AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Gene Romero passed away on May 12 in Fullerton, Calif. He was 71.

Romero was one of the best-known motorcycle racers in the United States during the late 1960s and early ’70s. He won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1970 riding for Triumph.

Romero won 12 AMA nationals during his 16-year racing career. He was one of the early riders to bring sponsorship into the sport from outside the motorcycling industry. In 1970, Romero won the prestigious AMA Most Popular Rider of the Year Award.

The biggest win of Romero’s career was the 1975 Daytona 200. He rode the first half of the race in fourth place on his factory Yamaha. Then he poured on the speed, passing Giacomo Agostini and Steve Baker and taking the lead when Steve McLaughlin crashed. Romero cruised to victory for his only win in 14 Daytona 200 starts.

Romero was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

For more information about Romero and his motorcycling career, visit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org