Richard Burleson (born in 1948) is an American former motorcycle enduro racer. He is considered one of the top competitors in AMA history, winning a record eight consecutive Enduro National Championships.[1] His domination of the national enduro series earned him the nickname King Richard.[1][2] Burleson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and was named an AMA Legend in 2016.[1][2]

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Burleson began his competitive career riding in motocross events in the late 1960s.[1] He joined the professional ranks in 1970 entering the 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series which featured visiting European riders who dominated the sport at the time.[1] Burleson finished fourth overall and was the highest placed American rider, garnering the title of motocross national champion in the days before the AMA had a dedicated national championship series.[3]

Burleson also began competing in enduro events and found that he enjoyed that form of competition.[1] He would go on to win a record setting eight consecutive enduro national championships as well as earning eight consecutive gold medals representing the United States in the International Six Days Trial.[2] The International Six Days Trial is a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics that is the oldest annual competition sanctioned by the FIM, dating back to 1913.[4] In all, Burleson won 60 AMA National Enduro events during his career.[1]

After retiring from racing in 1982, Burleson remained active in the sport, starting a mail order motorcycle accessory business and helped design a line of off-road riding apparel. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

Personal life

Burleson is married to Jill Burleson and they reside in Traverse City, Michigan. They have two children, a son Jon-Erik and daughter Lindsay Kate. Jon-Erik Burleson was president of KTM North America from 2005-2016.[5] [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Dick Burleson at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dick Burleson honored as 2016 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend". americanmotorcyclist.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Assoc, American Motorcyclist (January 1976). Burleson reigns as endure king. Retrieved 18 January 2018. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ "History of the International Six Days Trial". ultimatemotorcycling.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Dick Burleson – Raiders of the Archives". dirtrider.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "KTM Announces A New President for North America". asphaltandrubber.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
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