highest award in Canadian motorcycle racing, he was one of the most accomplished motorcycle racers in Canadian motorsports history. Duhamel was a versatile rider competing in numerous motorcycle racing disciplines including; trials, motocross, ice racing, drag racing, flat track racing and most prominently in road racing as a member of the Kawasaki factory racing team. His motorcycle racing career spanned the transition from the 60 horsepower four-stroke motorcycles of the 1960s, to the 100 horsepower two-stroke motorcycles of the 1970s. Even when Duhamel's motorcycle had a top speed advantage, he never slowed to conserve his machine, which led to spectacular crashes or mechanical failures as often as it led to race victories. Duhamel's reputation as a tenacious competitor with an aggressive riding style earned him the respect of other racers and made him popular with racing fans.
Dick Mann was an American professional motorcycle racer. He was a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. Mann was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. He was one of the few riders to ride motocross and Observed Trials as well as dirt flat tracks, TT and road racing.
Gary Jones is an American former professional motocross and desert racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1971 to 1976. Jones is notable for winning the inaugural AMA 250cc motocross national championship in 1972. Jones then successfully defended his national championship in 1973 and 1974, winning three consecutive 250cc motocross national championships while competing on three different brands of motorcycles, a feat which has never been repeated in AMA motocross history. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.
Richard Burleson is an American former motorcycle enduro racer. He is considered one of the top competitors in AMA history, winning a record eight consecutive Enduro National Championships. His domination of the national enduro series earned him the nickname King Richard. Burleson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and was named an AMA Legend in 2016.
James Nelson "J. N." Roberts, is an American former professional off-road and enduro motorcycle racer and a film industry stuntman. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he was a dominant motorcycle competitor in American desert racing centered in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. At one point in his desert racing career, Roberts won 27 consecutive desert races, earning him the unofficial nickname of King of the Desert. Roberts was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, into the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. He is also a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall Of Fame.
Mike Baldwin is an American former professional motorcycle road racer. He was a top contender in AMA Superbike racing during the 1980s who also competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Baldwin was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.
Gene Romero was an American professional motorcycle racer. He competed in the A.M.A. Grand National Championship from 1966 to 1981 sponsored first by the Triumph factory racing team and then by the Yamaha factory racing team. Proficient on oval dirt tracks as well as paved road racing circuits, Romero won the 1970 A.M.A. Grand National Championship and was the winner of the 1975 Daytona 200. After retiring from competition, he became a successful racing team manager with Honda and, helped the sport of dirt track racing by becoming a race promoter. Romero was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Bessie Stringfield, also known as the "Motorcycle Queen of Miami", was an American motorcyclist who was the first African-American woman to ride across the United States solo, and was one of the few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for the US Army during World War II. Credited with breaking down barriers for both women and African-American motorcyclists, Stringfield was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The award bestowed by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) for "Superior Achievement by a Female Motorcyclist" is named in her honor.
Bernard Schreiber, is an American former international motorcycle trials rider. He became the only American to win the FIM Trial World Championship in 1979. Schreiber is also four-time winner of the NATC Trials Championship, winning the title in 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1987. In 2000 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and, in 2020 he was named an FIM Legend.
Louise Forsley is an International Women's motorcycle trials rider. Forsley rode the US NATC National Championships and the FIM World Trials Championships. Forsley is a two time Women's National Champion. Louise competed in the 2012 Xgames in Los Angeles, California and took home the silver medal.
Jim Rice is an American former professional motorcycle racer who is an inductee of both the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the TrailBlazers Hall of Fame. During his career in the late 1960s and early 1970s he won 12 national races and finished in the top 10 of the championship three times. All but one of his victories were on BSA machines. Footage of Rice's crash in qualifying for the 1970 Sacramento Mile was used in Bruce Brown's film On Any Sunday.
John Francis "Jack" Stites, was a former American International motorcycle trials rider. He was also a motorsport commentator for the BBC in England during the 1980s.