Mert Lawwill

Mert Lawwill (September 25, 1940 – May 6, 2026) was 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 was notable for winning the 1969 AMA Grand National Championship as a member of the Harley-Davidson factory racing team. He also developed prosthetic limbs for amputees.

Motorcycle racing career Lawwill was born in Boise, Idaho. It was during this time that Lawwill began to learn about modifying motorcycle frames for racing competitions. In 1969, Lawwill won the AMA Grand National Championship and, was voted AMA's Most Popular Rider of the Year. His defense of his Grand National Championship during the 1970 season became the subject of Bruce Brown's 1971 motorcycle documentary film, On Any Sunday co-starring actor Steve McQueen and off-road racer Malcolm Smith. Lawwill continued to compete for the AMA Grand National Championship until 1977 when, he retired at the age of 37 due to an inner-ear disorder that affected his balance. He accumulated 161 career AMA Grand National finishes and won 15 Grand National races during his 15-year racing career. During this period, he continued his involvement in motorcycle racing as a race team owner in the AMA Grand National Championship until 1990 when, he grew frustrated with the way the AMA ran the championship. Lawwill's custom racing bicycles became highly prized by top racers around the world and his designs won numerous national and world titles. He also operated a non-profit company supplying prosthetic hands enabling amputees to ride bicycles or motorcycles.