Tony DiStefano
Encyclopedia
Tony DiStefano was a top motocross
champion of the 1970s. He won three AMA
250cc National Motocross Championships.
DiStefano was the son of a motorcycle shop owner and began riding motorcycles at an early age. He began his professional racing career in 1973 on a privateer
CZ
. the following year, he led the 500cc motocross national championship for most of the year before an injury relegated him to second place behind Jimmy Weinert
. His strong performance earned him a job with the Suzuki
factory
motocross team. With Suzuki, he proceeded to win three AMA
250cc national championships in a row in 1975, 1976 and 1977. DiStefano also won the 1975 Inter-AMA championship.
Afterwards, injuries began to take their toll and DiStefano retired from competition after the 1981 season. He continued his involvement in the sport by starting a motocross school for young riders. In 1988, while practicing at a track in New Jersey
, DiStefano crashed, broke his back and became paralyzed
.
Today DiStefano continues to teach his motocross schools. He was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1999.
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...
champion of the 1970s. He won three 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...
250cc National Motocross Championships.
DiStefano was the son of a motorcycle shop owner and began riding motorcycles at an early age. He began his professional racing career in 1973 on a privateer
Privateer (motorsport)
In motor sport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an automobile manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in rally and circuit racing events, and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles...
CZ
Ceská Zbrojovka Strakonice
Česká zbrojovka is a Czech firearms manufacturer also known for making ČZ motorcycles. ČZ was established as a branch of the Škoda Works Armament in Strakonice, Czechoslovakia in September 1919.-History:...
. the following year, he led the 500cc motocross national championship for most of the year before an injury relegated him to second place behind Jimmy Weinert
Jimmy Weinert
Mitchell Nelson Weinert was a pioneering motocross and supercross rider in the early years of the sport in the United States. In the 1970s he won 22 AMA Nationals and three AMA championships. In 1973, Weinert became the first American to defeat international-level riders in the Trans-AMA motocross...
. His strong performance earned him a job with the Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
factory
Factory-backed
Factory-backed is a term commonly used in motorsports to describe a sponsored racing team, car, motorcycle or driver that competes with official sanction and financial support, or "backing" from a manufacturer. As motorsports competition is an expensive endeavor, some degree of factory support is...
motocross team. With Suzuki, he proceeded to win three 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...
250cc national championships in a row in 1975, 1976 and 1977. DiStefano also won the 1975 Inter-AMA championship.
Afterwards, injuries began to take their toll and DiStefano retired from competition after the 1981 season. He continued his involvement in the sport by starting a motocross school for young riders. In 1988, while practicing at a track in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, DiStefano crashed, broke his back and became paralyzed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
.
Today DiStefano continues to teach his motocross schools. 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 1999.