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/534951
IN THE WIND P36 DAVID ALDANA TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL O ne of motorcycle racing's all-time fan favorite rid- ers, David Aldana, will be the grand marshal for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 10-12, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Aldana, known for his trade- mark black leathers with a white skeleton print, will not only meet and greet fans at this year's event, but he'll also compete in the vintage motocross and dirt track programs of the AMA Vin- tage Grand Championship that takes place during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. "These days, there's a real vibrant community of fans, col- lectors and vintage racers who fondly remember the 1970-80 era of racing," Aldana said. "Those same people are now coming out to events like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days to re-live and re-experience those memories. They are dedicated enthusiasts and die-hard motorcyclists, and I love to spend time with them and connect over motorcycles." Aldana said vintage racing helped pull him back into mo- torcycling after a layoff following his professional career. "When I was growing up, I just enjoyed riding, whether it was my motorcycle or my bicycle," Aldana said. "When I quit road racing in the 1990s, I just stopped everything. Then when I had an opportunity to ride a vintage flat track bike, I had that same feeling that I had when I was younger. The pressure was off. I could just go out and have fun riding. That's what vintage racing is about." Aldana was a top AMA Grand National Series competitor dur- ing the 1970s, winning four AMA nationals during his career. By the late-1970s, Aldana began concentrating on road racing. He became a factory rider for Suzuki and later joined Kawa- saki's AMA Superbike team in 1980. Prior to his foray into endur- ance racing, Aldana was a top AMA Grand National Series competitor during the 1970s, winning four AMA nationals dur- ing his career. By the late-1970s, Aldana began concentrating on road racing. He became a factory rider for Suzuki and later joined Kawasaki's AMA Super- bike team in 1980. When not racing in Europe and Asia, Aldana raced in select races in America. In 1983, he finished third in the AMA Super- bike race at Daytona aboard a works Honda. In 1985, Aldana rode the new Suzuki GSX-R750 for Cycle Tech Racing with teammate John Kocinski, who will be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Oc- tober, to win the WERA National Endurance Championship. Dave Aldana will act as grand marshal for upcoming AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.