Michael Wayne “Mike” LaRocco (born February 12, 1971) 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 competi ...

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 1988 to 2006. During his nineteen-year professional motocross career, LaRocco won two AMA Motocross Championships and one

FIM FIM may refer to: Organizations and companies * Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the International Motorcycling Federation * Flint Institute of Music, in Michigan, United States * Fox Interactive Media, now News Corp. Digital Media * ...

World

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 ...

title. He was inducted to 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, or motorcycling in general. It also displays motorcycles ...

in 2014.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in

Michigan City, Indiana Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City Combined sta ...

, LaRocco competed professionally from 1988 to 2006. LaRocco began his motocross racing career riding a

Yamaha Yamaha may refer to: * Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below). ** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...

then, signed a contract to race for the

Suzuki is a Japan, Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Minami-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. Suzuki manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, All-terrain vehicle, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard motor, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs ...

factory racing team and placed third in the 1990 AMA 250cc national championship. In 1992, he switched to the Kawasaki team and won the 1993 500cc Motocross national championship, becoming the final AMA 500cc champion when the AMA discontinued the class after the 1993 season. LaRocco also won the 1994 250cc Motocross national championship, the 2000 World Supercross title and the 2002 U.S. Open Supercross Championship. In 2002 another rider caused LaRocco to crash at a small town Supercross event. The accident caused LaRocco to dislocate his wrist and tear ligaments in his leg. The injury caused him to discontinue the Supercross season, the first time in seven years he had not participated. He retired in 2006 with 53 podium appearances in the 450cc class and 16 in the 125cc class. At the time of his retirement, he had finished in the top five 145 times. LaRocco was inducted to the AMA

in 2014.

LaRocco's Leap

In 1991, a 120 ft triple jump was constructed at Red Bud motocross track in Buchanan, Michigan. It was modeled after "Kong", a large jump found at LaRocco's personal track. Track co-owner Tim Ritchie decided to build a replica of the jump at the Red Bud track. It was later named after LaRocco as he became the first person to clear it, doing so on a 125cc motorcycle.

Overall season results

*1988 **3rd in AMA 125 cc Eastern Region Supercross Series *1989 **2nd in AMA 125 cc Western Region Supercross Series *1990 **3rd in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series *1991 **5th in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series *1992 **2nd in AMA 125 cc National Motocross Series *1993 **1st in AMA 500 cc National Motocross Series **2nd in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series *1994 **1st in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series **2nd in AMA/Camel 250 cc Supercross Series *1995 **6th in AMA 250 cc U.S. Supercross Series *1996 **3rd in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series *1997 **5th in AMA 250 cc National Motocross Series *1998 **3rd in AMA/Mazda Trucks 250 cc Motocross Nationals *1999 **3rd AMA 250 cc U.S. Supercross Series **3rd AMA/Mazda Trucks 250 cc Motocross Nationals *2000 **1st Supercross World Championship *2001 **3rd AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series *2002 **1st THQ U.S. Open Supercross Championship *2003 **5th U.S. Open 250 cc Supercross Championship *2004 **3rd THQ/AMA 250 cc Supercross Series **3rd US Open 250 cc Supercross Championship *2005 **Made 214th AMA Supercross Start **5th THQ/AMA 250 cc Supercross Series *2006 **March 2, After 228 main event starts, LaRocco announced at the Indianapolis Supercross press conference that he would retire at the end of the season.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larocco, Mike 1971 births Living people Sportspeople from Corona, California People from Michigan City, Indiana American motocross riders AMA Motocross Championship National Champions