The American Motorcyclist Association has announced that Ted Cabral — a 38-year member from Penngrove, Calif. — has been elected to its Board of Directors from the Northwest Region. Cabral fills the seat being vacated by Northwest Region Director Perry King, who could not seek reelection because of term limits.

“We are very thankful to Perry for all of the hard work he contributed to the AMA as a board member and as vice chair,” said Board Chair Maggie McNally-Bradshaw. “And we are looking forward to Ted’s contributions in the years ahead. He brings many years of experience as a motorcyclist.”

The Northwest Region includes AMA members living in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Northern California (District 36).

Cabral began attending AMA-sanctioned flat track races with his father in the early 1970s, and his passion for the motorcycle lifestyle has never waned.

He was the general manager of Cycle West Honda/Suzuki in Petaluma, Calif., for more than 20 years. In the 1980s, he held a professional AMA motocross license and later worked as a technician on professional motocross and road racing teams.

Cabral was the first general manager of Race Tech, developing many of the programs that have allowed the company to remain successful. He also created Top Shelf Motorcycle Tours, an all-inclusive motorcycle vacation company based in Northern California’s wine country.

In 2013, Cabral was appointed to the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission and currently serves as chairman. He also is a member of the California State Parks Transformation Advisory Committee.

“I am very excited about being elected to the board,” Cabral said. “I am an enthusiast. I grew up around racing. And it is important that those perspectives are represented on the Board.”

Cabral said he has three objectives as he enters his role with the AMA Board of Directors:

• To ensure that motorcycles are included in long-range transportation plans as a viable form of transportation, particularly in dense urban environments.
• To make the AMA stronger by attracting more members, increasing the value of membership and increasing the marketing of the AMA’s benefits.
• To strengthen amateur racing.

Cabral currently rides a 2014 Suzuki V-Strom ABS on the street. His off-road bikes include vintage motorcycles, mini bikes, a dual sport and a dirt bike.

Cabral’s three-year term on the AMA Board of Directors expires in December 2018.