Mark Barnett (motorcyclist)

Mark Barnett (born September 16, 1960) is an American former professional motocross racer.[1] He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1989, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won three consecutive AMA 125cc national championships between 1980 and 1982.[1][2] In 2000, Barnett was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.[1]

Mark Barnett
NationalityAmerican
BornSeptember 16, 1960 (1960-09-16) (age 64)
Bridgeview, Illinois
Motocross career
Years active1977 - 1989
TeamsSuzuki, Kawasaki
ChampionshipsAMA 125cc - 1980, 1981, 1982
AMA 250cc Supercross - 1981
Wins43

Motocross racing career

edit

Born in Bridgeview, Illinois, Barnett began racing as an amateur in Illinois and Indiana.[1] In 1976 he was crowned the AMA 125cc Amateur National Champion and, began his professional racing career in 1977 as a member of the Fox Factory racing team.[3] He scored three top-10 finishes and placed sixth in the final standings of the 125cc national championship.[1]

In 1978, Barnett became one of the few riders from the Midwest to earn factory sponsorship when he signed a factory contract with Suzuki.[1] Along with his three national championships, he also won the 1981 AMA Supercross championship.[1] Barnett was a member of the victorious American 1983 Motocross des Nations team that included David Bailey, Broc Glover and Jeff Ward.[1]

After retiring from competition, he began to design supercross and motocross tracks for pro riders like Ricky Carmichael and Ivan Tedesco. In 2000, Barnett was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mark Barnett at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Mark Barnett career statistics". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  3. ^ "30 Greatest AMA Racers". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.