Donny Schmit
Encyclopedia
Donny Schmit was an American
motocross
racer. He was a two-time Motocross
World Champion, winning the 125cc title in 1990 and the 250cc championship in 1992.
XR75. He signed with Kawasaki
’s Team Green as an amateur. In 1986, Schmit turned pro, winning two AMA 125cc West Region Supercross
races in his first season on the pro tour.
In 1987, Schmit signed with Suzuki
, winning the AMA
Motocross National in the 125cc division at Anderson, South Carolina
. Schmit also won the 125 national at his home circuit in Millville and finished the year ranked fifth.
By 1988, Schmit was racing in the 250cc AMA Supercross division, but was injured and decided to stay with outdoor motocross. That season, Schmit had seven podium finishes in AMA 125 motocross, including a Millville victory, and finished runner-up to George Holland. He was AMA's Rookie of the Year. Schmit left Suzuki after 1988 and rode the AMA outdoor nationals as a privateer. He finished 1989 ranking fourth in the AMA 125 Motocross; he was the top-ranked non-factory rider. At the season's end, Team Bieffe Suzuki offered Schmit a sponsorship to ride in the Grand Prix world championships. Schmit was an immediate success, winning the 1990 125cc world championship.
In 1991, Schmit was injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, causing him to miss much of the remaining season. In 1992, Schmit rode for Chesterfield Yamaha
, and won his second world title, along with five 250 GP wins. He rode for Chesterfield Yamaha for two seasons, finishing third in 1993 and seventh in 1994. At the end of the 1994 season, Schmit retired from full-time racing.
In 1995, Schmit returned to the AMA Nationals at Millville, finishing fourth place for Honda
of Troy. He also won the Four-Stroke Motocross Championship for CCM
in San Bernardino, California
.
Schmit died on January 19, 1996 from aplastic anemia
, after his wife Carrie rushed him to the hospital with a severe headache. He had been awaiting a bone marrow
transplant.
His 15 career victories in World Motocross Grand Prix were a record for an American rider. In 2002 Schmit was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racer. He was a two-time Motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
World Champion, winning the 125cc title in 1990 and the 250cc championship in 1992.
Career
Schmit started racing when his father bought him a HondaHonda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
XR75. He signed with Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
’s Team Green as an amateur. In 1986, Schmit turned pro, winning two AMA 125cc West Region Supercross
Supercross
Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Professional supercross contest races are held almost exclusively within professional baseball and football stadiums.-History:Supercross was derived...
races in his first season on the pro tour.
In 1987, Schmit signed with Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
, winning the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motocross National in the 125cc division at Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
. Schmit also won the 125 national at his home circuit in Millville and finished the year ranked fifth.
By 1988, Schmit was racing in the 250cc AMA Supercross division, but was injured and decided to stay with outdoor motocross. That season, Schmit had seven podium finishes in AMA 125 motocross, including a Millville victory, and finished runner-up to George Holland. He was AMA's Rookie of the Year. Schmit left Suzuki after 1988 and rode the AMA outdoor nationals as a privateer. He finished 1989 ranking fourth in the AMA 125 Motocross; he was the top-ranked non-factory rider. At the season's end, Team Bieffe Suzuki offered Schmit a sponsorship to ride in the Grand Prix world championships. Schmit was an immediate success, winning the 1990 125cc world championship.
In 1991, Schmit was injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, causing him to miss much of the remaining season. In 1992, Schmit rode for Chesterfield Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
, and won his second world title, along with five 250 GP wins. He rode for Chesterfield Yamaha for two seasons, finishing third in 1993 and seventh in 1994. At the end of the 1994 season, Schmit retired from full-time racing.
In 1995, Schmit returned to the AMA Nationals at Millville, finishing fourth place for Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
of Troy. He also won the Four-Stroke Motocross Championship for CCM
Clews Competition Motorcycles
Clews Competition Motorcycles or CCM for short, is a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bolton, England.-History:CCM was born out of the collapse of BSA's Competition Department in 1971....
in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
.
Schmit died on January 19, 1996 from aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia...
, after his wife Carrie rushed him to the hospital with a severe headache. He had been awaiting a bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
transplant.
His 15 career victories in World Motocross Grand Prix were a record for an American rider. In 2002 Schmit was inducted into the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
.