Hawkins heading for Hall of Fame

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the first member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009, each of whom will be revealed in random order over the next few weeks. Among the honorees who will take to the stage at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5 will be seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins.

"In the world of off-road racing, one of the toughest sports on the planet, there are few who can match the stellar accomplishments of Randy Hawkins," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "From the late 1980s through the '90s, Randy made it look easy, dominating the AMA National Enduro Championships, while carrying the flag proudly in international competition."

Hawkins grew up in Travelers Rest, SC, where he still lives today. His first race was a motocross event in 1976 in River Falls, SC That race launched a career that would see Hawkins win multiple AMA National Enduro Championships, 13 ISDE gold medals and 73 AMA national victories. Today, Hawkins is the team manager of AmPro Yamaha, which competes in the AMA National Enduro Championship, the Grand National Cross Country Series, EnduroCross and AMA Regional Hare Scrambles Championships.

"To think that I started riding a motorcycle for fun, never dreaming it would be a career, then to have it become my entire lifestyle, and now to receive this honour is just very humbling," Hawkins said. "The off-road racing industry is so friendly, so family-oriented, and I've met so many wonderful people throughout my career that I feel truly blessed to be associated with all the other great riders in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. I'm excited about it, and I'll do whatever I can to help carry the banner. This sport has given more to me than I could ever give back, and I want to be involved as long as I can."

This will be the first time the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been held outside of Ohio.

Located on the park-like campus of the AMA in Pickerington, OH, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum honours individuals who have made lasting contributions to protecting and promoting the motorcycle lifestyle. Its members include those who have excelled in racing, road- and off-road riding, pushed the envelope in motorcycle design, engineering and safety, and championed the rights of riders in both the halls of government and the court of public opinion.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Committee includes 11 members in addition to the chairman. There are 10 committees, each representing a different aspect of motorcycling. Five represent various racing disciplines, and five represent non-racing interests.