Burleson, Dick
Name/Title
Burleson, DickTags
Off RoadDescription
- Winner of eight consecutive AMA National Enduro Championships - Winner of eight consecutive ISDT Gold Medals - Three-time AMA Athlete of the Year During the period stretching from 1974 to 1981, Dick Burleson won a remarkable eight consecutive AMA National Enduro Championships — a record so extraordinary that it may never be broken. Burleson’s domination of national enduro racing was so total and complete that it earned him the nickname “King Richard.” In addition to his incredible domestic record, Burleson at the same time also won an amazing eight consecutive gold medals in the International Six Days Trials (now called the International Six Days Enduro). Among American off-road racers, Burleson is one of the all-time greats. Burleson was born in Johnson City, Tenn., in 1948. His family moved to St. Joseph, Mich., when he was two years old. Burleson didn’t take the normal route to motorcycle racing stardom. Instead of learning to ride at a young age like many of his contemporaries, Burleson first began riding at 18, when he bought a used Honda 90 to commute to a summer job he had before enrolling at the University of Michigan. He took the Honda with him to college and found a group of off-road riders that had taken over a gravel pit near the campus. Not knowing any better, Burleson started riding his 90cc street bike at the gravel pit. He soon discovered that he had a natural talent and gradually became more interested in off-road riding. By the late 1960s, Burleson began competing in the burgeoning sport of motocross. He won several district and national amateur MX championships before turning pro and entering the Trans-AMA Motocross Series in 1970. In his first season as a professional motocross racer, Burleson finished fourth overall in Trans-AMA and was the top American in the series, earning him the title of American Motocross Champion (this was in the years preceding the AMA National Motocross Series). Having excelled in motocross, Burleson began competing in AMA National Enduro events, which at that time were equal, if not greater, in importance to motocross racing. He found that he enjoyed that form of competition. In 1971, John Penton invited Burleson to race on the American Trophy team that was competing in the International Six Days Trial at the Isle of Man. Even though his bike failed, leaving him with a DNF, Burleson was enthused about representing his country in international competition. The next year, Burleson was invited to the ISDT again, this time in Czechoslovakia. That year, Burleson finished impressively with a bronze medal and the American team was awarded the Watling Trophy for its improved performance. After graduating from college, Burleson moved to Ohio to take a job as eastern service manager for Husqvarna. In 1973, Burleson was a part of the American team that earned the country’s only ISDT Silver Vase victory. After the ISDT, which was held in Massachusetts that year, Burleson began riding a prototype Husqvarna 350cc that had been left to the American Husky distributor by the Swedish team. Burleson, who had been used to riding 125 and 175cc bikes, found the more powerful 350 perfectly suited his riding style. He ended the ‘73 season by winning three consecutive AMA national enduros. In 1974, Burleson earned an impressive nine national enduro victories on the way to his first AMA National Enduro Championship. That fall, things got even better at the ISDT in Italy. Burleson earned his first gold medal and was the highest-scoring American. Burleson continued his successes in 1975. He won his second national enduro title and another gold in ISDT. Burleson continued an incredible string of victories that would carry him to another six national enduro titles for a total of eight. He earned the same number of gold medals in ISDT competition. In recognition of his accomplishments, Burleson was named AMA Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1976. He would win the honor again in 1981. Undoubtedly the most pressure-packed season for Burleson was the 1981 campaign. He had tied Bill Baird’s seemingly insurmountable record of seven AMA national enduro championships the year before and was going for a record eighth title. Burleson’s competition was coming on strong, especially young Burleson protégé and teammate Terry Cunningham. The championship came down the final checkpoint of the final round and Burleson emerged victorious over Cunningham by a mere two points. With his eighth national championship, Burleson had forever etched his name as one of the truly elite American motorcycle racers of his day. He went on to earn gold for the eighth time in the ISDT held on the Mediterranean Isle of Elba, putting a cherry on top of a most remarkable season. After winning eight AMA National Enduro Championships and eight ISDT gold medals, Burleson announced his retirement from national competition at the end of 1981. He left the sport at the top of his profession. In all, Burleson had won 60 AMA National Enduro events in addition to his eight ISDT gold medals. After his retirement from racing, Burleson went on to establish a highly successful off-road consulting business. His new company, Dick Burleson Sports, helped KTM design a very successful line of enduro racers. Working with a partner, he also started a mail order off-road motorcycle parts and accessories business, Thumper Racing, specializing in four-stroke off-road equipment. He was also instrumental in developing the Moose line of off-road riding apparel and products, and he contributed significantly to the development of the curriculum for the Motorcycle Industry Council’s first off-road rider training program as well. In 1994, 13 years after his official retirement from racing, Burleson rode again in the ISDT event held that year near Tulsa, Okla. Even at the age of 46, Burleson still managed to earn a silver medal and became the only American to ride in both ISDTs held on American soil. The AMA recognized that accomplishment by naming Burleson Amateur Athlete of the Year for a record third time. Around that same time, Burleson also found a new outlet for his competitive spirit — downhill mountain bike racing. In 1994, Burleson won the UCI World Masters Downhill Championship at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec. During that same period, he also secured back-to-back National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Downhill Masters Championships, relying on his considerable aptitude for finding the fastest, most efficient lines over rock gardens and rutted trails. For a time during this period, Burleson also served as both a sponsored rider and technical consultant for Cannondale, contributing to the development of both its full-suspension mountain bikes and short-lived off-road motorcycle project. Burleson lives and still rides in the Traverse City, Mich., area, and he remains active in both the motorcycle and mountain bike industries — often working alongside his children and even his grandchildren. His son, Jon-Erik Burleson, was president of KTM North America from 2005-2016, and his grandson, Kai Burleson, is a top junior downhill mountain bike racer. And he still continues to collect accolades in the motorcycle industry, including the prestigious “AMA Legend” title for Hall of Famers whose impact transcends their specific racing category. The AMA Legend honor was bestowed on Burleson in 2016.Category
Class of 1999