Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Danny Chandler, American motocross rider, died he was 50

Danny Chandler was a motocross racer has died he was 50.[1] He is remembered for his hard-charging, aggressive riding style.

(October 5, 1959[1] – May 5, 2010)


Chandler began his professional motocross career with the Maico factory racing team in 1979.[2] He was nicknamed Magoo by his father at an early age, and the name stuck.[2] By 1982 he had earned a place in the American Honda factory racing team and claimed the biggest victory of his career when he won the U.S. 500cc Motocross Grand Prix.[2] In 1982 he also won both races in the Motocross des Nations as well as the Trophee des Nations, becoming the first rider to win both motos of both events in the same year.[2]

Kawasaki had signed Chandler to race in the 1986 World Championships, but in December of 1985 he suffered a paralyzing crash in the Paris Supercross.

After the accident, Chandler went through a tough period. Within the span of a few years after the accident, he went through a divorce and then suffered even further when both his parents died within a few years of one another.

Spurred on by support from friends and his newfound faith, Chandler worked his way back to a full and busy Danny Chandlerlife. He began to promote mountain-bike races and got involved with DARE, a drug-awareness program geared towards school children. Chandler also started coordinating children's hospital visits by top motorcycle racers through his International Riders Helping People organization.

"In the long run the accident has left me a richer and fuller person," Chandler said. "Had it not been for that I would just be another guy walking around. Now I have an interesting and compelling story to tell to the kids."

After being dropped from the Honda team, Chandler went to Europe to compete in the Motocross World Championships. His career ended when he was left paralyzed after a crash at a supercross race in Paris.[1] Despite the setback, Chandler began promoting mountain bike races and became involved with D.A.R.E.[1] Chandler was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

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