Marty Smith

Marty Smith (November 26, 1956 – April 27, 2020) was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1974 to 1981, most prominently as a member of the Honda factory racing team with whom he won 18 AMA race victories and three National Motocross championships. With his long hair, Southern California surfer looks and smooth riding style, he was a popular figure among race fans and was the first superstar of American motocross. Smith was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000. Smith first began riding motorcycles at the age of six on local trails and hills with his dad. As Smith progressed from Novice class to Intermediate, he moved to a Penton motocross bike and was getting his first notices in California newspapers. By 1973, Smith was racing Expert class on a Swedish-built Monark with a $100 a month factory sponsorship. More important than the win, however, he gained the attention of Honda who was in the process of putting together a team to compete in the newly organized AMA 125cc Nationals set to begin in 1974. Within days of his Hangtown victory, Smith signed a $35,000 contract to ride with Honda. He dominated the circuit that year by winning six of seven nationals and every moto but one. That same year, he won the 125cc U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross, finished second in the 250cc AMA Supercross series and won the first of his three career Trans-AMA race victories.

Having complete command of the AMA 125cc circuit for two years, Honda executives decided in 1976 that Smith should compete at both the AMA Nationals and in Europe for the World Grand Prix series. A confident Smith felt that he could beat anyone and manage the back-and-forth travel easily. He agreed to do it. In the U.S., Honda and Smith's plans were quickly upset by the emergence of a rider that would soon overshadow the entire motocross world including Smith himself: Bob Hannah. The relatively unknown Hannah racing for Yamaha, easily beat Smith at the series opener at Hangtown and would win five of the first six 125cc Nationals and walk away with the AMA Championship; Smith finishing a distant runner-up.

In 1977, Smith stepped away from competing in the 125cc class and moved up to 250cc and 500cc bikes. While he won one supercross event in New Orleans, he finished a disappointing fifth for the series. Moving outdoor, Smith battled Tony DiStefano for the 250cc National title. A blown transmission at RedBud Track 'n Trail in the second to last race put the championship out of reach for Smith as he finished second to DiStefano who won the 250cc title for the third time in a row. The two Trans-AMA victories would be Smith's last AMA sanctioned wins.

For the 1978 season, the AMA adopted a new rule that required all professional riders declare their class for the year putting an end to multiple outdoor class racing. Smith chose to defend his 500cc title. The Supercross series, however, came first and Smith entered the season feeling he was riding at his best. Smith also started a successful motocross school called the Marty Smith Motocross Clinic.