PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the first member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009, each of whom will be revealed in random order over the next few weeks. Among the honorees who will take to the stage at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5 will be seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins.

"In the world of off-road racing, one of the toughest sports on the planet, there are few who can match the stellar accomplishments of Randy Hawkins," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "From the late 1980s through the '90s, Randy made it look easy, dominating the AMA National Enduro Championships, while carrying the flag proudly in international competition."

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jack Penton, co-chairman of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Off-road Committee, added: "Randy is one of the most worthy off-road riders, and his record and the amount of time that he's contributed to the sport are just phenomenal. Most fans know that Randy's a seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion, but he's also an 18-time rider at the ISDE (International Six Days Enduro), many of those times on the Team USA Trophy Team. That puts Randy in the top 10 in the world in ISDE appearances, and it's part of the reason he's successfully mentored so many other riders over the years."

Hawkins grew up in Travelers Rest, S.C., where he still lives today. His first race was a motocross event in 1976 in River Falls, S.C. That race launched a career that would see Hawkins win multiple AMA National Enduro Championships, 13 ISDE gold medals and 73 AMA national victories. Today, Hawkins is the team manager of AmPro Yamaha, which competes in the AMA National Enduro Championship, the Grand National Cross Country Series, EnduroCross and AMA Regional Hare Scrambles Championships.

"To think that I started riding a motorcycle for fun, never dreaming it would be a career, then to have it become my entire lifestyle, and now to receive this honor is just very humbling," Hawkins said. "The off-road racing industry is so friendly, so family-oriented, and I've met so many wonderful people throughout my career that I feel truly blessed to be associated with all the other great riders in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. I'm excited about it, and I'll do whatever I can to help carry the banner. This sport has given more to me than I could ever give back, and I want to be involved as long as I can."

This will be the first time the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been held outside of Ohio, and Don Rosene, chairman of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Committee, said that he's looking forward to this year's event more than ever.

"Every year when we put this program together, we look for ways we can improve it," Rosene said. "It started out in a ball field. Then we moved it to a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, for several years, and now we're going to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It just keeps getting better.

"I've been involved with motorcycles since 1954, and this is so exciting for me," Rosene said. "When we announce this year's class, anybody who has ever been involved in motorcycling will see this as the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that it is. This is always such a nice ceremony -- I get chills when these guys and gals are announced -- and this year, it will be incredible."

Information about buying tickets to attend the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum 2009 Induction Ceremony will be announced soon on the Museum website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

Located on the park-like campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to protecting and promoting the motorcycle lifestyle. Its members include those who have excelled in racing, road- and off-road riding, pushed the envelope in motorcycle design, engineering and safety, and championed the rights of riders in both the halls of government and the court of public opinion.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Committee includes 11 members in addition to the chairman. There are 10 committees, each representing a different aspect of motorcycling. Five represent various racing disciplines, and five represent non-racing interests.

More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org.About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.