Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1119655
VOL. 56 ISSUE 20 MAY 21, 2019 P113 Filmmaker Peter Starr: Gene Romero was the only racer to win two 200-mile races back to back—Ontario 1974 and Daytona 1975—and both were hard-fought races that had attracted the tough- est of his competitors. I watched him claw tooth and nail with the likes of Agostini and Roberts with the same commitment I had seen him at all of his races. He was com- mitted and very fast. This Grand National Champion was equally get third no matter what. I'm going to get third or come see me in the hospital. I dig carnations." "The Agajanian Family is shaken and saddened at the loss of our dear friend 'Burritto.' You are forever in our hearts. Elvis has left the building, and Gene has left the racetrack—with the checkered flag," added Agajanian. Just seven years after his amateur race at Ascot Park in Southern California, he became the youngest AMA Grand National Champion- ship titleholder in the sport's history at age 22. Gene was so dominant that year that he sealed the championship by winning the Sacramento Mile with two races remain- ing on the schedule. After 16 years of racing, Romero retired. Following his retirement, American Honda Motor Co. decided to take on Harley-Davidson at their own game. Harley had that scene pretty well sewed up with its aluminum XR-750, a bike that every year became more and more intimately adapted to dirt. Honda's philosophy was; it takes people who un- derstand racing, backed by R&D. For Honda, one such person was Gene Romero. He was hired to manage Honda's dirt track program. From 1984 to 1987, Honda took home the number-one plate and became the series king, winning four champi- onships in a row. Gene raced cars briefly before becoming a promoter and creating the West Coast Flat Track Series, which over the years, has given novice and semi-pro riders a place to race at more than 30 venues stretching from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and, in 2001, received the Trailblazers top honors, their Dick Hammer Award. Gene died just 10 days short of his 72nd birthday and leaves behind his loving wife, Cheri, and 23-year-old son, Geno. The family is besieged with prayers and good wishes. Cheri and Geno would like to thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and care. In lieu of a memorial service, many racetracks across the nation will be having a "Moment of Si- lence" in our hero's name. There will be a celebration of life TBA. R.I.P. Gene Romero #3, Burritto. --Ascot Motorsports Romero thought otherwise. I'd never been so honored to be called that. Racer and promoter Mike Kidd: Gene and I had a lot in common. Our dads got us racing quarter- midgets at an early age, we each became AMA Grand National Cham- pions, we were at Honda at the same time, and both became pro- moters after our racing careers. We always had great stories to share. Romero (3) could do it all. Only one rider beat him in the second leg of the World Championship F750 race at Laguna Seca in 1979. That rider? Kenny Roberts (2).