Chuck Sun, born September 10, 1956, in Sherwood, Oregon, is a trailblazing American former professional motocross racer who made history as the only Asian American to win a national championship in American professional motorcycle racing. Competing in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1976 to 1983, Sun claimed the prestigious AMA 500cc motocross national championship in 1980 while riding for Honda. His passion for racing was sparked at age 12 when he bought his first dirt bike, a Cat mini bike, with $100 earned from picking beans and strawberries. Inspired by the iconic motocross film On ‘Any Sunday’ and rider Malcolm Smith, Sun entered his first motocross race at 14, launching a remarkable career.
Sun’s racing highlights include winning the 1978 National Trans-USA 250 Championship with Husqvarna, earning a podium finish as the top American at the 1979 United States Grand Prix, and securing third overall in the 1981 United States Supercross Stadium Championship. In 1981, he won the USPG event in Carlsbad, California, and was part of the first U.S. team to win the Motocross des Nations alongside teammates Donny Hansen, Johnny O’Mara, and Danny LaPorte. Later, he competed internationally, finishing fourth overall at the 2003 Maxxis Asia Open in Thailand, and qualified for the AMA Supermoto Las Vegas Final in the same year.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Sun was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003. His legacy is preserved in the History of America Motocross Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. A pioneer from a rural Oregon off-road riding family, Chuck Sun’s achievements continue to inspire motocross enthusiasts worldwide.
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