- Danny LaPorte
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Danny LaPorte Nationality 
United StatesMotocross career Active years 1973 - 1982 Teams Suzuki, Yamaha Grands Prix Championships 250cc - 1982
500cc- AMA 1979Wins 6 GP debut First GP win Danny LaPorte (born December 3, 1957) was one of the top American motocross racers in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the first American to win a 250cc motocross world championship.[1]
Born in Los Angeles, California, LaPorte began riding in the early 1960s when the sport of motocross enjoyed a period of explosive growth. He began racing professionally when he turned 16 and by 1976 he was offered a job with the Suzuki factory racing team.[1] In 1979, LaPorte won the AMA 500cc national championship for Suzuki. He was part of the victorious American Motocross des Nations team in 1981, marking the first time an American team had won the prestigious event.[1]
Seeking new challenges, LaPorte decided to compete at the world championship level in 1982 riding for the Yamaha factory racing team. In his first attempt, he claimed the FIM 250cc motocross world championship against the heavily-favored Georges Jobé.[2]
Returning to America, LaPorte began to compete in desert racing and won the famous Baja 1000 three times as a member of the Kawasaki racing team.[3] In the 1990s, he competed in international rally events, winning a stage and finishing second overall in the 1992 Paris-Dakar Rally.[1] He also is the winner of 1991 Pharaohs rally in Egypt.
LaPorte currently resides in Southern California and still competes occasionally. In 2000, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.[1] He was inducted again in 2003, this time as a member of the victorious 1981 Motocross des Nations team.[4]
References
External links
250 cc/MX1-GP motocross world champions
1962 – T. Hallman
1963 – T. Hallman
1964 – J. Robert
1965 – V. Arbekov
1966 – T. Hallman
1967 – T. Hallman
1968 – J. Robert
1969 – J. Robert1970 – J. Robert
1971 – J. Robert
1972 – J. Robert
1973 – H. Andersson
1974 – G. Moisseev
1975 – H. Everts
1976 – H. Mikkola
1977 – G. Moisseev
1978 – G. Moisseev
1979 – H. Carlquist1980 – G. Jobé
1981 – N. Hudson
1982 – D. LaPorte
1983 – G. Jobé
1984 – H. Kinigadner
1985 – H. Kinigadner
1986 – J. Vimond
1987 – E. Geboers
1988 – J. van den Berk
1989 – J. Bayle1990 – A. Puzar
1991 – T. Parker
1992 – D. Schmit
1993 – G. Albertyn
1994 – G. Albertyn
1995 – S. Everts
1996 – S. Everts
1997 – S. Everts
1998 – S. Tortelli
1999 – F. Bolley2000 – F. Bolley
2001 – M. Pichon
2002 – M. Pichon
2003 – S. Everts
2004 – S. Everts
2005 – S. Everts
2006 – S. Everts
2007 – S. Ramon
2008 – D. Philippaerts
2009 – A. Cairoli2010 – A. Cairoli
2011 – A. CairoliCategories:- 1957 births
- Living people
- People from Torrance, California
- American motorcycle racers
- Motocross riders
- AMA National Motocross Champions
- Enduro riders
- Off-road racers
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees
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