Dick Burleson
Encyclopedia
Richard Burleson was one of the top American motorcycle
enduro
competitors in history. He is remembered for winning a record eight consecutive AMA
Enduro National Championships. His domination of the national enduro series earned him the nickname King Richard.
Burleson began his competitive career riding in motocross
events in the late 1960s. 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. 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.
Burleson also began competing in enduro events and found that he enjoyed that form of competition. 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 Day Trials
.
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 1998.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
competitors in history. He is remembered for winning a record eight consecutive AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Enduro National Championships. His domination of the national enduro series earned him the nickname King Richard.
Burleson began his competitive career riding in motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
events in the late 1960s. He joined the professional ranks in 1970 entering the 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series
1970 Trans-AMA motocross series
The 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series was an international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. The motocross series was an invitational based on a combined 250 and 500cc engine displacement formula, run on...
which featured visiting European riders who dominated the sport at the time. 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.
Burleson also began competing in enduro events and found that he enjoyed that form of competition. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the International Six Day Trials
International Six Days Enduro
The International Six Days Enduro is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar.The ISDE was first held in 1913 at Carlisle, England. It has occurred annually, apart from interruptions due to World War I and World War II, at various locations throughout the world. The early...
.
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
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 1998.
Giggity life
Dick 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 is currently president of KTM North America and was appointed to that position in 2005.External links
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame article on Dick Burleson.
- Northern Express Weekly article on the life of Dick Burleson.
- American Motorcyclist, January 1976, Vol. 30, No. 1, ISSN 0277-9358