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/941070
IN THE WIND P38 AMA HALL OF FAMER PASSES J ohnny "Crashwall" Gibson, a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and winner of 1956 Daytona 200 and more than 100 dirt-track, road-race and TT races, passed away January 30 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 87. Gibson was a leading AMA Grand National racer of the 1950s. His biggest victory came in the 1956 Daytona 200 riding a factory-backed Harley-Davidson. He also was one of the stars of the popular Friday night Ascot Park races in Gardena, California, along with fellow Hall of Famers Sammy Tanner, Al Gunter and host of other top riders of the era. Gibson played a key role in the revival of Speedway racing in South- ern California during the 1970s and 80s. He built a track in Irwindale and helped foster a generation of riders that would bring the United States back to world prominence in Speed- way World Championship racing. Gibson was born in Los Angeles on July 6, 1930. He began racing Speedway as a teenager. He raced through 1962, when he suffered serious injuries in a race at Ascot Park. He fully recovered, but the demands outside racing per- suaded him it was time to retire. In all, Mr. Gibson scored 26 top- 10 finishes in AMA national competi- tion, including eight podium finishes. For more on Johnny Gibson, see Archives. CN RANDY MAMOLA NAMED A MOTOGP LEGEND R andy Mamola will be inducted into the MotoGP World Cham- pionship Hall of Fame this season, with the ceremony set for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in April. Mamola is four-time runner- up in the 500cc/MotoGP World Championship in the 1980s, and enjoyed factory riding stints with Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Ca- giva, and is probably best known for his incredible save during practice at the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix. "I didn't expect it but it was a pleasant surprise to start my day when I got the call," said Ma- mola of his Legends appointment. "When I told my wife and son, as you can imagine, it was huge con- gratulations, but then 'Oh no! Now we have to live with a legend!' MotoGP is my life and I've been in the paddock for 39 years. "I'm also excited I'll be in- ducted in Texas with my family and friends coming," he added. "I believe and I think I'm the first Legend who has never been a world champion. I think the accomplishments I've had and being such a part of charity work is another part to add. Spreading the sport, supporting the sport... you are an ambassador whether that's the title you have or not. It's a privilege to work in the paddock and I don't take it lightly." Mamola will join a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Ed- die Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli and the late Nicky Hayden. CN Randy Mamola was one of the most spectacular riders of the 1980s.