Marty Moates Dies at 49

December 12, 2006

Larry Lawrence

Marty Moates, the underdog motocross racer who earned a memorable upset victory in the 1980 500cc United States Grand Prix at Carlsbad, California, died Thursday night (Dec. 7) from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was found in his car by his wife around the corner from the couple’s home in La Costa, California, according to reports.

Moates was 49.

The news of Moates’ death shocked and saddened the country’s motocross fraternity. There was an outpouring of grief and condolences on the motocross message board this weekend.

“I’m crying as I write this and I’m sure you are, too. I considered Marty as a friend and can’t believe he’s gone. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met, and I really mean that,” said one message on Motonews.com.

Steve Wise, a fellow racer who competed against Moates in the early 1980s was bewildered when he heard the news of Moates’ passing.

“I remember Marty has always being happy and always having a smile,” Wise said. “That’s what so baffles me about what happened. He was always upbeat, outgoing and having fun. That’s the way I’ll always remember him.”

Even though he retired from professional competition in the early 1980s, Moates continued to be highly visible in the sport. He was often a special guest rider in legends off-road events such as Yamaha’s Race of Champions and FMF’s Tour of Baja. He also continued to ride Supermoto events for fun.

Moates emerged from the hotbed of Southern California motocross in the mid-1970s. In 1977, while still a virtual unknown on the AMA National scene, he was tapped by Ossa to contest the 250cc Grands Prix. Injuries stopped that assault, but not before Moates collected a very respectable fifth-place finish in the Czech GP.

Moates was a leading rider of the late 1970s and early 1980s and was known for getting the most out of machinery that was less than competitive.

Moates finished ranked inside the top-10 in the AMA 500cc Motocross Championship in both 1979 and 1980. In 1979 he scored 500cc National podium finishes at Mt. Morris, Pa., and Charlotte, N.C. During the 1980, he earned another podium, this time at Washougal, Wash. He was also a leading rider in the Trans-USA Series (previously known as the Trans-Am Series). In 1979 Moates scored three top 10 finishes, ending the season ranked eighth.

The signature win for Moates came in the USGP at Carlsbad June 22, 1980. The race was later shown for a national television audience on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

“This was the first [U.S. GP] race I ever came to,” Moates said, beaming after winning the race. “I just thought, ‘I can’t believe this his happening.’ It was great. I’ve dreamed about this race every year and now it’s happened.

Moates was the first American to win the prestigious 500cc USGP.

Wise said that Moates’ win at the USGP was one of the most impressive things he ever witnessed.

“He was riding a privateer Yamaha,” Wise recalls. “It was sponsored by this company out of Chicago I think, called LOP. To win that race as a privateer was amazing. It’s one of those races that just sticks in your mind for the rest of your life because it was such a happy surprise.”

Marty tried to keep his racing hidden from his father according to Moates’ mother Jacqueline. “His father did want him to race because he might get hurt,” she said. “But after he won the USGP it came out in the paper and his father told me with a smile, ‘I knew he was racing all along.’”

Moates went on to attain success outside of racing also. He joined with brothers Mark and Brian Simo to create No Fear. More recently Moates became president of FMF International, a motocross clothing brand that is a partnership between FMF and No Fear.

“What Marty did for racing after his own career was over was a great influence in the sport,” said Broc Glover, who grew up racing with Moates at Carlsbad. “He was always the underdog when he raced so he was quick to help riders who were underdogs too. Marty was great at the business aspect of racing, and he gave back so much to the sport he loved so much.”

Moates was a caring person outside of racing as well. He was part of a group of motorcycle racers that attended the Big Air Kid’s Fair at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. He rolled a huge cart from room to room at the hospital passing out gifts, making the day a little brighter for each patient.

In recent years Moates has suffered a lot from the pain of multiple back surgeries according to his sister Shirley Jones.

“I don’t consider Marty’s death a suicide,” Jones said. “He was taking so many pills because of his back pain he was not in his right mind. He would have never done something like that had he not been under the influence of these pain pills.”

Moates is survived by his wife, Heather, and a son, Cody, daughters Jessica and Nicky, a sister Shirley Jones, brother David Moates and his mother Jacqueline. His father Martin passed away in 1980.

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at 11:00 AM at the Horizon Christian Fellowship North, 6365 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Donations can also be mailed in Marty’s memory to:
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation
P.O. Box 2000
Loma Linda, CA 92354