Jimmy Weinert (born August 14, 1951) is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
former professional
motocross
Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.
History
Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competiti ...
and
supercross
The AMA Supercross Championship (commercially known as Monster Energy AMA Supercross) is an American motorcycle racing series. Founded by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1974, the AMA Supercross Championship races are held from ...
racer.
He competed in the
AMA Motocross Championship
The AMA Motocross Championship (commercially known as Lucas Oil Pro Motocross) is an American motorcycle racing series. The motocross race series was founded and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1972. The series is th ...
s from 1972 to 1980.
Weinert won 22
AMA
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Nationals and three AMA national championships during his racing career. In
1973
Events January
* January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 15 – Vietnam War: ...
, Weinert became the first American to defeat international-level riders in the
Trans-AMA motocross series.
That victory marked a turning point that brought American motocross up to par with the then dominant European riders.
__TOC__
Motocross career
Born in
Middletown, New York, Weinert was the son of a
motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: Long-distance ...
dealer and began riding at an early age.
Early in his career, he split his time between motocross and
dirt track oval racing however, an injury while racing on the high speed dirt track ovals convinced him to concentrate on the burgeoning sport of motocross.
Weinert began racing professionally in 1970 riding a
CZ. In
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
he finished runner up to
Gary Jones in the inaugural AMA 250cc motocross national championship. At the end of the 1972 season, Weinert along with Jones,
Brad Lackey and
Jim Pomeroy were selected by the AMA to be the first American team to represent the United States at the
Motocross des Nations
The Motocross des Nations (in French) is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross". The event has been staged since 1947, where the team of Bill Nicholson, Fred Rist ...
where the team posted a seventh place result.
Weinert earned a place on the
Kawasaki factory
A factory, manufacturing plant or a production plant is an industrial facility, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. ...
racing team and went on to win the
1974 AMA 500cc national championship.
Weinert along with Brad Lackey, Jim Pomeroy and
Tony DiStefano
Anthony Joseph DiStefano Jr. (born February 6, 1957) is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1973 to 1981. A three-time AMA 250cc motocross national champion, DiStefano was inducted ...
represented the United States at the 1974 Motocross des Nations event where they finished in an impressive second-place, marking the best-ever result at the time for an American team at the event.
He successfully defended his 500cc national championship title in 1975. He also won the 1976 AMA 250cc Supercross championship.
In the 1979 Supercross championship, Weinert won the Oakland Coliseum round by using a scoop paddle rear tire to win both his heat race and the main event.
Within a few weeks, the AMA had banned the use of paddle tires.
His last national victory came at the 1979 Daytona Supercross race.
Nagging injuries as well as a new generation of younger competitors such as
Bob Hannah and
Kent Howerton led Weinert to retire in 1980.
Weinert continues his involvement in the sport competing in vintage motocross events and operating a motocross training facility in
Maysville, North Carolina
Maysville is a town in Jones County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,019 at the 2010 census. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. This town was home to former MLB left fielder Louie Mead ...
.
In 1999, he was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association, recognizing individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction
Motorcycle components and systems for a motorcycle are en ...
.
References
External links
American Motorcyclist, January 1976, Vol. 30, No. 1
Jimmy Weinert's 1974 Kawasaki KX450 race bike at the American Motorcyclist MagazineJimmy Weinert Training Facility
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinert, Jimmy
1951 births
Living people
People from Middletown, Orange County, New York
American motocross riders
AMA Motocross Championship National Champions