Famous American Motorcycle Racers

Nicky Hayden was an American motorcycle racer best remembered for winning the 2006 MotoGP World Championship by breaking Valentino Rossi's five-year streak. Hayden met with an accident while riding his bicycle in 2017 in Italy and died of traumatic brain injury at the age of 35. In 2018, he was inducted posthumously into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Former legendary race-car driver Ricky Carmichael, known in the racing circuit as GOAT, or the greatest of all time, had his first bike at age 15. He has more wins in AMA, SX, and MX races combined and has broken more records than any other racer in history of the series.

James Stewart Jr. is an American retired motocross racer best known for competing in the AMA Supercross Championships as well as the AMA Motocross. Over the course of his racing career, James became renowned for his speed, innovation, and athleticism which earned him the moniker The Fastest Man on The Planet.

Carey Hart is an American retired motorcycle racer and freestyle motocross competitor. Hart achieved popularity when he became the first motorcyclist to successfully execute a backflip maneuver during a competition on a 250cc motorcycle. He currently competes in off-road racing. Carey Hart is also known for founding the Hart & Huntington Tattoo & Clothing Company. 

William Kissam Vanderbilt II was an American yachtsman and motor racing enthusiast. Born into the popular Vanderbilt family, William developed an interest in yachting and horse racing. He participated in yacht racing in 1900 and won the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup. A racing enthusiast, William owned many fast cars and launched an international auto racing event called the Vanderbilt Cup.

Former motorcycle road racer Kevin Schwantz began his competitive career as a trials rider, gradually progressing to motorcross before taking up road racing, eventually accumulating 25 wins in the Grand Prix Motorcycle racing. Naturally talented, but highly aggressive, he became second most successful American road racer; but was forced to early retirement due to accumulated injuries incurred throughout his career.

Eddie Lawson is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle racer who was a four-time Grand Prix World Champion. His record of consistently finishing in the points and not crashing earned him the sobriquet Steady Eddie. In 1999, he was made an inducted of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Joe Leonard was an American racecar driver and motorcycle racer. In 1954, he won the A.M.A. Grand National Championship Series before going on to win it again in 1956 and 1957. After achieving 27 wins, Leonard retired from motorcycle racing and focused on auto racing. Leonard was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.