Hall of Famer Jim Pomeroy dies in Jeep crash

Jim Pomeroy, the first American to win a World Championship motocross event and a member of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, died Sunday. He was 53.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Pomeroy was driving his 1979 Jeep CJ5 with his 9-year-old daughter, Jamie, Sunday morning. He crashed about 15 miles west of Yakima when his Jeep struck a telephone pole guy wire and flipped onto its side.

Pomeroy died at the scene. His daughter sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.

Born into a motocross racing family on November 16, 1952, in Sunnyside, Washington, Pomeroy raced dirt track, hillclimbs, motocross and hare scrambles and enjoyed a successful amateur career before turning pro in 1970. His first AMA professional race was a Trans-AMA 250cc support race at Puyallup, Washington, where he finished sixth overall.

Pomeroy's career included a number of successes, particularly overseas, where he helped establish Americans as contenders in international competition. In addition to his win at the 1973 World GP motocross race, he also was the first American to lead the World MX Championship, the first American to lead the Trans-AMA Championship and the first American to win a moto at the U.S. 500cc GP.

He retired in 1980 but continued to be involved in the sport through his motocross school. Pomeroy toured the United States for several years helping develop another generation of American motocross riders.

Pomeroy lived in Yakima with his wife, Linda, and their daughter. He was preceded in death by his father, Don.