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/1190846
IN THE WIND P24 AMA Honors Five New Motorcycle HOF Inductees T he AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducted five new members Friday, December 6, during the 2019 KTM AMA Mo- torcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Hilton Down- town Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. The members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2019 are rights advocate Mark Buckner, off-road racing cham- pion Kurt Caselli, motocross champion Ron Lechien, trials pioneer Wiltz Wagner, and mu- seum founder Dale Walksler. Ceremony emcees Perry King and Laurette Nicoll guided the audience through the careers and accomplishments of the inductees. "Each of these motorcyclists has achieved excellence in pursuit of their motorcycling dreams," King said. "And each one of them has inspired genera- tions of riders to do the same." During the ceremony, those gathered also honored the mem- ories of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers who recently passed away: Jerry Branch, Arlen Ness, Gene Romero, Peter Fonda and Clark Collins. In addition to presenting sponsor KTM, supporters of the induction ceremony included Maxima USA, Cobra Moto and RacerTV. Caselli's mother, Nancy Caselli, and his fiance, Sarah White, accepted the honor on Kurt Caselli's behalf. "Kurt was blessed to have traveled far and wide through- out his career, living life to the fullest and making lots of friends and memories in his 30 years," Nancy Caselli said. "While I am proud of Kurt's motorcycle career, championships, accom- plishments and accolades, I am most proud of the son and man Kurt Caselli was." Caselli's fiance Sarah White added, "I don't know if there are words for how proud I am, and how sad I am that he can't be here to do this himself. This would have meant the absolute world to him." "This is the greatest honor of my life," Wagner said. "I've thought a lot about it, and I'm 0.1 percent of this huge thing [the North American Trials Council]. But, I was the first 0.1 percent, and out of that grew this enor- mous organization that's so suc- cessful." Buckner was not able to be in attendance. Former AMA Board of Director's chair Rick Gray ac- cepted the honor on Buckner's behalf. "I'm proud to be an inductee into the AMA Hall of Fame this year," Bucker said in a recorded video segment. "I want to thank the folks who supported my can- didacy. I really do appreciate it. I think about all the great motor- cycle rides I had over the years with my friends, the wonderful places I've been to, experiences I've had, and how lucky I am to have been able to do that. I want that same thing for my kids, my grandkids, my friends and for AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2019 (L-R): Trish and Matt Walksler who accepted for Dale Walksler; former AMA Board of Directors chair Rick Gray who accepted for Mark Buckner; Ron Lechien; Nancy Caselli and Sarah White who accepted for the late Kurt Caselli; and Belen Wagner accompanying her father, Wiltz Wagner. PHOTO: JEFF KARDAS