PASTRANA
NAMED
AMA 2018
MOTORCYCLIST
OF THE YEAR
T
ravis Pastrana has been named
AMA 2018 Motorcyclist of the
Year.
Awarded annually, the AMA Motor-
cyclist of the Year designation rec-
ognizes the individual or group that
had the most profound impact on the
world of motorcycling in the previous 12 months.
In July 2018, Pastrana captured the imagina-
tion of millions worldwide as he completed three
motorcycle jumps in Las Vegas. The jumps were
inspired by similar attempts by legendary daredevil
Evel Knievel in the late 1960s and the 1970s.
"Few things or people in motorcycling today
capture the fascination of today's youth like
Knievel did for me as a boy," AMA President and
CEO Rob Dingman said. "Travis Pastrana's perfor-
mance no doubt captured the attention of young
people in a way that hasn't been done since the
days of Knievel.
"He drew positive attention to motorcycling
through mainstream media in a manner that helps
to promote motorcycling and the motorcycle
lifestyle. It is for this reason that the AMA Board
of Directors has named Travis Pastrana the 2018
AMA Motorcyclist of the Year."
In addition to his high-profile Las Vegas stunts,
Pastrana raised awareness of the devastation
caused to Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria and
helped raise money to rebuild motocross tracks,
homes and a school playground. CN
IN
THE
WIND
P34
TRAILBLAZERS ANNOUNCE
2019 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
T
he Trailblazers M.C. will be hosting its annual banquet at the Carson Center in Carson, California,
April 6. Tickets go on sale January 15.
This year's Hall of Fame inductees are race promoter Chris Agajanian, desert racer and ISDE gold
medalist A.C. Bakken, 500cc MX champ Mark Blackwell, Yamaha designer Ed Burke, enduro cham-
pion and Penton Motorcycle and Highpoint accessories founder John Penton, motocross racer Rex
Staten and trials champion Jim Wilson.
In addition, the Earl and Lucile Flanders Award will be presented to Agajanian, while the club's
highest honor, the Dick Hammer Award, will be presented to Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, who
have both already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.trailblazersmc.com/. CN
Travis Pastrana
is the AMA 2018
Motorcyclist of
the Year.
