The motorcycle racing world is mourning again—just days after the loss of flat track legend Mert Lawwill, we've received the heartbreaking news that 1981 AMA Grand National Champion and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mike Kidd has passed away at the age of 72.
Kidd was more than a champion racer; he was a visionary who helped shape the sport we love today. After hanging up his leathers, he founded the AMA Arenacross series in 1985—a move that brought high-octane racing to indoor arenas across the country and introduced a new generation to the thrill of motorcycle competition.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1953, Kidd's racing journey actually began on four wheels. He was a national champion in his age category before switching to motorcycles at age 13, quickly making his mark in local dirt track and motocross events. By 1972, he turned professional and came within a whisker of winning his debut at the Houston Astrodome—finishing second to another future Hall of Famer, Kenny Roberts.
In 1974, Kidd joined Triumph's factory racing team and scored his first AMA Grand National victory at the Columbus, Ohio, Half-Mile. But his path to the championship was anything but smooth. For seven years, he battled through setbacks and misfortune, showing the kind of grit that defines true champions. That perseverance paid off in dramatic fashion in 1981, when he entered the season finale at the Ascot Half-Mile tied with fellow Hall of Famer Gary Scott. Kidd finished second in the tiebreaking race to claim the crown.
After retiring from racing in 1983, Kidd opened Boyd Raceway in Texas and launched the AMA Arenacross series, cementing his legacy as a promoter and advocate for the sport. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, honored not just for his wins, but for his contributions to growing motorcycle racing.
For those of us who love the roar of engines and the thrill of competition, Mike Kidd's story is a reminder that champions are made not just in victory, but in how they rise after every fall. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the countless fans who cheered him on.