The following is a list of Trans-AMA Champions, from 1970 to 1978. The championship was an international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The series was based on a 500cc engine displacement formula, although the first year of the event featured both 250 and 500cc events. The races run on American tracks to international standards, featuring the top riders from the F.I.M. world championship against the top American riders. In 1970 and 1971, the highest placing American rider at the end of the series was considered the A.M.A. national champion.
By 1978, American riders had improved to the point where it became more of a challenge for European riders to secure an easy victory. [1] Since riders were paid based upon their results rather than starting money paid in European races, fewer European riders were motivated to make the costly trans-atlantic voyage. [1] After 1978 the series was renamed the Trans-USA series, but had fewer European riders participating. [1] The Inter-AMA series was a similar year-end championship, but used a 250cc engine displacement formula.
| Year | Rider | Country | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 |  Dave Nicoll | United Kingdom | BSA |
| 1971 |  Sylvain Geboers | Belgium | Suzuki |
| 1972 |  Åke Jonsson | Sweden | Maico |
| 1973 |  Adolf Weil | West Germany | Maico |
| 1974 | Roger De Coster | Belgium | Suzuki |
| 1975 | Roger De Coster | Belgium | Suzuki |
| 1976 | Roger De Coster | Belgium | Suzuki |
| 1977 | Roger De Coster | Belgium | Suzuki |
| 1978 |  Bob Hannah | United States | Yamaha |
| Year | Rider | Country | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Kent Howerton | United States | Suzuki |
| 1980 | Kent Howerton | United States | Suzuki |
| 1981 | Broc Glover | United States | Yamaha |
| 1982 | Dave Hollis | United States | Suzuki |
| Year | Rider | Country | Machine | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Arne Kring | Sweden | Husqvarna | [3] |
| 1970 | Åke Jonsson | Sweden | Maico | [4] |
| 1971 |  Vlastimil Valek | Czechoslovakia | CZ | [5] |
| 1972 | Gary Jones | United States | Yamaha | [6] |
| 1973 |  Heikki Mikkola | Finland | Husqvarna | [6] |
| 1974 | Zdenek Velky | Czechoslovakia | CZ | [6] |
| 1975 | Tony DiStefano | United States | Suzuki | [7] |
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.
Jim Pomeroy was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1973 and in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1976, before returning to compete in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1978.
Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1966 to 1980, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won five FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships.
Heikki Antero Mikkola is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships.
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.
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.
Marty Tripes is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1980. He was one of the leading American motocross and supercross racers during the 1970s. Tripes rose to national prominence in 1972 as a teenage prodigy when, he defeated some of the best riders in the world to win the first-ever stadium supercross race in the United States.
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.
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.
The AMA Motocross Championship (commercially known as Pro Motocross Championship) is an American motorcycle racing series. The motocross race series was founded and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1972. The series is the major outdoor motocross series in the United States and is sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing and managed by MX Sports Pro 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.
Åke Jonsson is a Swedish former professional motocross racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross World Championships during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jonsson came close to winning the world championship title in 1968, 1970 and in 1971 when he led the championship going into the final round when, a mechanical failure ruined his bid.
John Banks is a British former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1963 to 1977. A four-time 500cc British national champion, Banks was twice runner-up in the 500cc motocross world championship.
The 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series was an international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The motocross series was an invitational based on a combined 250 and 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring the top riders from the F.I.M. world championship against the top American riders.
The 1974 Trans-AMA motocross series was the fifth annual international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The motocross series was an invitational based on a 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring the top riders from the F.I.M. world championship against the top American riders.
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The 1972 Trans-AMA motocross series was the third annual international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The motocross series was an invitational based on a 500cc engine displacement formula, run on American tracks featuring the top riders from the F.I.M. world championship against the top American riders.
Dave Nicoll was an English professional Grand Prix motocross racer and at the time of his death in March 2023 the incumbent FIM's world championship Clerk of the Course.
David Geoffrey Bickers was an English professional motocross racer from Coddenham, Suffolk. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1959 to 1969. Bickers won two European motocross championships, and was a member of British motocross teams that won two Motocross des Nations events as well as two Trophée des Nations events. Bickers was awarded the Motorcycle News 'Man of the Year' award in 1960.
The 1974 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 3rd AMA Motocross National Championship season.
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