AMA Inducts Jimmy Ellis Into Hall of Fame

The American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame has announced the next member of the induction class of 2012. Jimmy Ellis, the 1975 AMA Supercross 250cc National Champion, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2012 AMA Legends Weekend at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 16-17.

"It would be hard to argue that any motorcycle racing activity has reached as many fans as AMA Supercross," said Tom White, a member of the board of directors of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation. "Jimmy, congratulations for being a pioneer in one of the greatest motorsports in the world and welcome to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame."

Ellis, who is most famous for winning all four rounds of the 1975 AMA Supercross Series Championship, is the third member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2012. He joins the late Rod Bush, KTM North America president and industry visionary, and Sue Fish, pioneering female motocrosser. The remaining 2012 inductees will be announced in random order in the coming weeks.

"Motorcycle racing was something that was extremely exciting for me," said Ellis. "It gave me a good career, a good lifestyle, and it let me see
the world. It’s just fantastic to be honored with this, and I’m very,
very excited and looking forward to coming and seeing some old faces. It
does seem like yesterday that I was riding with some of the fastest
riders in the world. The induction ceremony is going to be overwhelming,
and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t thank everyone involved enough."

The class of 2012 will officially be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 as part of the AMA Legends Weekend. The weekend also includes the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d’Elegance on Saturday, Nov. 17, featuring many of the country’s most impressive original and restored classic motorcycles.

In addition to the current class, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony shines the spotlight on two previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame, reminding the motorcycling community of the amazing careers of these Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends. For 2012, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends will be 1998 inductees Malcolm Smith, a pioneer in off-road motorcycling and a star in the motorcycle documentary "On Any Sunday," and Mert Lawwill, the 1969 AMA Grand National Champion whose title defense was the central theme of the film.

Tickets for the AMA Legends Weekend are now available through this online registration form or by calling (800) 342-5464.

Room reservations are available now at a special group rate by calling (866) 767-7773 and referencing group code RCIAME or AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST. Online room reservations are available at www.redrocklasvegas.com.

The boards of the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) voted unanimously to appoint Scott Schloegel as acting president and CEO of the associations. Diana Sanchez was appointed acting chief operating officer.

Schloegel and Sanchez, whose appointments are effective immediately, will also continue to serve in their current roles as senior vice president of government relations and vice president of operations respectively. The interim leadership was selected to ensure a seamless transition as the associations’ search committee continues to conduct a comprehensive review of the position of president and CEO, and a subsequent search to replace outgoing President and CEO Erik Pritchard.