Motocross Icon Marty Smith Passes Away

Early this morning news spread through the sport that 1970s racing icon Marty Smith and his wife, Nancy, had passed away after an accident at the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California. Within a few hours, friends of the three-time AMA motocross champion confirmed the news that is a heavy blow to the sport. 

Lee Ramage, a fellow racer and lifelong friend of Smith, and his wife were with the Smiths when the accident occurred. In a heartfelt message to the public, Ramage explained that the dune buggy they were in rolled over and that they spent an hour trying keeping the couple alive until the paramedics arrived.

Smith, a native of Southern California, rose to the top of the sport during his time with Team Honda in the 1970s. The young racer and his bright red Honda CR125R race bikes were a force in the early ages and Smith claimed the 125 National Motocross titles in 1974 and 1975, the first years of the championship series. His success carried over onto larger bikes, as Smith won the 500 National Motocross championship in 1977.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Marty and Nancy Smith.