The motorcycling world is mourning the loss of Mert Lawwill, a towering figure in American flat track racing who passed away at the age of 85. According to reports from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), Lawwill’s influence on the sport was profound, spanning from his dominance in the late 1960s to his later years as an innovative engineer and frame builder.
Born in Boise, Idaho, in 1940, Lawwill’s path to professional racing began with early exposure to TT tracks and hare scrambles in the Pacific Northwest. His talent caught the eye of legendary dealer Dudley Perkins, which facilitated a move to California and a subsequent factory contract with Harley-Davidson in 1964. Lawwill stayed loyal to the brand throughout his entire professional racing career.
Lawwill’s competitive resume is defined by his 1969 AMA Grand National Championship win, a season that also saw him voted the AMA “Most Popular Rider of the Year.” His versatility was unmatched, as he achieved the rare "dirt track grand slam," securing victories in the Mile, TT, Half-Mile, and Short Track disciplines. In total, Lawwill recorded 15 AMA Grand National victories and 161 national finishes.
Beyond the track, Lawwill achieved cultural icon status through his appearance in the seminal 1971 motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday, which showcased his 1970 title defense to a mainstream audience. After retiring from racing in 1977 due to an inner-ear disorder, he turned his attention to mechanical engineering. His work in frame design contributed to the development of early mountain bikes—earning him an induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1997—and the creation of the "Mert’s Hands" prosthetic system, which helped amputees continue to ride motorcycles and bicycles.
Lawwill was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2012, he was granted the rare status of "Legend," reserved for those whose contributions have significantly transcended their specific racing achievements. His legacy remains a cornerstone of American motorcycling history.
