IN
THE
WIND
P40
Marty Smith Rookie
of the Year Award
Announced
M
X Sports Pro Racing, or-
ganizers of the Lucas Oil
Pro Motocross Championship,
sanctioned by AMA Pro Rac-
ing, announced that its annual
accolade recognizing the top
performing freshman rider in
the 250 class will be renamed
the Marty Smith Rookie of
the Year Award, in honor of
the late American motocross
pioneer.
"Marty Smith was the
original Rookie of the Year. He
won the first AMA National he
ever entered back in 1974, and
then he became the first-ever
125cc AMA National Cham-
pion. It's pertinent that we
rename this prestigious award
in his memory, in recognition
of his contributions to the Pro
Motocross Championship and
the sport as a whole," said
Davey Coombs, President of
MX Sports Pro Racing. "For
an entire generation of rac-
ing enthusiasts Marty Smith
was the epitome of cool in
motocross. He proved that a
motorcycle rider can become
a household name alongside
the likes of football, baseball
and basketball stars. He was a
charismatic, larger-than-life fig-
ure in motocross, one that any
aspiring racer has and should
look to emulate. We're privi-
leged to ensure that his legacy
carries on to future generations
of motocross racers and fans."
Smith, 63, and his wife,
Nancy, were killed in an off-
road dune buggy accident in
April. CN
The annual motocross accolade
recognizing the top performing
freshman rider in the 250 class
will be renamed the Marty Smith
Rookie of the Year Award, in
honor of the late American
motocross pioneer.
